Savinelli Punto Oro / Giubileo D'Oro Questions

For the Savinelli standard shapes, the same briar is used for all of the lines from low end through high end. The stummels for a particular shape number are all made by machine. Then the stummels go through a grade sorting for grain quality. For the stummels that qualify for Punto Oro or Giubileo d'Oro grades, those stummels are then hand finished. Also, for the Punto Oro and Giubileo d'Oro lines, the stems are hand cut.

So, the difference between Punto Oro and Giubileo d'Oro and the lower end lines is a hand finished stummel and a hand cut stem. The hand cut stem makes a HUGE difference to how well the pipe smokes. For GdO, you're paying for even better grain than PO.

This great video shows the Savinelli production process:

John,

Thanks for the information. So basically the briar isn't aged any longer, just better grain?

Cool video, and I havent heard that song in years. So thank you for sharing both!

Two additional bits of Savinelli briar trivia:

- For the Autograph line, a special reserve stock of highest grade Briar is used.

- I haven’t had firm confirmation of this one: Savinelli’s briar comes from Sardinia.

If you go back to the 70s you can find Autographs with cheap, terrible stems cut from blanks. I'm not sure when they started hand-cutting stems for their high grade pipes.

They are Sav’s top quality pipes but I believe the Gdo is the only first quality line with clean wood with no fills or whatever else they call a fill.

I believe the Autograph line has fills and whatever else they call a fill and are reflected in the grade. 

I haven’t seen one yet. BUT, that does not mean they don’t exist.