Posted: 12/11/2011 3:03:24 PM EDT
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Hello all. There are two boxes of cigars that I would like to know their story (Besides where they were made obviously). I was wondering if any of you here knew of any way to track these boxes and find out who they had been sold to or any other information including if they are authentic. I would like to know because of the Arabic writing on them.
The boxes are of some Cohibas and some Monecristos. I will post a few pictures and I can get more if needed. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you! 
Can anyone translate that Arabic? 
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Turn the boxes over.
In the middle, take pics of the burned and stamped detail. Should have a plant ID code and then a box date.... That one looks funky....should be like... Dic 08, Jan 10...etc. The labels are tax stamps and don't tell very much. The center info on the back is what we need to see. The one you show is confusing. Need a clearer pic please. |
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Not trying to rain on your parade...but I hate to see someone get swindled.
Those Cohibas don't look right. The tinfoil and the bands are a dead giveaway for fakes. And there should be a Habanos Brand hologram label on the boxes. I should add, unless they are a pretty old box... I would need a closer look at the stamped label and bands on those Monty's. But as stated, The date codes are usually much more legible. Most have a 3 letter code that designated what factory they came from then there with be a 3 letter month code followed by a 2 digit year code. If you want more info I can get you some sites and you can learn more about the "forbidden fruit". |
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OP.... Let's tread lightly here. IM is appropriate for this resolution. All....remember the caution when dealing with ISOM..... Nuf said....OK! As long as there is NO talk of retailers of such things. We shouldn't just run people off looking to further their knowledge of origins of cigars. Sometimes its gets pretty old seeing the same old what NC should I try next...unless we just shoo everyone over to another site that has a whole sub-forum for such cigars. Even if it is just the occasional Fakery Identification. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
OP.... Let's tread lightly here. IM is appropriate for this resolution. All....remember the caution when dealing with ISOM..... Nuf said....OK! As long as there is NO talk of retailers of such things. We shouldn't just run people off looking to further their knowledge of origins of cigars. Sometimes its gets pretty old seeing the same old what NC should I try next...unless we just shoo everyone over to another site that has a whole sub-forum for such cigars. Even if it is just the occasional Fakery Identification. That is not what is going on here. We can bring it all back when resolved but we need to be careful. Ounce of prevention. |
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Well I will add that after some diggin the crest for the other label is the Spain coat of arms.
So now you have boxes deemed for sale in Spain(if they are real labels at all) with Arab writing and what look like pretty good examples of fakes. Not sure your going to get any more detailed than that. |
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Quoted:
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OP.... Let's tread lightly here. IM is appropriate for this resolution. All....remember the caution when dealing with ISOM..... Nuf said....OK! As long as there is NO talk of retailers of such things. We shouldn't just run people off looking to further their knowledge of origins of cigars. Sometimes its gets pretty old seeing the same old what NC should I try next...unless we just shoo everyone over to another site that has a whole sub-forum for such cigars. Even if it is just the occasional Fakery Identification. That is not what is going on here. We can bring it all back when resolved but we need to be careful. Ounce of prevention. I see what your saying Echo... but no harm in giving general "googled" info that doesn't relate to any purchase info. Maybe I misunderstood the OP...but it doesn't look like he is looking for retailers. Just some info of suspect cigars. |
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Not trying to rain on your parade...but I hate to see someone get swindled. Those Cohibas don't look right. The tinfoil and the bands are a dead giveaway for fakes. And there should be a Habanos Brand hologram label on the boxes. I should add, unless they are a pretty old box... I would need a closer look at the stamped label and bands on those Monty's. But as stated, The date codes are usually much more legible. Most have a 3 letter code that designated what factory they came from then there with be a 3 letter month code followed by a 2 digit year code. If you want more info I can get you some sites and you can learn more about the "forbidden fruit". Actually, those Cohiba labels look like the labels from the early 1990s and may be genuine. http://www.cigaraficionado.com/counterfeit/view/id/15404 They look a little loose which may be of concern. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Not trying to rain on your parade...but I hate to see someone get swindled. Those Cohibas don't look right. The tinfoil and the bands are a dead giveaway for fakes. And there should be a Habanos Brand hologram label on the boxes. I should add, unless they are a pretty old box... I would need a closer look at the stamped label and bands on those Monty's. But as stated, The date codes are usually much more legible. Most have a 3 letter code that designated what factory they came from then there with be a 3 letter month code followed by a 2 digit year code. If you want more info I can get you some sites and you can learn more about the "forbidden fruit". Actually, those Cohiba labels look like the labels from the early 1990s and may be genuine. http://www.cigaraficionado.com/counterfeit/view/id/15404 They look a little loose which may be of concern. True and without a good look at the date code and closer look at the bands and capas its hard to say. It's also not unheard of to have real bands on fakes, in fact good fakes should have real bands on them. All those people that take the band off for keepsakes, I'm sure there would be a good market for forgers to purchase those bands for good money if they are selling $400 dollar boxes of fakes. And they could look loose due to the cigar being bone dry( as they look pretty beat/poor construction as is). I figured I wouldn't play devils advocate as they just look too darn suspect 
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Top box....so confirms my first thought...so not real!
