The paper
band that surrounds one end of the cigar is known as the ring, although many call
it the vitola, a name that actually refers to the format of the cigar. The ring
is used to identify the format and the brand, in addition to providing an
attractive touch to the cigar and even, on many occasions, it is a luxurious
badge that can be considered a work of art.
The
origin
Numerous
stories have been written about the origins and functions of this small
lithographed paper and, as is to be expected, not all of them agree on the
facts or the dates. Here we will tell what we have found most interesting to
highlight, although nothing can really be said with much certainty because the
information is very diverse.
It is said
that they began to be used in the mid-nineteenth century and it is believed
that, before becoming the individual "belt" that we know today, a wrapping
paper was used to cover the small thread with which the layers of the
tobacco were held before putting them in the drawers. Names and themes that
manufacturers chose to fully identify their products were printed on that
paper.
Later, when
the number of cigars that were stacked in the drawers was reduced to one
hundred, fifty and twenty-five, a lithographed paper label began to be
used where the brand, the manufacturer, the address of the factory, the vegas
from which the tobacco came, and some other data.
A little
later, to cover the smaller boxes, beautifully lithographed prints called set
of ratings are incorporated, which contained different parts, including the
guarantee seal.
Finally,
the rings that individually surround each cigar arrived, which seems to have
happened around 1870. According to some experts, they had their greatest
splendor in the period between 1870 and 1910-1915; many consider that it was a
golden age because, in general, the rings with the greatest artistic value come
from that period and, of course, they are the most sought after by collectors.
It seems
that the first to use rings similar to the current ones was Anton Bock, a
European immigrant established in the US, who commissioned his signature to be
lithographed on one of these paper rings to identify his export cigars.
Beyond the
fact that its original use is not clear, it was very convenient for the tobacco
industry at the end of the 19th century because it made it difficult to fraud
and counterfeit its cigars, which began to be generated when massive exports
from Cuba to Europe and United States increased markedly.
At the
moment
Today and
for nearly 150 years, its main function is to show the seal of the
manufacturers and provide an attractive and even luxurious touch to the cigar.
For this reason, most tobacco companies pay close attention to them and
sometimes design and make rings that are true works of art, mainly if it is a
special production to celebrate an event or commemorate a special date.
More than a
label that shows the brand name, it became a symbol that shows the excellence
of a certain tobacco.
