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Secondly, I've always wanted to document my findings somewhere. Might as well do it in public so everyone can see em and benefit (and add on)
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Coming from a city with such strong ties to Cuba, we've been flooded with grey market cigars everywhere. Here in Canada, people go down to Cuba for vacation because of the cheap prices and because of the fast flight. They also bring back cigars even if they're not cigar smokers.
This includes cigars from the resort, from the street, and even from some random bloke on the beach. We should all know never to buy those cigars as the only authentic ones are from the Factories, Aeroports, or large city stores.
I've learned through experience how to detect fakies and confirm real ones. This is a skill that has saved me quite a bundle and has just helped me develop in general.
2008 and Earlier
These Fauxibas were SO much easier to detect than the ones nowadays. You can just tell with a bat of an eye that these are fake. I don't think I would need to explain it to anyone. But let's do it just in case.
If you were to google "Fake Cigars," this is what comes up first. And it's everyone's reference point.
(all pictures are from this link: http://havanajournal.com/cigars/cohibas )
This link and explanations could've sufficed for something 5 years ago. And maybe they can still apply to some boxes.
Single Sticks
As you can see from this photo, the bands normally always give it away. REAL_FAKE_TIPS_COHIBA_CIGARS.jpg
REMEMBER. That the world's most counterfitted cigar is the Cohiba Esplendido. Every other cigar ad on the grey market here is for fake Esplendidos going for 100-400 dollars. I have only seen one real box in the grey market in my life.
With Cohibas, you must check:
-The white squares. Are they small enough? Are they lined up nicely. Are ANY cut off by the gold sash or the top of the band? ARE THERE THREE LINES OF THEM!?
-The Habana, Cuba label. Is it fine and black? It must be PERFECT. The comma is supposed to be AFTER the Habana. Not after the Habana and then a space and then the comma.
-COHIBA. Is the writing nice, bumpy, and in line with the bumps?
For almost all other cigars:
-Colour. Is the band nice and deep? Any sort of lightness or brightness in the ink contrast is a bad sign.
-Is the band wrapped all the way around? The band's sticker should not finish or appear to be touching the writing on the cigar's label.
-Centered and margins. Are these all correct?
-Triple caps. Are they all triple capped or more? I know the RYJ Churchills should have 4 caps on them
-SMOOTHNESS. Do they feel smooth to the touch? Are they very veiny or discoloured? This is something that will only come with experience. Are they colorado maduro when they should be colorado claro? You should be able to tell the smoothness of the cigar and know if it's fake or not by the wrapper.
-The foot. Can the cigar stand up on its foot? If it can, it's had a nice clean cut and should be good.
Boxes
Now most of the time, you're not buying singles anymore. You're buying boxes right? Well when it comes to things before 2008, they are just not careful with their boxes and branding:
Take a look at the images, why not.
But what I have personally learned from cigar boxes is to check a few things:
-Writing. Is the writing Centered? Is it engraved in black in the box? Is the writing nice and thick or does it have small scratches and scuffs everywhere?
-Habanos White Band. These are perfect on EVERY box. Fake or not i've seen em on every box...... However, if someone says that the stickers haven't been placed on yet, they're fake. No doubt about it. They're fake.
-Green Cohiba Sticker. These vary from box to box. Make sure they're decently think and that they have the bar code on the side of the box. Then make sure the hologram is on the other end of the sticker and on the top of the box. No other box is legit this way. Also check it for colouring and just general artsy-ness. Is it aligned? Is it a nice green? Is it finely printed and not blurry?
-Overall make. If it doesn't look professional, or if something's just off, then it's not good! If there's no gloss, if it's damaged EVERYWHERE. Etc.
-Hinges and openings. Check for nice durable nails and metal fittings. Check that they are professionally made.
-Bottom of the box Date and Factory Code. Make sure the date is stamped in ENGLISH three letter abbreviation on the bottom of the box. Not burnt in. Make sure it's stamped.
-BAR CODE NUMBER. Just bring the bar code over to www.habanos.com/sellos and confirm they're real. Should be good enough.
-PRICE. If a bloke's selling a box of esplendidos for 100 quid, it's bollocks. They go for like 350 quid in Cuba. Why is he selling it to you for 100!? My other blog comments have the price listings so do a nice comparison there. Who knows though, maybe he is just a tad of an eejit and doesn't know the price.......
I have a feeling I am forgetting some things. But that should be the gist of it for now.
In a few days, I will start the first of my other blog entries where I review fake cigars and fake boxes from different years. I might just buy a box of fake ones in the next few days to illustrate tot you my points. They make great pipe stuffers!
