Originally Posted by FBinNY

It isn't the material that determines quality, it's the function. What makes the Campy corkscrew worthwhile for drinkers of aged wines is that the auger is of a large diameter, vs. the helical wire of typical corkscrews. That, the aligning system, and the good leverage make it the opener of choice for old wines where cork shredding is likely to be a problem.

Anyone who's ripped a hole through a cork, or broken one off halfway in while opening a fine Bordeaux can appreciate the Campy screw. Whether it's worth $250 is up to those who are considering buying one, though one restaurant I frequent still often pours me wine on the house over 20 years after I gifted them the corkscrew.