The Definitive Guide to Spot Fake Cuban Cigars by Finest Cuban Cigars

! !
The Definitive Guide To Spotting
Fake Cuban Cigars

!
The Definitive Guide To Spotting Fake Cuban
Cigars
2www.FinestCubanCigars.com

Cigars
3
www.FinestCubanCigars.com
Contents
How
to
Identify
Fake
Cuban
Cigars?
...............................................................................................
4

Cuban
Cigar
Education
Is
Key.
........................................................................................................
5

Where
To
Begin
–
Seals,
Labels
And
Cigar
Boxes.
..........................................................................
6

Onto
The
Cigars
Themselves.
.......................................................................................................
12

More
Tips......................................................................................................................................
16

Counterfeit
Gallery.
......................................................................................................................
21

Cigars
4
How to Identify Fake Cuban
Cigars?
When
it
comes
to
life’s
most
indulgent
luxuries,
a
genuine
Cuban
cigar
would
be
at
the
top
of

most
cigar
aficionado’s
list.
Unfortunately,
there
is
such
a
demand
for
premium
branded
cigars,

that
sadly
production
falls
far
short
of
the
worldwide
market
for
the
product.

Because
of
this,
more
and
more
fake
Cuban
cigars
are
making
their
way
into
the
market,
both
in

the
United
States,
and
in
Europe.
Due
to
modern
technology
–
computers
and
quality
color

laser
printing
–
it
has
become
not
only
commonplace,
but
very
easy
to
turn
a
lower
quality

Honduran
cigar,
into
a
Cohiba
Esplendido
by
using
printed
labelling
alone.

Unfortunately,
counterfeiting
is
also
driven
by
consumer
ignorance
as
many
are
not

knowledgeable
enough
about
Cuban
cigars
to
spot
a
fake
one.
This
helps
those
counterfeiters

who
produce
substandard
quality
cigars,
allowing
them
to
make
money
off
ill-‐informed

consumers,
which
allows
the
cigar
counterfeiting
industry
to
grow.

Cigars
5
Cuban Cigar Education Is Key.
Although
many
articles
have
been
written
about
Cuban
cigars
and
how
to
spot
a
fake
from
the

real
deal,
these
often
lack
enough
detail
to
be
of
any
real
use
to
the
average
cigar
lover.
For

that
reason
alone,
I
have
produced
this
piece
to
help
educate,
as
well
as
inform,
consumers
on

how
they
can
quickly
identify
suspicious
cigars,
and
separate
a
lower
quality
from
the
real
deal

–
a
proper
Cuban
cigar.

With
over
20
years
of
experience
in
Cuba
alone,
I
have
both
the
knowledge
and
the
close

attention
to
detail
that
will
help
you
to
not
only
determine
fake
Havanas
from
real
ones,
but
in

an
effective
manner.

Some Simple Rules
Let’s
start
off
with
a
few
simple
rules.

“If
it’s
too
good
to
be
true….”

You
have
heard
the
following
saying
before,
and
this
definitely
applies
to
Cuban
cigars
–
“If
it’s

too
good
to
be,
then
it
probably
isn’t
the
real
thing”.

It
is
imperative
that
as
a
buyer,
you
research
where
your
favorite
cigars
come
from.
Often

tobacconists
are
unaware
that
they
might
be
selling
fakes,
especially
if
the
laws
in
their
country

make
them
legal.
Counterfeiters
are
only
interested
in
the
bottom
line,
and
no
matter
where
in

the
world
you
find
yourself,
fake
Cuban
cigars
are
a
profitable
business.

Attention
to
detail

When
buying
cigars,
attention
to
detail
is
paramount.
Your
eye
is
your
best
weapon
here,
and

by
knowing
what
to
look
for
in
terms
of
fake
cigars,
you
will
save
yourself
a
lot
of
money
in
the

long
run.
Take
your
time
when
inspecting
a
box
of
cigars
you
wish
to
purchase.
Always
believe

that
they
may
be
fake
when
casting
a
very
critical
eye
over
them.

But
how
do
you
know
what
to
look
for
when
looking
over
a
box
of
Cuban
cigars
that
you
would

like
to
purchase?
Well,
with
this
piece,
we
hope
to
help
you
to
not
only
develop
the
theoretical

knowledge
of
what
to
look
for,
but
to
train
your
eye
to
spot
fake,
lower
quality,
counterfeit

cigars.

