Cigar bands are the small paper or foil rings wrapped around the head of cigars, typically displaying the brand and variety. They were initially created to help sell cigars by making them easily identifiable to consumers, but over time, they have also become an art form, cherished by collectors.

There are several legends about the origin of cigar bands. One popular story links their creation to Russia’s Catherine the Great, a passionate smoker who reportedly smoked dozens of cigars each day. It’s said that she invented the first cigar band by wrapping a ribbon around the part of the cigar that touched her fingers, to prevent burns and keep her hands clean. This ribbon eventually evolved into the cigar bands we know today, with manufacturers pre-wrapping cigars with a band that also displayed branding information.

Another tale suggests that, when cigars were first brought from South America to Europe, they became popular with the nobility. However, noblemen often wore white gloves when smoking, and cigar ash would soil the gloves. To solve this problem, a British aristocrat suggested wrapping a strip of cloth or leather around the cigar to protect the gloves. This eventually evolved into paper bands, which were the predecessors of modern cigar labels.

The third legend is more widely accepted in the cigar world. It credits Gustave Bock, a European immigrant to Cuba in the 1830s, with inventing the cigar band. Bock reportedly created the bands to keep cigars from unravelling after being lit, a problem that occurred with the outer tobacco leaves. As modern adhesives improved, the risk of cigars falling apart diminished, and the bands became more focused on aesthetic appeal and brand recognition.

By the 1850s and 1860s, cigar manufacturers realized that decorative bands could be used to advertise their cigars and attract potential buyers. This led to a wide array of themes and designs, incorporating animals, beautiful women, famous people, cowboys, and Native Americans. Cigar bands became vibrant pieces of art, blending historical and modern elements. Today, many cigar bands hold significant value among collectors, either due to their rarity or the rich culture they represent. In some countries, collecting cigar bands has become a well-established hobby, with some fetching high prices too!

Last but not least, the owner of Cigar Secret is a passionate collector of cigar bands too. "I always feels a sense of joy when I sees them" Feel free to snap a picture of our cigar band collection when you visit us next time!