Expert: James Yee - 9/1/2009

Question
QUESTION: hi James,

i was wondering what the proper dimensions of the cuban warranty seal are. I have a box from 2002, bought duty free in dubai, with a 49mm wide seal. Several boxes from 07/08 from cigarsofhabanos.com have a 44mm wide seal. The paper and colour are different on the 2 sizes, but I understand this is normal. However, checking on the internet suggests the seal should be 49mm wide. What is your take on this?

cheers, michael

ANSWER: Hi Michael,

For boxes dated between 1999 to early 2009, genuine warranty seals for a large box is 49mm and 20mm for a cardboard carton box.  In 2009, the warranty seal has been changed to 35mm with a hologram and serial barcode for large boxes.  Carton boxes are still 20mm.

Any full-size box from 1999-2009 with a warranty seal that is NOT 49mm is very questionable.  Habanos has never made a 44mm warranty seal.

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

Regards,
James

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi James,

Hope you enjoyed your holiday. Thanks for your quick response, very much appreciated.

I was concerned about seal on the cigarsofhabanos.com boxes, but the cigars were excellent. In previous correspondence you have told me that COH is a very reputable supplier, and Dag Holmboe, CEO of Pacific Cigar Company has also confirmed this. So, I ordered a box of cigars directly from Hunters & Frankau (I work in the alcohol trade) and measured the seal... 44mm. Despite information available online it seems that Habanos did make 44mm seals, as it seems very unlikely that H&F are selling EMS fakes.

Any thoughts? If you have any 2007/8 boxes have you measured the seals for this size?

Cheers, Michael

ANSWER: Hi Michael,

That's very interesting.  I don't have any 2007/8 boxes on hand to measure right now but I know that the warranty seal from 99-09 were 49mm (large boxes) and 20mm (carton boxes).  I just checked several of my boxes (2003-2006) purchased from four different LCDH shops and they all measure 49mm.  (I measured a 2007 box when you first emailed me about this and I remember that box was also 49mm.)  I haven't heard of the seal being 44mm.  There are indeed printing variations of the warranty seal from 99-09 so perhaps a size variation of the seal was also produced.

I'm pretty sure the cigars are genuine (since Pacific Cigar and H&F confirm it) but you can also confirm the authenticity of the boxes by shining a UV black light on the seals.  The UV light should reveal the hidden images on the seal to confirm that it's genuine.

This website also mentions the warranty seals used over the years and their measurements (and UV markings.)  Strangely, it also doesn't mention 44mm seals:
http://www.cubancigarwebsite.com/8-packaging.htm#Seals

Hopes this helps.

James.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: hi again,

I'm probably being stupid, but under UV light I can't find ANY 'watermarks' on the 49 nor 44mm seals. On some of the seals the numbers (but not letters) are printed in UV ink. I think I may be looking for the wrong thing. Is the UV printing quite subtle, or am I doing something fundamentally wrong?

Thanks again for your time, Michael

Answer
Hi Michael,

That's correct.  Under UV, the numbers in the serial code should be fluorescent and a brighter red colour than the letters.  There should also be a hidden image directly above the serial code in either a light neon pink-orange or a light neon yellow colour.

Hopes this helps.

Regards,
James