Off Center Montecristo bands

[PuffPuffSigh]

So I'm trying a new source. Ordered 2 samplers and a box of Cuaba Exclusivos. Just got them and they're resting now. I looked the montecristo bands on the petit edmundo, No 2, No 4 and they are off center slightly. I was about to yell fake and kick rocks but I thought I'd get some opinions on whether the bands actually come off center. It's more noticeable in person but I took some pics next to a petit edmundo I got from LCDH. (it is
embossed, not as crisp and deep on the fleur de lis but it's definitely embossed.) As you can see, the left is perfectly centered while the suspect one skews right.

(I've removed theses pics because they were not really demonstrating what I was describing. I'll post a new one later)

white circle off center in band

 

[socalsailor]

It is a bit fuzzy. The embossing seems less crisp overall, no arguing that, but the band itself seems to be a less saturated brown/maroon also. Subject one to the smoke test, or do a dissection and see if the guts look up to par.

 

[PuffPuffSigh]

The fuzziness is due to my phone taking a close up picture of it. It's pretty clean and crisp. The color difference is also largely due to the lighting. They are very close. The main difference is the position of the printing. I used to think that if it wasn't perfectly centered it was a dead give away as a fake but I've now heard other people say that quality problems have lead to off center real bands so I'm not sure. I'll smoke it once it's settled from shipping. Dissection in my experience is usually not useful since it won't tell you much about a higher quality fake and if it's scraps inside than you can almost certainly be sure it's fake when you taste it even without cutting it open.

 

[socalsailor]

Fair enough. The comparison in sharpness in my comment was just based on the two shown in the picture, but they aren't in the same portion of the lens, for sure. Could just be me, or, I have a feeling even Cuban rollers have an off QA day. You're probably fine.

 

[PuffPuffSigh]

Keen observations on the pic though, I should have stated that in my original posts.

My question is to the printing on the band though, so not the rollers issue. I've never seen an embossed Monte band that was off center, they're always spot on so that's what's got me concerned. Since I can't smoke it until I've let it rest in the wineador for a while to recover from the shipping, I can't tell yet. Perhaps I should just stick to my old source. There's no doubt there, but it's just more expensive =(

 

[stukibuilt]

Just commenting on the band being out of register, that doesn't mean it's fake. That happens to everyone, but Cuba doesn't discard them like other producers may. I've seen bands across the marcas that were out of register where the cigars were undoubtedly authentic. You need to base this on something other than that. Not that is isn't annoying, but it's not a death blow to the credibility of the source.

 

[eastcoast paul]

I have seen that with monti while in cuba at official cigar locations, they seen to use them anyway. The exception to that seems to be cohiba, they treat them as the top line (understandably) and the other lines as seconds.

 

[Nacho Daddy]

it is nothing.smoke them and smile....

 

[pbibby]

it is nothing.smoke them and smile....

I agree here. That's absolutely nothing to worry about IMO

 

[boltman]

Does anyone have a picture of a known fake Monty band? It would be interesting to compare.

 

[mistaforty]

I do but I'm not home for an hour or 2

 

[stukibuilt]

A lot of fake monte bands I've seen are copies of the old style bands without embossing or gloss.

 

[pbibby]

I think we're all forgetting that we are talking about Cuba here. It's never perfect.

 

[danmdevries]

I've had several like that, a bit off center. Smoked the same as the ones that were centered. So either it was an excellent 100% clone, or sometimes they come with imperfect bands.

 

[mistaforty]

With regard to your band tho the band I have is a damn near tapioca color glossy and smooth with NO embossing doubt it will help in comparison but I'll post it
It's actually on the forum already some where

 

[PuffPuffSigh]

Sounds like there is a consensus. The newer Monte bands can be imperfect despite my experience. I'll hold off the rest of the judgment and worry until I've had one of them later this week.

I'm hoping this new source is good, it'll save me a good amount. My LCDH is significantly more expensive but I never have any question as to authenticity.

 

[PuffPuffSigh]

With regard to your band tho the band I have is a damn near tapioca color glossy and smooth with NO embossing doubt it will help in comparison but I'll post it

honestly, the only real differences I can detect is #2 things

1. The embossing is not quite as deep on the questionable one. But even on this point it's a VERY VERY slight difference, way less than the picture looks.
2. The printing is off center, the white circle is not in the center of the brown band circle.

that's it. I probably shouldn't have posted the picture. It makes it look like there's more differences. And in real life it's more off center than it appears in the picture so posting it was doubly useless. =D

 

[mistaforty]

One other thing I've noticed on 'feit montes is the design should be overlapped by the band and I've seen the design stop short of the over lap on counterfeits

 

[Nacho Daddy]

rookie paranoia........get over it.
I have seen lots of mistakes from Cuba,they are mistakes,not fakes.
If you want a better opinion,we need pics of the box,seal,code,etc.
Don't get worked up over a flawed band.............CAN I GET AN AMEN?.............

 

[PuffPuffSigh]

rookie paranoia........get over it.
I have seen lots of mistakes from Cuba,they are mistakes,not fakes.
If you want a better opinion,we need pics of the box,seal,code,etc.
Don't get worked up over a flawed band.............CAN I GET AN AMEN?.............

15 years smoking habanos, wouldn't call me a rookie.
I've seen plenty of variation in bands as well, just not in these newer embossed montecristos which in my experience have been very consistent so far.
It came out of a sampler put together by the seller so no box, seal, code, etc
Not worked up. Just asking a question on a forum, not running around with my head on fire.
You can stuff your amen.