Q- My question is, why are some Meerschaum pipes not white?

A- That's a great question and a question we often receive. Let me explain it; after the carving process all meerschaum pipes have get into sanding process. At this stage each pipe is sanded by using 4 different grades/grits of sandpaper. 

After the sanding process each pipe is dipped into very hot and liquid 100% natural bee's wax. We put a cork in the bowl so the bee's wax doesn't get inside. At this step the draft hole is not drilled yet. So the bee's wax doesn't get in the bowl. If the pipes are yellowish color it is dipped into non-bleached bee's wax, if the pipe is white color it is dipped into filtered and whitened bee's wax. Most of the briar looking meerschaum pipes are dipped into the darkest shade of bee's wax. As you know bee's wax exists in different colors in the nature. We collect the darkest shade bee's wax to give this dark look.

It is totally the carver's own choice to use any finish color. Some carvers are conservative and they support that it has to be an original white finish that reflects the raw meerschaum material's original color. Some carvers believe darker shades of bee's wax show off their carving much better. There are some minority of carvers that die their pipes with different colors. This is not too common. When you see a meerschaum pipe in red color or black color or in blue color this means it is died and waxed. 

There is also a fuming technique we use for partially coloring.