Cigars
6
Where To Begin – Seals, Labels
And Cigar Boxes.
Let’s
start
right
at
the
beginning.
By
following
these
steps
each
time
you
purchase
cigars,
you

give
yourself
every
chance
of
recognizing
the
counterfeits
and
staying
well
clear
of
them!

1. Closely examine the cigar box
Begin
with
a
thorough
check
of
the
warranty
seal.
This
is
perhaps
one
of
the
easiest
things
you

can
do,
especially
as
every
box
of
Cuban
cigars
has
had
this
tax
seal
since
1912
to
ensure
the

authenticity
of
the
enclosed
cigars.

Old
Seal
New
Seal

The
seal
itself
was
initially
found
in
three
difference
sizes
-‐
Large
(2
1/2"
wide),
Small
(1
1/4"

wide),
and
Miniature
(13/16"
wide)
and
came
printed
in
green
and
white
(as
above).
Due
to

counterfeiting,
the
seal
was
updated
after
2000.
Now
the
seal
includes
a
hidden
UV
watermark,

far
denser
colors,
fine
miniature
printing,
as
well
as
a
serial
number.
The
seal
is
the
first
thing

you
should
check,
but
counterfeiters
have
even
managed
to
produce
excellent
copies
in
recent

years.

Once
you
have
checked
the
seal
itself,
take
note
of
where
it
is
applied
to
the
box.
For
dress

boxes,
the
seal
will
be
applied
to
the
front
left
edge.
It
will
cover
the
top
to
bottom
of
the
box

with
a
fold
over
the
top
edge
and
falling
in
the
area
of
the
oval
coat
of
arms.
For
cabinets,
the

seal
will
only
be
placed
on
the
upper
right
corner
and
over
the
edge
of
the
sliding
lid.
Finally,
for

packs,
the
miniature
seal
will
be
used.
It
will
normally
be
placed
over
the
top
flat
of
the
box

itself.
For
more
information
on
seals,
as
well
as
excellent
high
definition
pictures
of
how
the

seal
should
look,
read
“New
Cuban
Warranty
Seal:
The
Inside
and
Invisible
Scoop”
by
the
Cigar

Counsel.

Cigars
7
2. New Cuban warranty seal
All
Cuban
cigars
produced
now
should
have
the
new
warranty
seal
which
includes
a
hologram

on
the
right,
as
well
as
the
Cote
‘d
Arms
and
a
bar
code
to
help
personalize
each
package.
The

seal
itself
is
manufactured
using
synthetic
paper.

The
paper
used
to
construct
the
seal
has
a
number
of
special
and
security
features
that
protect

the
authenticity
of
the
cigars
inside
the
box.

§ A
non-‐transferred
label.
The
seal
is
immediately
invalidated
if
it
has
been
tampered
with

or
if
someone
has
purposely
tried
to
remove
it.

§ The
synthetic
paper
is
of
a
very
high
quality
and
virtually
tamper
free.

§ It
is
extremely
difficult
to
scan
and
photocopy
the
new
seals.

§ The
holographic
band
helps
to
ensure
authenticity
and
is
difficult
to
duplicate
by

counterfeiters.
Look
for
bicolor
text
in
the
hologram,
especially
in
the
3d
effects
to

ensure
authenticity.

§ Microdot
technology.
Seals
will
have
a
microdot
which
is
only
visible
through
a
laser

scanner.

Each
seal
will
also
have
a
unique
bar
code.
All
the
information
for
that
particular
box
of
cigars
is

linked
to
the
bar
code
and
stored
in
a
database
which
helps
with
identification
throughout
the

world.
Other
information
stored
includes
addresses
for
shipping
and
invoice
details.

Cigars
8
3. The old and the new
Of
course
there
will
be
a
time
frame
where
both
the
old
seal
and
the
new
seal
are
to
be
found

in
the
cigar
market.
How
long
it
will
take
to
phase
out
the
older
seal
is
anyone’s
guess.

The
length
of
time
in
which
the
two
seals
will
coexist
is
not
so
easy
to
foresee
because
it

depends
on
the
stocks
and
the
rotation
of
the
different
products.

