Collecting is always something that becomes prevalent in any hobby with products that are for sale, so naturally - there are collectors of all things hookah. But what are they looking for? What kind of hookah products are worth collecting? Today, for the B2 Hookah blog post, we're going to be taking a dive into the realm of obsession, and taking a look at products that are considered "rare" or "collectible" in the world of hookah. So pack a bowl, and whether you're a collector yourself or not, let's look at our picks for the top three rarest hookah products you can find (or can't).
Honorable Mentions
While there are many collectible items in the hookah world, there were only three that we could pick for this list, so I wanted to do some of the others that we missed a justice and give them a mention too. Gen 1 Alien/ Harmony bowls, from HookahJohn - now are currently replicated in the "Flashback" or "Retro" variations of these bowls, however the originals are still very heavily sought after as well. Tangiers 7ico bowls - many Tangiers bowls can be mentioned in this list, but I think the 7ico is the rarest of the normal productions bowls. Malabar Hookahs - this one was easily the closest to making this list, as they're arguably one of the absolute rarest pipes in existence. Made in a small province called "Koyilandy", these pipes were made by local artisans from this area, and finding an authentic one is damn near impossible, as they haven't been made in over 25 years.
#3 - Al Nawras Hookahs
Photo Courtesy of /u/m2i5k6e6 on reddit
One of the most obvious choices for this list is Al Nawras hookahs - Syrian hookahs, which are no longer available, due to the civil war in Syria. Since the product is no longer being made, the prices on these have skyrocketed, ranging anywhere from $250 to upwards of $600. The rarest of these are practically myths, and are usually owned by the hunter of hunters, in regards to hookahs. There were many different variations of them, such as the Nickel Plated Nawras', the Marble stems, and the Brass variations. Any collector in their right mind is hunting down a Nawras, and it's almost at the point where any Nawras will do - if you have one, hold onto it. It may become a veritable hookah gold mine in the near future.
#2 - Prototype Stone Bowls
Stone Hookah Bowls is a company that's still around, and still making super high quality and exclusive products, however it's a company that's changed how their bowls have looked and functioned over time. The rarest of Stone Bowls never actually hit the market - the rare unnumbered Stone Bowls. These were the artists original designs with the bowls, and some argue that they function even better than the current Stone Bowls. However, that's a topic for a different time. The main thing to note with Prototype Stone Bowls is that no one knows how many exist - maybe not even the creator himself. It's because of this that they're so heavily sought after - and so expensive as a result.
#1 - Unreleased Tangiers Bowls
Image Courtesy of @BohemianHookah on Instagram
Tangiers is practically a household name in the hookah enthusiast household - it's a brand that everyone knows, and many love. Many people know that Tangiers originally created the funnel bowl design - leading to a future of bowls that we know and love today, like the previously mentioned Stone Hookah Bowls. What many people don't know, however, is that they made bowls prior to this, as well. Bowls like the Tangiers Tower were in regular circulation - however they're still regarded as some of the rarest bowls available. But what isn't as notable are some of their Prototypes - bowls like the Tangiers Mushroom. There were a handful of bowls that Tangiers was playing around with - toying with the design of bowls so that Tangiers could effectively be smoked out of it, as the standard Egyptian bowl wasn't cutting it. This later evolved into the Tangiers funnel bowl, however there were many prototypes before this. Things like the Super Chief and the Tangiers Mushroom can easily be included in this category - the latter of which never reached full production. Because of how popular Tangiers is, and due to how limited these bowls were, they're easily one of the rarest hookah products that can be found. If you have one, I pray that you hold it close to you at night and whisper loving things to it, because you are a lucky person.
Looking Forward
We've taken a look at some of the rarest products from the past, but what about the future? What do you think will be the next Al Nawras, or the next Stone Bowl? Will we see products that are readily available to us now become super exclusive in the future? Will Mason Hookah bowls disappear altogether one day, and become the rarest and most heavily sought after bowls around? Hopefully not, but I'm curious to hear your thoughts. What do you think will be the next collectible item? Will it be Mason Bowls? The Stone Oven? The Aviator Hose? Or even the Precious Cut Collection, from B2? Let me know in the comments below! As always guys, thank you so much for reading, and happy smokes!