Damaged bands?


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Hey folks,

I bought a box of HUpmann Mag 48s from Dubai Duty free on my way back from a recent trip. I inspected the cigars at the store but paid no attention at all to the bands. The cigars look like good quality cigars to me and smoke great for me anyway (only had one so far though).

The bands however are mostly "damaged". Its almost like the upmann band is rusting and and the LE band is melting or something.

post-15810-0-24763000-1369110417_thumb.j

Anyone seen this before and know how/why this would happen.

Cheers

Mus

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Yikes

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Mus sorry to say bro, they are fakes - Ill be happy to help by getting rid of those bad fake cigars for you innocent.gif

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Just looks like they may have been stored in an over humidified environment & the bands discolored or "rusted -like" in some spots. I'd still keep and smoke the cigars, though.

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Oh there is no problem with the cigars i don't think, there isn't any residues or anything transferring from band to cigar either, its just a degrading band. I wasn't concerned about the legitimacy of the cigars just curious to know what would cause such a thing. Cheers for the feedback guys.

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Hi Mus

You will find that the gold is overprinted on the black background ,and vibration and movement has caused it rub in certain areas

Hope this puts your mind to rest

P.S the smokes will be fine

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Happens all the time. Especially when the bands have a lot of gold or red on them it seems. I remember a member here stating that it had something to do with the dye used in printing and that ERDM was especially hard hit with ugliness like this (I can't find the thread though). It has zero effect on your smoke though, so no worries.

Exactly, it is copper based colours which react with the tobacco oil

especially when a little over humidified it seems.

But as Shlomo has stated, there is no effect on the smoking experience -

Cheers, Alex

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...bands have a lot of gold or red on them it seems. I remember a member here stating that it had something to do with the dye used in printing...

That is what I was going to suggest too. I suspect the gold ink used has copper? or chromium? (a chemistry buff can clarify) in it as I notice many bands like the H. Upmann ones are prone to develope a dark green discolouration when aged.

However, I must say the pic in the OP looks like a printing issue. Can't really tell for sure as the pic is not very clear.

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Bring a couple on the 16th of June ...and I will bring a couple of mine to compare . Mine are a little smudged as well. I have seen this before though. It is not always the bands sometimes the box's are pretty rough as well even with EL's . So long as you are happy with the cigars then all is good.

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Hi Mus

You will find that the gold is overprinted on the black background ,and vibration and movement has caused it rub in certain areas

Hope this puts your mind to rest

P.S the smokes will be fine

Ahhhhhhh. Have some Monti sublimes with this ..Explains it..Thanks mate.

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Hi Mus

You will find that the gold is overprinted on the black background ,and vibration and movement has caused it rub in certain areas

Hope this puts your mind to rest

P.S the smokes will be fine

Exactly, it is copper based colours which react with the tobacco oil

especially when a little over humidified it seems.

But as Shlomo has stated, there is no effect on the smoking experience -

Cheers, Alex

That just looks like oxidation.

To the OP, if you combine all of the above, you have your answer. I believe it's something that's found on Trevor's website as well, and it's in the Encyclopaedia too I think.

Years back, on all these bands with gold embossing and whatnot, it used to be actual gold leaf that was used. After the cost started to get so exorbanent, the gold embossing/ink/paint has been replaced by one with a copper-based paint (something that I think I remember reading started transitioning during the 1920's through to 50's); similar to how certain automotive paints have powdered mica in them to make them sparkle, this modern-day "gold" ink/paint has powdered copper in it to give it it's colour and appearance.

However, this copper paint is applied last, and over other inks/paints on the lithography of those bands. So, when it's excessively humid or wet, the copper will smudge and will discolour into that green appearance (similar to how a penny left in the rain will turn green). And, with the bands, it also doesn't necessarily mean that your cigars were kept in an excessively humid/damp environment - it could have easily happened during manufacturing and packaging in the factory (maybe it happened during the rainy season, and the rollers' hands were wet), but the cigars themselves could still be fine.

So, no issue, not a sign of fakes or anything drastic like that. The cigars themselves look nice and good. Enjoy them!

Cheers.

When I read the title, I thought it would be a light-hearted follow-on from cracked feet...

Me too! LOL.

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