Below
are
pictures
of
the
seal
which
has
been
placed
on
a
box
of
cigars
in
the
correct
way.

Cigars
9
4. Check the Habanos chevron
The
next
thing
to
check
is
the
Habanos
chevron.
This
is
found
on
the
upper
right
corner
of
cigar

dress
boxes
and
the
top
lower
left
corner
of
cigar
cabinets.

This
label
has
a
distinct
size
–
between
13/16”
wide
and
has
been
in
use
since
1994.
Each
label

will
also
have
a
silhouette
(black)
of
a
tobacco
leaf
on
the
left
with
the
word
“Habanos”
on
the

right.
The
word
itself
has
two
distinct
colors:
red
(lettering)
and
yellow/orange
(lettering

outlines)
while
two
gold
lines
are
found
at
the
top
and
bottom
of
the
label.
These
thin
lines
are

located
between
the
black
lines.

5. Look for hallmarks/logos
Hallmarks
should
be
found
on
each
box
of
cigars.
These
hallmarks/logos
are
burned
into
the

boxes
themselves.
If
they
are
stamped,
you
are
dealing
with
a
counterfeit
product.
A
simple

test
is
to
run
your
finger
over
them
and
feel
if
they
make
an
indentation
in
the
box
itself.

Cigars
10
The
words
“Habanos
s.a”
will
appear
on
these
stamps.
This
is
the
name
of
the
company

exporting
cigars
from
Cuba
since
1994.
If
the
cigars
are
older
than
this,
look
for
the
Cubatobaco

logo.

The
stamp
should
also
have
“HECH
EN
CUBA”
enclosed
in
a
straight
lined
oval
while
the
words

"Totalmente
a
mano"
in
a
script
font
is
the
third
and
final
hallmark.
This
branding
–
added
in

1989
–
means
the
cigars
were
handmade
and
translates
to
“totally
by
hand.”

6. Factory/date stamp
Each
box
should
contain
a
stamp
for
the
factory
and
the
date
the
cigars
were
produced.

7. Distribution stamps and labels
Cigar
boxes
will
often
have
different
stamps
and
labels
depending
on
where
they
were

distributed
from.
Although
this
helps
to
authenticate
a
counterfeit
from
the
real
deal,
they
are

constantly
changing.
If
you
are
unsure,
speak
to
a
knowledgeable
importer
in
the
country
in

which
you
reside
for
the
current
stamp
information.

Cigars
11
8. Check health warning stickers
Certain
countries
apply
health
warning
stickers
to
advise
against
the
dangers
of
smoking.
These

obviously
vary,
but
knowing
what
to
look
for
in
your
country
of
residence
can
help
you
to
spot

counterfeit
cigars.

9. Familiarize yourself with Cuban cigar
packaging
Different
brands
use
different
packaging.
Knowing
what
packaging
is
used
by
which
brand
is

imperative.
Packaging
includes
dress
boxes,
polished
boxes,
cabinets
(either
varnished
or

unvarnished),
natural
boxes,
sliding
lid
or
cabinet
boxes,
transit
paks,
and
small
pak
Pectas.
Of

course,
learning
the
packaging
type
of
each
cigar
is
hard,
but
knowing
your
preferred
brand
can

help
to
spot
fakes.

10. Box wear and tear
Cigar
boxes
should
be
in
good
condition.
They
should
not
show
too
much
fading,
scratches
and

have
little
sign
of
wear
and
tear.
If
you
find
a
box
that
doesn’t
look
new,
the
probability
of

counterfeit
cigars
is
high.
Counterfeiters
use
recycled
cigar
boxes
to
cut
costs.

Cigars
12
Onto The Cigars Themselves
Of
course
inspecting
the
seals,
labels
and
quality
of
the
cigar
box
is
not
enough.
You
need
to

examine
the
cigars
themselves.
But
what
exactly
do
you
look
for?

1. Color
The
color
of
the
cigar
will
vary
depending
on
the
make.
One
thing
should
be
the
same
however,

each
cigar
in
a
box
should
have
the
same
uniform
color.
If
there
is
a
slight
variation,
the
darkest

cigar
will
be
placed
first
with
the
lighter
one
to
the
right
of
them.
If
there
is
a
variation
of
color

in
a
box
of
cigars
and
they
have
not
been
sorted
in
this
manner,
chances
are
high
that
they
are

counterfeit.

