Expert: James Yee - 11/18/2009

Question
Mr. Yee,

I received a box of putative Partagas 898 cigars (that look and taste fine - I've smoked hundreds), but the Warranty Seal (which looks fine and is in the right place) has another smaller version (same design, brighter green) over part of it.  I've never seen two such seals.  

Further the smaller seal has a holographic tab on the end with the Habanos logo in tiny repetition and the text "Aqui su Garantia" over each logo.  

The box (varnished) has no factory code on its base and no Habanos logo strip over a corner.

Is the box legitimate?

Finally, I've seen the Habanos logo strip in different formats:  a gold stripe along each outer edge; and a gold stripe complemented by a fine black stripe within along each edge.  Are they both legitimate?

Thank you.

John

Answer
Hi John,

First, the Habanos chevron sticker does exist with and without the fine black lines.  The version with the black lines was in use between 1994 to 2004 before it was discontinued and replaced by the sticker without the black lines in 2005.  The sticker without the black lines is the current sticker used by Habanos.  The new sticker also has the words "DENOMINACION DE ORIGEN PROTEGIDA" beneath the word "Habanos".

In regards to the warranty seal, does the warranty seal (with the hologram tab) have a serial barcode?  This warranty seal is actually the new 2009 seal and should have a serial number and barcode on the opposite end of the hologram.  There's actually two variations of this warranty seal: a large one with a serial number/barcode and a smaller one without the serial number/barcode.  The larger seal is for dress and cabinet boxes while the smaller version is for cardboard packs.

If your box has the seal with a serial number and barcode, it is genuine.

Hopes this answers your question.  If you have any more questions, please feel free to just ask and I will be happy to help.

Regards,
James