UV code on bands verification

[BlakeG25]

Hey y'all. Question for everyone. Should all Cohiba bands have the UV? Or does it vary by year? Also should all Montecristo bands have the UV “MC”? Attached are some 2021 Siglo VIs with codes and newer ones without codes. As well as a Monte 2 with the “MC” and Especial without. Also some Robusto tubos without codes.

[BoliDan]

I don't have any input, because I know/trust my sources and never bother to put them under the microscope. Regardless, I don't trust Habanos S.A. to operate 100% accurately and I still wouldn't think much if one of my sources turned up with no dots.

If a factory runs out of newer bands, you can bet all the money in your wallet that the floor manager is running to the back to get old/out-of-date bands in order to make his quota look better. 

[ATGroom]

All Cohiba and Montecristo since 2014 or so should have the UV marks.

There was a well publicised batch of Cohiba bands in 2023 that were produced without the UV as a factory error, and there have been occasional boxes of cigars that otherwise track as genuine but don't have the UV for as long as there has been the UV.

The serial number on the Cohiba bands is also frequently removed when a larger band is trimmed down to fit smaller cigars. This is usually obvious as the end of the band is a bit ragged from being cut by scissors vs the cleaner cut from the industrial guillotine at the printworks.

Also, fake cigars have had the UV for as long as the UV has been widely known about, at least since 2017.

So all in all, while they should have it, whether they have it or not is not really meaningful in determining the authenticity of the cigar.

[TheGipper]

Also, make sure you have a good 365nm blacklight flashlight. I have two, one generic UV flashlight that isn't specifically 365nm light and I can't really see the marks on bands with it. But with the 365nm flashlight they are very clear.

 

[BlakeG25]

I just saw that too. Was looking into it.

[Zonum]

Good to know didn’t know the UV was a thing.