2. Length
All
cigars
should
be
the
exact
same
length
depending
on
their
particular
vitola.
Of
course,
with

hand-‐made
products,
there
can
be
a
slight
variation
but
this
will
never
be
greater
than
1/16
of

an
inch.

Cigars
13
3. Ring gauges
All
cigars
should
have
their
ring
gauges
recorded
as
well.
You
will
notice
minuscule
deviations

here
especially
with
cigars
that
have
been
box
pressed
as
the
ring
gauge
is
recorded
before
the

cigars
are
put
into
their
box.

4. General appearance
All
Cuban
cigars
that
are
destined
for
foreign
markets
will
look
extremely
well
made.
Look
for

attention
to
detail
as
well
as
solid
bunching.
The
tobacco
in
these
cigars
will
never
be
“booked”

so
keep
a
look
out
for
that.

5. Wrappers
Take
particular
notice
of
the
cigar
wrappers.
Cuban
Corjoro
wrappers
will
have
very
fine
veins

while
some
will
have
no
veins
at
all.

Cigars
14
6. Rings
Take
note
of
the
ring
place
around
the
cigar.
Cuban
cigars
will
have
bands
that
are
tight
and

clean,
show
good
color,
excellent
embossing
and
more
importantly,
the
word
“Habana”
should

be
found
on
the
cigar.

The
rings
themselves
should
have
no
creases,
signs
of
wear
or
any
glue
stains.
This
is
a
dead

give-‐away
that
the
rings
have
come
from
other
cigars
and
re-‐branded
onto
the
current
ones.

Take
note
however,
imperfect
embossing
does
happen,
so
use
all
the
other
checks
mentioned

to
make
sure
you
are
not
throwing
away
perfectly
good
cigars!

7. Cigar foot
Take
note
of
the
foot
of
the
cigar.
Each
foot
should
have
received
a
clean
cut,
should
be
even

and
there
should
be
no
evidence
of
chipping.

Cigars
15
8. Cigar cape (cap)
Take
note
of
the
cape
(cap)
of
the
cigar.
Straight
side
cigars
or
Havana
Parejos
have
what
is

known
as
a
triple
cap,
presented
in
a
fine
finish.
Look
for
three
lines
that
run
from
the
flagging

of
the
cap
which
will
be
present
from
when
it
was
wrapped
around
the
head
of
each
cigar.

Caps
on
figurados
are
different.
They
will
have
wrappers
rolled
on
to
the
end
of
the
tip
at
the

head
of
the
cigar
which
is
then
trimmed
and
wound
back
in
the
same
direction
back
down
the

cigar.
This
is
known
as
a
“switch
back”
flag.

Cigars
16
More Tips
Now
that
you
know
what
to
look
for
in
the
cigar
packaging
as
well
as
the
cigar,
there
are
a
few

other
helpful
tips
you
can
use
to
find
counterfeits.

Learn more about Cuban cigars
Knowledge
is
power!
The
more
you
know
about
Cuban
cigars,
the
factories
that
make
them,

their
correct
names
and
sizes,
the
better.
There
are
many
excellent
resources
in
this
regard,

non-‐more
so
than
Perelman's
Pocket
Cyclopedia
of
Havana
Cigars
(ISBN
0-‐9649258-‐6-‐9).
Every

self-‐respecting
Cigar
aficionado
should
own
this
resource.
For
a
web-‐based
resource,
try

www.cubancigarwebsite.com.

Learn the true market value of Cuban cigars
Knowing
the
true
market
value
of
cigars
will
put
you
in
good
stead
to
easily
spot
counterfeits
on

pricing
alone.
Many
counterfeiters
will
sell
their
products
at
a
very
low
price,
much
lower
than

the
original.
Although
this
means
people
often
snap
them
up,
it
is
also
an
indication
that
they

are
not
the
real
deal.
Remember,
there
is
no
such
thing
as
a
bargain
when
it
comes
to
fine

Cuban
cigars.

Cuban
cigars
can
be
discounted,
especially
at
the
close
of
season.
This
is
only
for
the
very
best

customers
and
never
lower
than
25%.
Note,
this
practice
is
very
rare.

