List of products by brand Charatan

History of the Charatan Brand

The name Charatan has been closely associated with the "City" of London since the company was founded over a century ago. Charatan pipes have been produced within the historic "one square mile," the Londinium of the Romans, which has endured numerous upheavals, from Queen Boadicea's attack in 61 AD to the bombings of World War II.

Today, the City is home to the Bank of England, the Stock Exchange, and many of the UK's major financial institutions. It is in this vibrant area that the Charatan factory is located, just a short walk from Tower Bridge and the Tower of London. This historical proximity has always influenced the Charatan brand, which began its journey in 1863 when Frederick Charatan, a Russian-Jewish immigrant, opened a shop on Mansell Street, starting to carve meerschaum pipes.

Charatan was the first company to produce handmade pipes from raw blocks to the finished product, including the mouthpieces. The famous "Charatan's Make" nomenclature refers to this unique production method, still used today for sandblasted pipes. The company has always selected only the best briar, maintaining high standards that often limit supplies but ensure maximum quality.

Over the years, Charatan has changed locations several times, currently situated at 18 Jermyn Street in the West End. The company remained a family business until 1962 when it was acquired by Lane Ltd. of New York, which expanded production globally. In 1976, Alfred Dunhill purchased Lane Ltd., consolidating Charatan as one of the world's leading suppliers of quality pipes.

Charatan's artisanal philosophy, passed down through generations, continues to live on thanks to artisans teaching young apprentices traditional techniques. Each Charatan pipe is a work of art, resulting from meticulous selection and processing of the briar.

Charatan Classification

  1. Summa Cum Laude
  2. Crown Achievement
  3. Royal Achievement
  4. Achievement
  5. Coronation
  6. Supreme
  7. Selected XLG
  8. Selected
  9. Executive XLG
  10. Executive
  11. Distinction XLG
  12. Distinction
  13. After Hours
  14. Free Hand Relief
  15. Special
  16. Relief Grain (tan)
  17. Relief Grain (dark)
  18. Belvedere
  19. Perfection