Date code way off...not even a date code. Second box has potential. Looks burned in like it should be and that is a legit factory and date pattern...but, it is sloppy. There would not be a hologram on the tax stamp IF they are really from 2001. Regardless of authenticity...they have storage issues. They look dry and bounced about especially the Cohibas but even some of the Montes look rough in a full stack box. But hey....who really cares. Smoke them if you want. Pass them out to your friends if you want. Send them to me if all else fails. Worth a shot right?!? But....keep the Cohibas....had enough of those fake sticks already. Let's see what the hive has to say.... |
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Top box....so confirms my first thought...so not real! Date code way off...not even a date code. Second box has potential. Looks burned in like it should be and that is a legit factory and date pattern...but, it is sloppy. There would not be a hologram on the tax stamp IF they are really from 2001. Regardless of authenticity...they have storage issues. They look dry and bounced about especially the Cohibas but even some of the Montes look rough in a full stack box. But hey....who really cares. Smoke them if you want. Pass them out to your friends if you want. Send them to me if all else fails. Worth a shot right?!? But....keep the Cohibas....had enough of those fake sticks already. Let's see what the hive has to say.... have to agree with the above. The Cohibas are VERY suspect for all the reasons already mentioned. The Monte's look muck more likely to be real, But, odd and nit-picky as it seems, the fact the bands are not all lined up facing directly out, could be a tip-off as well, unless these have been heavily jostled, removed, etc. The Cubans are pretty anal about presentation, and arranging their cigars near perfectly (always darkest to lightest wrappers, left to right respectively, band always facing forward, and all lined up) is a big deal to them, and also a possible sign of fakes, or at least some kind of unusual handling or treatment. My opinion is the Cohibas are almost 100% certainly fake, the Montecristos don't have any obvious issues, other than the bands I mentioned (minor, and I suppose it could happen in shipping, but ever box of Cubans I have ever personally gotten has had the bands all snug fitting, all in the exact same spot on each cigar, and all facinf near perfectly outward, even after international shipping,) A clos- up of the bands on them might allow better judgement though. All that said, I would certainly sacrifice one of each and cut it lengthwise with a knife/razor to inspect, if there is ANY doubt, as fakes have been known to contain nasty stuff you don't want to inhale like rubber bits, plastics, general floor sweeping dirt, dental floss, etc. If they look safe though, I would certainly give them a try, as I once had a box of fake Partgas Coronas senior's, that for the price, were a great tasting cigar to me, so other than being pissed on principle, I was quite happy with the flavor for the price. Sometimes people catch a break and luck out and get untainted,good tasting to them, smokes for a decent price anyway. |
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Hate to say it, but the Monty's look pretty fake to me. Either they're fake or the rollers that day were lazy as shit, I've never seen such poor quality. If the box is legit and they have not been well maintained....they could look like that but....he will need to cut one open and see what's inside unless he is REALLY sure at least that box has potential to be the real deal.....with serious storage issues....most likely drier than a popcorn fart! |
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Well that is very interesting. Thank you all for the good information, I will pass it along to the interested party.
From what I am told, they have been tossed around quite a bit. I also know they are not kept in proper humidity and yes, i would believe a popcorn fart would be an accurate way to describe them. They are more for sentimental value than smoking value to the owner at this time. Anyone have an idea where we could get that Arabic translated? Thanks again. |
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Quoted: Well that is very interesting. Thank you all for the good information, I will pass it along to the interested party. From what I am told, they have been tossed around quite a bit. I also know they are not kept in proper humidity and yes, i would believe a popcorn fart would be an accurate way to describe them. They are more for sentimental value than smoking value to the owner at this time. Anyone have an idea where we could get that Arabic translated? Thanks again. It says "dryer than a popcorn fart" echo already told you....... 
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Quoted:
Well that is very interesting. Thank you all for the good information, I will pass it along to the interested party. From what I am told, they have been tossed around quite a bit. I also know they are not kept in proper humidity and yes, i would believe a popcorn fart would be an accurate way to describe them. They are more for sentimental value than smoking value to the owner at this time. Anyone have an idea where we could get that Arabic translated? Thanks again. I have three folks on campus that I have sent the message to. I am waiting for them to respond. If you get me in trouble, I WILL find you....I have certain skils. |
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Hate to say it, but the Monty's look pretty fake to me. Either they're fake or the rollers that day were lazy as shit, I've never seen such poor quality. If the box is legit and they have not been well maintained....they could look like that but....he will need to cut one open and see what's inside unless he is REALLY sure at least that box has potential to be the real deal.....with serious storage issues....most likely drier than a popcorn fart! Agreed. It is also possible that the box and bands are legit, but the sticks are not, I've seen this afew times. A Guy would buy a box, take the sticks out, then reband whatever and sell them as authentic to those tthat wouldn't know the difference. |