Be
wary
of
online

purchases,
especially
if
they
offer
free
shipping.

Keep your wits about you
Never
buy
cigars
from
someone
that
approaches
you.
As
mentioned
before,
the
shortage
of

quality
Havanas
on
the
world
market
means
the
chance
of
someone
randomly
approaching
you

to
buy
them
is
non-‐existent.
These
cigars
sell
themselves!

Cigars
17
Steer clear of unscrupulous internet sales
Never,
ever
buy
Cuban
cigars
from
unknown
parties
using
the
internet.
This
includes
any

dealers
or
auction
sites
which
are
fast
becoming
the
vehicle
of
choice
for
counterfeiters

worldwide.
Of
course,
some
respected
and
well
known
Havana
cigar
merchants
do
deal
online.

If
you
do
want
to
use
the
internet
to
procure
your
Cuban
cigars,
there
are
a
number
of
online

sources
with
many
located
in
Switzerland
due
to
their
low
re-‐export
taxes.

Check
out
the

following
website
for
more
information
regarding
fake
cigars.

Avoid specialty cigars
Make
sure
to
avoid
any
cigars
that
are
sold
under
terms
such
as
“special
edition,”
“anniversary

issue,”
or
any
similar
phrase.
Counterfeiters
will
use
terms
such
as
these
as
a
means
to
explain

why
boxes
or
even
cigars
look
different
to
the
originals.
Make
no
mistake,
special
edition

Havanas
do
exist,
but
these
are
only
traded
by
premium
dealers
and
collectors
and
at
extremely

high
prices.

Be wary of stores and dealers
This
is
especially
true
if
they
will
not
sell
you
an
entire
box
or
give
you
a
box
that
is
empty
after

you
purchased
the
last
cigars
out
of
it.
Many
unscrupulous
dealers
stock
counterfeit
cigars
in

premium
boxes
as
a
way
to
fool
unwary
clients.
This
is
especially
true
for
small
stores
and
street

vendors
in
tourist
areas.

Be aware of Cigars that are counterfeited more
than others
It
is
a
known
fact
that
counterfeiters
counterfeit
certain
cigars
due
to
the
fact
that
they
are

easily
recognizable,
well
known
and
in
demand.
Cigars
such
as
Hoyo
de
Monterrey
Double

Coronas
,
Romeo
y
Julieta
Churchills,
Cohibas
Esplendidos,
and
Montecristo
No.
2s
fall
into
this

category.
Less
recognizable
cigars
are
counterfeited
less.
This
is
because
they
are
more
difficult

for
a
counterfeiter
to
sell
as
the
man
in
the
street
is
not
aware
of
the
brand.

Cigars
18
Be wary in the US
Estimates
reckon
that
around
95%
of
the
Cuban
cigars
found
in
the
United
States
are
in
fact,

fake.

This
is
especially
true
in
the
major
areas
of
the
country
including,
Miami,
Florida
and
New

York.

Avoid the “I have a Cuban friend….”
Never
purchase
cigars
from
someone
who
gets
them
from
their
“Cuban”
friend
who
procures

the
cigars
straight
from
Cuba
at
a
low
price.
These
are
nothing
but
cover
stories
and
in
reality,

their
“Cuban”
friend
doesn’t
exist.

Even if the cigars are from Cuba, do your
research
Not
every
Cuban
cigar
is
a
premium
and
authentic
Havana.
Many
of
the
cigars
sold
by
street

vendors
in
Cuba
are
not
the
real
deal.
If
you
are
in
Cuba
and
want
the
real
thing,
only
purchase

them
at
the
government
state
store.

Avoid cigar cases with glass tops
Take
note
of
the
picture
above.
No
matter
how
impressive
the
labeling
is
or
how
authentic
the

cigars
look,
they
are
fake!
Cohiba
Esplendidos
cannot
be
found
in
glass
top
boxes.
However,

these
sell
like
hotcakes
all
over
Florida
and
the
Caribbean.
Avoid!

