How to spot counterfeits

[Stevieboy]

Check out these dreadful fakes

LOL


Cohiba Esplendidos

Bought in 'Real Fabrica de Tabacos Partagas' in Havana, Cuba. The box has the official government hologram on itself as you can view in the picture (all cohiba boxes without the hologram are fake). I am selling the cigars cheaper than the official price in the UK, which is about ?760 pounds as they are an unwanted present.


I wrote to the guy saying he'd been duped and he wrote a nice letter back:

The Cigars are not fakes.

The actual story behind them (which I could not disclose on e-bay) is that they were given to me by someone who works in the Cohiba factory in Holguin. The seals are not on them due to the fact that the person wanted to show me that they were not fake as I know what I am looking for!!.

They have all the nessesary paperwork which has not been glued on (for the reason meantioned above). They have the raised gold lettering on the Cohiba label on the actual cigar, they are the correct measurement 15mm, the correct clasp on the ceader wood box i.e. not silver pins but gold pins. Must I go on? These cigars are far from fake. Like I have stated in the advert if you are not 100% happy then I will refund the money in full??

Any more questions do not hesitate to call or mail!!

Regards

Poor sod!! He either thinks they're real or that I'll think they're real...

Anyone fancy a box split

[yankeefan]

ah yes i have never been to mexico but i am familiar with the lcdh in mexico, moises down there is a good man. if you are unhappy with whatever you buy from him he will exchange it for you.

[Stevieboy]

Dave - so it's the length of a Siglo V and as thin as a panatella....and before the perverts read this I'm talking about a cigar

I've checked in MRN's book and I've nae idea Big Fellah

[daverave999]

Ha ha! After all this time I've assumed it was countefeit and it might not have been! I'm still suspicious of the ring gauge though, having found out how they are made. Surely the wooden mould or whatever you want to call it that they put them in before they are wrapped would have to be sized correctly?

The other cigar I was given at the same time was banded Cohiba, and measures 169mm by 34 or 36 ring gauge, and was also in cellophane. Care to speculate on that one? I'll post some pics tomorrow as I'm off out soon. I can find no Cohiba listed that fits that size!

[TJCoro]

P.S. on the cellophane factor

One me thing I forgot to mention regarding cello, senor dave.

I have been in several cigar shops in Mexico, including a La Casa de Habanas, that provide cellophane at the counter for single puro purchases. So like senor stevieboy, I will reinterate...cellophane on a puro is not an automatic indicator of a counterfeit.

Names TJ, TJCoro, and BJ reminded me of that one.

[TJCoro]

It's the real thing?

I'm with young stevielad on this one - cello is not a automatic disclaimer (stevielad taught me that one), but neither is the ring size.

I know someone who purchased a box of puros (Bolivar RCs) from a La Casa de Habanas in Mexico a few years ago that varied quite widely in terms of the ring size. According to my amigo, everything else was spot on, including the taste. The proprietor of the LCdH offered to exchange them due to the inconsistency and added that they should have been rejected at the factory. In otherwords, they were authentic puros but were not constructed to the strict standards for Habanas.

My friend decided to keep the puros since they smoked fine, and now he has quite a treasure after 7 years of aging ! (box date 2002). I had the pleasure to try one and was convinced of the benefits of aging fine Habana puros!

So like senor CJ, I will stick my neck out,but unlike senor CJ, I think you likely have an authentic puro.

But what the hell do I know???

I'm TJ, TJCoro Damn It! And I know a fine puro when I smoke it.

[daverave999]

I tried a couple of different ways. Mainly resting it next to a ruler. The difference in size would be 3mm diameter roughly, which is quite a lot. I did also wrap a tape measure round it and do some maths. It was nowhere NEAR what it should have been.
I'm visiting the guy who gave it to me tonight and taking a selection of sticks with me so he can have one, and I'll mention it in passing to find out where it came from. Not going to say I think it's fake of course as that would just be rude!

[Stevieboy]

I have Monte #2s from two different reputable sources and both types have overlap on the band just like yours Dave. In fact, my Especial #1s also have overlap as does the #4.
The fact that it's cello wrapped doesn't automatically mean it's fake as some retailers pack their singles in cello to protect them in transit. If it's a box of 25 or 10 you've got then deffo fake.
The biggest give-away is the slim ring gauge. From the way the cigar is bunched in the pic of the foot, to the pic of the head....all looks good. Was it a standard ring gauge you passed the cigar through or was it a tape-measure or something?

[Ryan]

If that cigar was sold as a Monte 2 and you are sure that it is no more than a 46 ring gauge, it is definitely fake.
Ring gauge in a box of real cuban cigars will vary a little sometimes but never by that much.
If the cellophane was machine applied, that is, still smooth not crinkly and the ends folded very neatly and evenly, the cigar was definitely fake.
A vendor may have placed by hand the cellophane on a cigar, in which case it has only a 99% chance of being fake.
If the cigar was bought in Mexico by somebody who did not know where exactly to buy cigars it has a 99% chance of being fake.
The band might be real, it doesn't matter.

[cj121]

I've only got one at the mo' to compare it with Dave.
Banding looks a little iffy: the Cubans are normally meticulous with getting them right (as I understand) which may be determined by the ring guage issue you highlight. My specimen measures up, as should, at 52: put a 52 guage band on a slimmer stick and you're going to get slight overlap as in the pic eh? I'm going to stick my neck out and say counterfeit.

[whisky77]

cellophane?

Apart from the cellophane it does look like the real deal from the photographs, however as far as i`m aware the No2 has never been offered in cellophane.

[daverave999]

52. I checked so many times it's ridiculous, seeing if I'd measured it wrong or something.

[TJCoro]

I'll find out where he bought it, but the ring gauge being that far off is a major sign no?

Yeah...that could be. Not sure what the ring size is supposed to be - 50 perhaps?

[daverave999]

I'll find out where he bought it, but the ring gauge being that far off is a major sign no?

[TJCoro]

Senor Dave,

Hello, my name is BJ, BJCoro, and I sometimes post for TJ,

At first glance, the puro looks pretty good, actually, except for the last picture of the band (I will compare it to some of my monty's later). And the cellephane is a problem. But based on your pictures alone, I don't immediatly spot a problem.

Please sir, tell us where you bought it. It is possible, but highly risky, to buy authentic Habanas in Mexico.

I am BJ, BJCoro, and that's my snap opinion.