Cigar Aficionado

Romeo y Julieta is one of Cuba’s larger cigar brands, with a vast portfolio of sizes. The brand’s origin dates back to 1875. The band is a glossy red with white lettering, ornate gold borders and detailed coins. While the Romeo y Julieta band is consistent across the entire brand, there are some slight modifications for a few of the sizes. The Romeo y Julieta Churchill, along with Short Churchill, Wide Churchill and Petit Churchill, all contain secondary bands that are gold with black lettering. The Romeo y Julieta Cedros de Luxe No. 1 places the band on the cigar’s cedar sleeve, while the cigar itself is naked. 

1) Lines To The Band’s Edge
The gold lines that run inside the ridged-gold border should run all the way to the edge of the band. If these lines do not extend to the end of the red background, the band may not be authentic. 

2) Clear Detail On Embossed Coins 
The three gold coins that are featured on both sides of the Romeo y Julieta logo should be raised and detailed. Run your finger over the coins and examine the detail closely. Any flattened areas or imperfections in the silhouettes of the faces will be a telltale sign of a fake band. 

3) Embossed Borders
The gold beaded borders that run on the outside of the red background, as well as the ovals found at the center of the logo, should be raised.

4) Lettering
Previous iterations of the bands once contained the words “Rodríguez, Argüelles y Cia.” Some fakes may contain that stamp, but current authentic Romeo y Julieta cigars will have the brand name up top with Habana, Cuba (separated by a small white dot) below it. At the center, the band now reads “Desde 1875.” 

5) Gold Beads On Border
Pay attention to the consistency of the gold beads that make up the border. There should be an equal amount of space between each one, and the embossment should be even throughout. 

Submit A Fake

Think you may have purchased or smoked a fake Cuban cigar? Let us be the judge. Send any questionable Cuban band(s), along with a brief description of how/where you obtained the cigar(s), to our office address below. Due to the high volume of mail we receive, a response isn't guaranteed.

Cigar Aficionado 
c/o Counterfeit Cigars
825 8th Avenue, 33rd Floor
New York, NY 10019