Cigars
19

Look at every box as a total package
Although
many
aspects
you
can
scrutinize
about
both
cigar
and
cigar
boxes
have
already
been

pointed
out,
take
note
that
even
authentic
Cuban
cigars,
their
boxes
and
labeling,
are
not

always
perfect.
Often,
small
discrepancies
can
be
found,
be
it
a
factory
stamp
that
is
not

perfect,
a
poorly
embossed
band
or
labels
that
are
not
properly
applied
to
a
cigar
box.
In
these

situations,
look
at
the
total
package
to
determine
if
the
cigars
are
counterfeit
or
not.
If
you
are

unsure,
look
elsewhere
for
your
authentic
Cuban
cigars.

Never use the black-market to purchase your
cigars
Even
though
you
may
be
able
to
purchase
genuine
Cuban
cigars
through
a
black-‐market
source,

you
should
refrain
from
doing
so.
All
reputable
dealers
of
Cuban
cigars
offer
shipping

throughout
the
world.

For
a
comprehensive
list
of
known
fake
Cuban
cigar
websites,
click
here.

Other
website
include:

§ www.buycubancigarsonline.com

§ www.bestcubancigars.co

§ Zohocigars.com

§ www.vipcubancigars.com

§ www.cubancigarsdbest.com

Cigars
20
Build your experience
Perhaps
the
last
and
most
important
factor
when
trying
to
determine
a
fake
cigar
from
the
real

deal
is
experience.
This
is
something
that
is
built
up
over
time,
years
in
fact.
Once
you
have

personally
studied,
held,
open,
and
smelled
hundreds,
if
not
thousands
of
cigars
and
their

boxes,
spotting
fakes
will
become
easier
and
easier.
Of
course,
smoking
quality
cigars
goes
a

long
way
to
help
you
identify
the
real
deal,
especially
in
terms
of
taste,
look,
feel,
aroma
and

texture.

As
your
experience
grows,
not
only
will
you
be
able
to
see
a
fake
Cuban
cigar,
you
will
know
by

their
taste
and
smell
that
they
are
indeed
counterfeit.

This
takes
time,
and
many
cigars,
but

none
the
less,
is
a
fun
pursuit.

Cigars
21
The Counterfeit Gallery
Bolivar Original band
Bolivar
cigars
in
smaller
sizes
have
smaller
bands.
This
is
an
important
fact
to
remember
as

these
bands
will
have
slightly
less
detailing.
Look
for
the
metallic
gold
coloring
found
in
the

gold
coins
and
the
border
of
the
band.
Also
check
the
sharpness
of
the
red
vertical
lines
and

the
embossed
paper.

Bolivar Counterfeit band (purchase location
unknown)

Cigars
22
Cohiba Original band – New Style
Cohiba
changed
their
band
in
June,
2003.
The
new
band
was
first
used
on
Siglo
VI
cigars.

Although
the
new
design
was
familiar
to
the
old
one,
there
were
a
number
of
key
differences.

§ The
word
“Cohiba”
is
now
in
gold.
§ A
gold
line
runs
through
the
center
of
the
band.
§ The
label
now
contains
the
words
“Habana,
Cuba”
instead
of
“La
Habana,
Cuba.”
§ Three
rows
of
white
dots
above
the
word
“Cohiba”
have
replaced
the
two
rows
in
the
previous
label.
Counterfeit bought in Cuba
In
this
counterfeit
example,
there
are
only
two
rows
of
white
dots
and
not
the
three
as
in
the

new
band.
There
is
no
embossed
lettering
on
the
name
“Cohiba”
either,
a
dead
give-‐away,
and

proof
that
this
is
indeed
a
counterfeit.

Cigars
23
Counterfeit bought in New Orleans

In
this
example
bought
in
New
Orleans,
the
cigars
came
in
a
sealed
box
and
even
had
a

certificate
of
authenticity.
However,
as
can
be
seen
on
the
label,
they
are
fake.
What
gives
it

away?
Well
the
lettering
is
not
raised
on
the
word
“Cohiba”
and
the
letter
is
dull
and
without

luster.
Although
there
are
the
correct
number
of
white
dots,
notice
that
there
is
a
thin
line

between
the
dots
and
the
gold
band.

The
last
clue
is
the
words
“Havana,
Cuba”
done
in
a
bold

script
which
is
incorrect.

Counterfeit bought in Florida

Here
the
fonts
differ
significantly
from
a
real
Cohiba
cigar.
Firstly,
the
brand
name
is
a
smaller

typeset
than
the
original
and
secondly,
the
scripted
portion
“Habana,
Cuba”
is
far
too
dark.
A

thin
white
line
can
also
be
seen
between
the
rows
of
dots
and
the
name.
This
should
not
be
in

the
label.

