His Most Important Design (His Words, Not Ours)
The brass is supposed to darken with use, a promise only a long owner can test, and this opener has no owner anywhere on the record.
Did not pass
Gregory Buntain told Surface Magazine that the Crest Bottle Opener is one of his most important designs. He said it’s “become far-reaching” and is “sold around the world.”
We believe him. We just can’t verify the experience of owning one.
What He Said
In a May 2019 “Designer of the Day” interview with Surface Magazine, Buntain was asked about the most important thing he’s designed to date. His answer:
“I’m really proud of the smaller products like the Crest Bottle Opener and Standing Bowl, which have become far-reaching and are sold around the world.”
This isn’t marketing copy. It’s a designer reflecting on his own career.
He picked the Crest Opener over furniture pieces that cost twenty times more.
The Product
Crest Bottle Opener. $55 from FS Objects, the home goods division of Fort Standard. Investment-cast solid brass. Made in Rhode Island, finished in Brooklyn. Geometric crest pattern. Weighs enough to surprise you.
Dezeen covered it in September 2018: “Minimal metal bar tools that prioritize material efficiency and geometric forms.”
Burke Decor stocks it. Of a Kind stocks it. La Garçonne stocks it. Volta Vienna stocks it. The retailers who curate intentional objects chose this one.
The Studio
Fort Standard operates from 5,000 square feet in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Founded by Buntain in 2011 after graduating from Pratt’s industrial design program. He also studied at Bauhaus University in Weimar, Germany.
Cottages & Gardens profiled the studio in November 2023. 1stDibs Introspective featured it in April 2021. Sight Unseen covered Buntain’s work in 2014.
This isn’t an unknown brand.
57,000 Instagram followers. Fourteen years in business. A showroom at 324 Canal Street in Manhattan.
The Scores
- GLOW: 7/10 — Solid brass catches light. Geometric pattern photographs well. Minimal packaging.
- WOW: 8/10 — Designer’s stated pride piece. Press coverage from Dezeen, 1stDibs, Surface. Known in design circles, unknown to mainstream.
- MOMENT: 7/10 — Brass weight surprises on pickup. Becomes a display piece. Desk neighbors ask about it.
- TRUST: 7.0/10 — Zero customer reviews. Brand Trust Protocol applied.
Final Score: 7.4
Our threshold: 8.0
Where the Reviews Aren’t
We looked everywhere buyers might write about their experience:
- FS Objects website: No review platform
- Burke Decor: No reviews for this product
- Of a Kind: No review section
- Amazon: Product not sold there
- Reddit: No discussions
- Trustpilot: Nothing
FS Objects is a DTC design brand without an Amazon or Etsy presence. The kind of product that gets featured in design publications but never reviewed by actual buyers.
What We Could Verify
Designer identity: Gregory Buntain. Real person. Pratt B.I.D. 2008. LinkedIn confirms professional history.
Surface Magazine quote: Verified. May 2019. “Designer of the Day” feature. Direct quote about Crest Bottle Opener being among his most important designs.
Dezeen coverage: Verified. September 4, 2018. Article titled “FS Objects designs minimal metal bar tools.” Specifically mentions the bar tools collection.
Studio location: Greenpoint Wood Exchange, Brooklyn. Confirmed via Cottages & Gardens profile and multiple retailer listings.
Manufacturing: Investment cast in Rhode Island. Finished in Brooklyn. Confirmed on FS Objects product page and multiple retailer descriptions.
Price: $55. Verified on fsobjects.com.
Stockists: Burke Decor, Of a Kind, Volta Vienna, La Garçonne. All verified via live product pages.
The Gap
Designers love their work. That’s not evidence of quality.
Press loves beautiful objects. That’s not evidence of durability.
Retailers love curated products. That’s not evidence the brass feels right in your hand, the opener works smoothly after a year, or the patina develops the way the brand claims.
Those things require someone who bought it to say so.
What Would Change This
Customer reviews. Even five would help.
Someone writing: “Bought this two years ago. Brass has darkened. Still opens every bottle. Worth the $55.” That’s the signal we’re missing.
The editorial validation is complete. The retail curation is impressive. We need the consumer timeline to catch up.
We’re adding the Crest Bottle Opener to our watchlist.
Looking for a brass bar tool we could verify? The Craighill Ripple Opener hits similar notes: solid brass, made in USA, $58. Difference is 19 verified reviews and a 4.9-star rating.
Own a Crest Bottle Opener? We’d like to hear about it. Tell us.
