I understand the "box code" concept. What I need to know is this: Where do I find the box codes to match what a "potential" vendor might send me? Please advise because I am about 48 hours from Mazatlan Mexico. I have samples of all the genuine bands forreference, but it sounds like the codes are the sure-fire way of proving authenticity. Thanks

You gotta be careful when purchasing Cubanos. Real bands, and real boxes does not necesarly mean real cigars, specially in Mexico!! LOL

I would pay attention to the cigar, depending on what you are buying. Look at the box as a whole, are all the cigars the same? Do they all look familiar, look at the caps, are they 3ple, pig tail, etc....

But even then, I have seen some real good counterfits, like I always say, the real test is in the smoking. To be on the safer side anytime you go into a foreign country and try to purchase from the dark side, allways go to an authorized retailer. Stay away from tourist shops, coffe shops and hotel shops, unless ofcoarse this are authorizes Habanos retailer!!

Great Coma, but you didn't tell me where to find the box codes or how to assure authenticity.

1 Pre Revolutionary Years / Cubatabaco / Habanos S.A.

pre-revolutionary boxes were stamped: "MADE IN HAVANA-CUBA"

1961 this stamp was changed to: "HECHO EN CUBA"

1985 Cubatabaco started using date codes

1989 Cubatabaco introduced the stamp: "Totalmente a Mano"

1994 Cubatabaco changed to the Habanos S.A. logo.

2 NIVELACUSO

2.1 Date Code

N I V E L A C U S O

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0

2.2 Factory Code

Havana Factories

BM Briones Montoto (Belascoain 852, Havana) - Romeo y Julieta

CB Carlos Balino (San Carlos 816, Havana) - El Rey del Mundo

EH El Habanero

EL El Laguito (2302 Calle 146, Marianao, Havana) - Cohiba

FL/PL/PO Por Larranaga (Carlos III no. 713, Havana)

FPG Francisco Perez German (Industria 520, Havana) - Partagas

FR Miguel Fernandez Roig (Zulueta 106, Havana) - La Corona

HM Heroes de Moncada (13402 Ave. 57, Marianao, Havana) - Jose Peidra

JCS Juan Cano Sainz - Por Larranaga

JM Jose Marti (Amistad 407, Havana) - H. Upmann

LM Las Mambisas (sub contractor only)

Provincial Factories

CFG Cienfuegos

CFGS Cienfuegos (regional facility in Cienfuegos) - Quintero y Hno

FD/PR Francisco Donantien (regional facility in Pinar del Rio)

LV Las Villas

MAM ??? Las Mambisas ???

PR Francisco Donatien (regional facility in Pinar del Rio)

RD Ricardo Donatien (regional facility in Pinar del Rio)

SLR ??? Las Mambisas ???

SS Sancti Spiritus (regional facility in Sancti Spiritus)

TLP Lazaro Pena (group of factories in San Antonio)

TTB Granma (regional facility in Bayamo)

TTH Holguin (regional facility in Holguin) - not a good factory to buy from, bodhank)

VC Villa Clara

VSC Villa Santa Clara (regional facility in Santa Clara)

3 NETAGIDOCU

3.1 Date Code

N E T A G I D O C U

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0

3.2 Factory Code

Ciudad de La Habana - Havana

EGD Carlos Baliño - El Rey del Mundo

EDC Briones Montoto - Romeo y Julieta

EUN El Laguito

EAT Francisco Pérez Germán - Partagás

EOG Miguel Fernández Roig - La Corona

ENI Héroes de Moncada

ECA José Martí - H. Upmann

EEO Juan Cano Sainz - Por Larrañaga

Cienfuegos Province

OTC Cienfuegos I

OAI Cienfuegos II

OOG Cruces

OET Cumanayagua

OIN Lajas

Granma Province

NAT Bayamo

NOO Jiguaní

Holguín Province

UNG Antilla

UDI Gibara

UAN Holguín I

UCE Holguín II

UET San Andrés

La Habana Province

TEN Artemisa I

TEC Artemisa II

TND Bejucal

TOU Güines

TAE Güira I

TDC Güira II

TIO Quivicán

TCI San Antonio I

TNG San Antonio II

TGT San Antonio de las Vegas

TUD San Nicolás de Bari

TTA Santa Cruz del Norte

Pinar del Rio Province

GDI Candelaria

GAO Consolación del Sur

GCN Piloto

GNU Pinar del Río

GOC San Juan (Rio Seco)

Sancti-Spíritus Province

CEG Arroyo Blanco

COT Cabaiguán

CGI Fomento

CNE Guayos

CTO Jatibonico

CUN Perea

CID Sancti-Spíritus

CDU Taguasco

CAC Trinidad

CCA Zaza del Medio

Santiago de Cuba Province

AGE Santiago de Cuba

Villa Clara Province

DNU Báez

DDE Camajuaní

DIT Esperanza

DEC Manicaragua

DGC Placetas

DAI Quemado de Güines

DOD Ranchuelo

DCO Remedios

DTA Santa Clara I

DAT Santa Clara II

DNC Santo Domingo

DUN Vueltas

4 Newer Code

?GOO 05/99

EPOO 05/99

ESOO 06/99

EUOO 07/99

EAOO 08/99

EOOO 09/99

LEOO 10/99

LLOO 11/99

LROO 12/99

CCUG 05/99

CCES 06/99

CCEU 07/99

CCAE 08/99

CCNU 10/99

CCNN 11/99

CCNT 12/99

ELOO 01/2000

5 Newest Code

The new codes are a 5 digit alphanumeric. The first 3 digits are alpha and indicate the month. The last two digits are numeric and correspond to the last two digits of the year made. Thus, December 2000 will be DIC00, January 2001 will be ENE01.

5.1 Date Code

January ENE

February FEB

March MAR

April ABR

May MAY

June JUN

July JUL

August AGO

September SET

October OCT

November NOV

December DIC

5.2 Factory Code

ECA / SCo José Martí - H. Upmann

LOME El Laguito

OSU Francisco Perez German - Partagas

PEL Briones Montoto - Romeo y Julieta

SUA La Corona

Muchos Gracias Senor!!

albert slow work day or what???? ...lmao oh and BTW thanks copied and printed 🙂

if you can find a battery powered black light, that would be the way to go! In 2002 Cuba improved the engraving of their export seal, and instituted other, harder to counterfeit measures. Two of these are: An ultra violet (visible only under black light) watermark, one in the center and one to the left that's a duplicate of the seal in regular ink in the center. An utraviolet reactive serial number on the same seal the alphanumeric code is red, under the blacklight, the numbers turn black, and the letters stay red (I may have that reversed)