The
gold
luster
is
not
the
correct
color
either.
This
is
a
fairly
easy
one
to
spot.

Cigars
24
Counterfeit bought in Cozumel, Mexico

Although
this
is
a
relatively
good
copy
on
closer
inspection
it
is
missing
one
row
of
white
dots.

The
letters
in
the
brand
name
are
not
thick
enough
either.

Cohiba Original band – Old Style

In
the
old
style
Cohiba
label,
make
note
of
the
rows
of
tiny
squares
(the
old
labels
use
squares,
not

circles).
Here
there
are
only
four
rows,
two
of
which
appear
above
the
word
“Cohiba”.
The
words
“La

Habana,
Cuba”
are
in
an
old
style
script
font
and
noticeably
elongated.

Cohiba Old Style counterfeit bought in the
Dominican Republic

Cigars
25
Cohiba Old Style counterfeit bought in the Punta
Cana, Dominican Republic

Cohiba Old Style counterfeit of unknown origin

Cigars
26
Cohiba Old Style counterfeit purchased in
Doylestown, PA

Cohiba Old Style counterfeit purchased in Cuba

Cigars
27
Prescot, Canada

Cohiba Old Style counterfeit of unknown origin

Cigars
28
Moscow

Cohiba Old Style counterfeit purchased in San
Jose, Costa Rica

French St. Martin

Cigars
29
Cohiba Old Style counterfeit purchased in Ocho
Rios, Jamaica

Cohiba Old Style counterfeit purchased in St
Johns, Antigua

Cohiba Old Style counterfeit purchased Texas

Cigars
30
Cohiba Old Style counterfeit purchased Punta
Cana, Dominica Republic

Diplomaticos Habana – Original band

This
is
a
simple
band
consisting
of
some
writing
as
well
as
a
logo
of
a
red
carriage
and
a
black

outlined
scroll.
The
words
“Diplomaticos”
and
“Habana”
also
appear.
Take
note
of
how
the

word
“Diplomaticos”
comes
into
contact
with
the
gold
rim
of
the
centerpiece.
Although
this
is

an
imperfection
and
not
intended,
it
is
associated
with
this
brand
of
cigar
and
a
point
to
look

out
for.

Cigars
31
Diplomaticos Habana counterfeit of unknown
origin

H Upmann – Original band

This
band
has
lots
of
striking
detail
with
metallic
gold
of
medium
luster
and
high
sheen.
Notice

how
the
lettering
is
clear
and
centered.
The
lettering
itself
has
two
laurel
leaves
on
either
side.

Another
particular
detail
to
note
is
the
dots
running
around
the
border

Cigars
32
H Upmann counterfeit purchased in Mexico

H Upmann counterfeit purchased in Jamaica

H Upmann counterfeit purchased in Seoul, South
Korea

Cigars
33
Hoyo de Monterrey – Original band

A
real
Hoyo
is
easy
to
spot
due
to
the
amount
of
texture
found
in
the
label,
especially
around

the
crown
centerpiece.
The
centerpiece
itself
also
contains
gold
embossing
which
is
very

intricately
done.

Hoyo de Monterrey counterfeit purchased in
Chicago, Illinois

Cigars
34
Seoul, Korea

Miami, Florida

Memphis, Tennessee

Cigars
35
Montecristo – New band

Montecristo
have
brought
out
a
new
band
in
recent
years.
The
main
differentiation
from
the

old
band
is
its
glossiness.
The
new
bands
are
smooth
and
incredibly
shiny,
very
different
from

the
dull
paper
of
the
old
band.
Colorwise,
the
band
is
predominantly
a
brown
color,
similar
to

the
color
of
milk
chocolate.
Note
the
two
dots
that
separate
the
words
“Montecristo”
and

“Habana”.
These
are
larger
while
the
fleur-‐de-‐lis
logo
is
more
elaborate
than
on
the
older
label.

Montecristo – Original band

The
original
band
for
Montecristo
is
a
different
shade
to
the
new
band
while
it
has
a
flat
finish

with
no
gloss.
The
lettering
is
well
printed
in
white
and
does
not
bleed
into
the
brown
at
all,

unlike
many
counterfeits
might.

