Counterfeit Opus X Band Comparisions
Genuine Band.........................................................................Counterfeit Opus X ( Purchased in Detroit, Michigan )
Because this is probably the most complex cigar band being forged on the market, it's not surprising to see many discrepancies in this fake. The gold bordering is dull, almost tan, and the red background and red "X" is a lighter, more inferior shade than the blood-red color on the authentic band. Specks of gold dust should be evident upon the red background as well, yet there are only a few flecks on this fake. The lettering of "OpusX" is not raised and falls off-line with a white matting that should be black. This holds true for other areas on the counterfeit band -- a blurry white background can be detected beneath the faint gold dots that outline the centerpiece, as well as the two rows of reverse "S's" and straight gold lines near the band's bottom. On all real OpusX bands, the base has a craggy bottom and profuse colors that bleed into one another. On this fake, those melding colors are too indistinct -- the counterfeiters speckled hints of gold upon the colors to create the appearance of a blend.
However, the most prominent sign that distinguishes this band as a counterfeit can't be seen -- the paper is too light, weak and flimsy compared to the stiffer quality of the genuine article.
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Genuine Band.........................................................................Counterfeit Opus X ( Purchased in Texas )
This rendering is impressive at first glance, but its flaws become clear upon close examination. It lacks the gold bar that supports the horizontal "s" motif beneath the centerpiece, and the "s" motif itself is crude. The gold coloration is far too intense, and lacks the warmth of the genuine article. But the biggest problem is that the border of the centerpiece is filled in with black ink rather than gold dots of a real Fuente Fuente Opus X band.
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Genuine Band.........................................................................Counterfeit Opus X ( Purchase of Unknown Origin )
You obviously won't be able to tell online, but this fake is given away but its flat surface (the real deal has raised detailing) and thin, cheap paper. Also, the centerpiece is muddled and inexact, the gold is lackluster and the red is way too bright.
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Fuente Destroys Fake Opus Bands By Jordan Russin, June 3, 2002
Fuente Fuente OpusX has long been one of the America's most coveted cigar brands -- as well as one that is heavily counterfeited. In a small strike against counterfeiters, Carlos Fuente Jr., president of Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia., the company that makes OpusX, destroyed thousands of fake cigars and bands recently in New York City.
In a small ceremony on May 24, the day after Cigar Aficionado's New York Big Smoke, Fuente Jr. and his lawyer, David Bernstein of New York's Debevoise & Plimpton, met in the Debevoise & Plimpton offices to destroy counterfeits accumulated over several seizures. The array was staggering -- more than 100 boxes and 8,000 bands spread out over the conference room table. While many of the bands were of good quality, the cigars were substandard, and the boxes bore telltale signs that they weren't genuine -- many had incorrect etchings, or simply were made of poor quality wood. Even Fuente Jr. was amazed by the quantity.
The cigars had been seized by private investigators, U.S. marshalls and even the Secret Service. Many had been sold in the Western United States when OpusX was only distributed in the east.
After several long glances at the bounty of fakes -- which Bernstein estimated as worth $460,000 -- Fuente moved to the paper shredder and began to feed it with fake bands. (The boxes were to be destroyed later in a wood chipper.) Fuente and Bernstein said that the cigars amassed on the table did not come close to accounting for the large volume of counterfeit Fuente Fuente OpusX cigars still being produced, but both felt satisfied that this haul, at least, would not end up in the hands of unsuspecting consumers.
-Cigar Aficionado, June 2002
