When did UV watermarks start showing up?

[gpugliese]

I got bored the other day and purchased one of those handheld UV (blacklight) thingymajiggers because it was on sale for under $10. I went and checked some of a friend's box seals, and all of them had the watermark with only a few exceptions.

All of the LGC MdO #1 boxes from Oct 2000 and a box of Sancho Panza Sanchos from 00 didn't have anything show up under UV. The MdO boxes had something there, but it was either too faded or too light to make it out. I couldn't find anything on the Sanchos seal, but there is a large anti-smoking sticker covering the majority of the seal.

So any idea on when the new seals were introduced with the UV watermarks?

 

[gpugliese]

Oh, I forgot to mention that I have no reason to beleive that any of the boxes are suspect, I was just curious.

 

[Wasch_24]

I can't recall of the top of my head.

 

[cvm4]

Wish I could help, I wanna say when the new warranty seal came out in 01 or 02. But I'm not positive.

 

[cvm4]

Did some digging, seems like there should still be a watermark on your '00 warranty seals. But, it is Cuba.

 

[gpugliese]

Well, I went back and retested them all at night (total darkness), and I can make the coat of arms out on all the LGC's from 00. I can't tell on the Sanchos because it's covered by an anti-smoking sticker that rips up the seal when I try to take it off.

 

[cvm4]

Yup, pretty cool. I've never tested any of mine though. Don't want to find out if they really roll them on virgin thighs :rofl:

 

[AZsteelman]

Yup, pretty cool. I've never tested any of mine though. Don't want to find out if they really roll them on virgin thighs :rofl:

They do...where do you think the smell comes from??????

 

[Trilobyte]

You will also notice the warranty number characters change color in UV as well.

 

[Flea7]

Here is some pics if any of you are wondering what the seals look like under uv. They can range in intensity.

 

[CrazyCanuck]

interesting. I am going to check my recent boxes......never have heard of this before....

 

[Donk]

Is this seal on all current boxes as well? I just bought a box of Partagas, will it have the seal on it?

 

[cvm4]

Should be...But you can't ever judge a box by a seal. It is Cuba afterall.

 

[the nub]

I believe the watermark should be on all the new warranty seals. These would be any seal with serial numbers, appearing first in 2000, though possibly including late 1999 when they had the interim box codes.