Cigars
36
Montecristo – Original band counterfeit of
unknown origin

Montecristo – Original band counterfeit
purchased in Puerto Vallarta, Mexicom.

purchased in Santo Domingo, Dominican Rep

Cigars
37
purchased in Windsor, Ontario

purchased in Texas

purchased in Chicago

Cigars
38
Partagas – Original band

The
manufacturers
of
Partagas
built
certain
characteristics
into
their
brand
which
make
it

extremely
difficult
to
copy
for
counterfeiters.
The
most
noticeable
are
the
gold
coins
found
on

both
sides
of
the
crest.
These,
along
with
the
crest
and
shields
are
very
detailed
and
raised
for

texture,
along
with
the
gold
border
around
the
logo
and
the
rope
over
the
words
“Cifuentes
y

Cia.”
Note
that
even
though
the
band
has
an
intricate
design,
the
red,
white
and
gold
lettering

are
sharp,
defined
and
do
not
run
into
each
other
at
all.

Partagas – Serie D No. 4 – Original band

This
band
is
only
found
on
the
Serie
D
No.
4
robusto.
It
features
raised
lettering
that
has
a

distinct
shadow.
Another
feature
is
how
the
gold
lettering
and
the
lines
fade
into
the
red

coloring
of
the
background.

Cigars
39
Partagas – Serie D No. 4 – Counterfeit purchased
in Tel Aviv

Partagas – Serie D No. 4 – Counterfeit purchased
in Spain

Punch – Original band

Another
band
that
is
very
difficult
to
counterfeit
effectively.
This
stems
from
the
fact
that
the

band
itself
contains
intricate
detailing
especially
on
the
coins.
The
logo
also
features
rich
colors

and
embossing
on
the
lettering
itself
while
the
red
vertical
lines
are
extremely
sharp.

Cigars
40
Punch – Counterfeit purchased in Nassau,
Bahamas

Punch – Counterfeit purchased in Scotland

Punch – Counterfeit purchased in Panama City

Cigars
41
Punch – Counterfeit purchased in Seoul, South
Korea

Punch – Counterfeit purchased in Canada

Punch – Counterfeit purchased in Northern
California

Cigars
42
Punch – Counterfeit purchased in Vancouver,
British Columbia

Romeo Y Julieta – Original Band

Another
band
to
feature
gold
coins
that
are
raised,
the
Romeo
Y
Julieta
bands
are
very
intricate

and
difficult
to
counterfeit
effectively,
especially
as
most
do
not
contain
the
detail
found
in
the

coins
of
the
original.
Another
standout
feature
is
the
clean,
blocky
lettering
in
the
centerpiece

section.
The
border
itself
is
gold
and
made
up
of
many
dots
that
connect
to
form
a
line.
In

counterfeits,
this
border
is
often
a
solid
line.

Cigars
43
Romeo Y Julieta – Counterfeit purchased in
Nassau, Bahamas

Massachusetts

Miami

Cigars
44
Barcelona

Trinidad – Original Band

Although
this
prestigious
cigar
has
only
been
around
for
two
years,
counterfeiters
have
already

began
producing
fakes.
The
important
things
to
notice
about
the
Trinidad
band
is
the
gold

coloring
which
is
both
soft
and
without
shimmer.
Also
note
the
most
prominent
word,

“Trinidad”.
Finally,
original
Trinidad
cigars
will
have
a
flag
tip
or
pigtail
twist
on
the
cap.

Trinidad – Counterfeit of unknown origin

Cigars
45
Vegas Robaina – Original band

Perhaps
the
most
striking
thing
about
this
band
is
the
beautiful
“R”
which
is
incredibly
sharp

and
crisp.
Notice
also,
the
two
dots
and
the
year
below
the
“R”.
Another
form
of
protection

against
counterfeiting
is
the
very
faint
crease
which
runs
through
the
middle
of
each
small
leaf

in
the
band.
None
of
the
lettering
or
any
other
distinct
marks
on
the
band
are
raised
and
it
has

a
very
medium
luster.

Also
note
the
“Cuba”
and
“Habana”
on
either
side
of
the
“R”.

Vegas Robaina – Original band – Authentic
purchased in Australia

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