Counterfeit Montecristo GR's and Cohiba 1966's...

[El Catador]

Fascinating topic and an interesting read.

There are more fake cigars in the world than real ones

That's seems an astonishing claim.. Do you have a source?

[monkey66]

Fascinating topic and an interesting read.



That's seems an astonishing claim.. Do you have a source?

Nope, perhaps a bit poor by me

I guess in my head the general cigar community seems to be of this opinion. Could be wrong of course. But when you look at the numbers of fake Cubans in Cuba, South and North America, Caribbean, Eastern Europe and now China there must be a lot.

[monkey66]

A little update.

The 'square' seal was apparently used on some legitimate products pre Dec 10.

This reinforces the 'real but stolen' theory to the label, and the theory that this is why HSA changed an already new label design.

[donkeydrop]

so am I safe from fakes if I buy from reputable shops like jjfox or the black swan? I buy in singles so never get to see the box labels.

[Aussiewaz]

so am I safe from fakes if I buy from reputable shops like jjfox or the black swan? I buy in singles so never get to see the box labels.

A polite question, why do you not get to see the boxes? Every B&M I have bought from allows me to check the box for date stamp & labelling when buying singles, I pick the cigar from the box myself. Just curious is all.

[monkey66]

so am I safe from fakes if I buy from reputable shops like jjfox or the black swan? I buy in singles so never get to see the box labels.

I wouldn't worry for a second with JJF. Don't know the Black Swan but if they are supplied by H and F direct all should be good.

[donkeydrop]

I buy online in singles, if I went to the shop I could see the boxes but the shop is 90 miles away!

[Aussiewaz]

I buy online in singles, if I went to the shop I could see the boxes but the shop is 90 miles away!

Ah yes, that makes sense then.

[donkeydrop]

we do have a cigar shop in Huddersfield but unfortunately I cant get in to the place as its a listed building and does not have a ramp for my chair

[donkeydrop]

thanks monkey ill check with kriss at the black swan but im sure he is with h and f

[SmokeyDave]

Back off my month holiday and just read through this post, very interesting reading, especially as my job is Reprographics.

I can say that to reproduce a Cohiba box design is an absolute breeze, it is not exactly complex in make up and design, probably an hours work for me on a Mac if I have a real box to reference.

Set up costs for the Foil blocking isn't expensive for a counterfeit setup, maybe ?700.00 a design roughly.

Anyone who is a printer will be used to colour matching special inks.

An old print press can be bought pretty cheaply, but to be honest if the outfit is into counterfeiting on a large scale it's peanuts to them.

And as a final thought, up until recently Leicester (where I live) used to be the counterfeit capital of Europe.

[Aussiewaz]

Leicester (where I live) used to be the counterfeit capital of Europe.

Ah hah! Got any of those glass top boxes laying around that I may purchase at a premium? LOL. Just kidding as your input is interesting.

[cigarsam]

what we need is an app on mobiles which can scan the boxes and verify if they are real or not!

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