Round cornered divider v square cut?

[tippexx]

Just an idle thought, has anyone had a square cut version other than from a known 'grey market source?

I used to think square cut corners were the result of the cutting machine braking down, but now I'm wondering if they're not an identification mark, much like the nick in the heel of quality shoes that are made
deliberately for Sales.

[monkey66]

I have seen both. and i have seen fakes where the 'cut' just looks wrong. I am pretty sure they are die-stamped sheets so should be pretty consistent box-to-box (for a given variant). Of course it is Cuba so if one ran out they would surely substitute it without a second thought.

Don't think they are in the same game as a fine pair of bespoke shoes.

[tippexx]

Nothing to do with fakes Monk, I'm not suggesting a square cut means that.

As in anything there is good and not so good. Not in the blend, but in the appearance. EMS boxes are (supposedly) selected as being amongst those with the best appearance, which by definition means there are boxes which aren't. I don't know if it's true, but I believe that once upon a time boxes which weren't totally up to scratch had the top layer of cigars turned upside-down to mark the less than 100% inspection grading and make vendor and customer alike aware. This practice is no longer used and I was wondering if possibly the square cut had replaced it .... but no one had bothered passing the information on to the consumer?

[DavidD]

I've followed this thread perhaps not fully understanding where this 'cut' appears. Are we talking about the interleaving sheet of thin cedar between layers of cigars in a box of 25 or 50 ? If we're not then excuse my ignorance. If we are, I have seen more 45 degree corner cuts perhaps than anything else. A recent box of Bolivars had a sheet only half the depth of the box interior with no 'cut'. Should I be looking elsewhere for this 'cut' ?

[tippexx]

Are we talking about the interleaving sheet of thin cedar between layers of cigars in a box of 25 or 50 ?

Correct.

I have not had a square cut divider on an EMS or 5th Avenue or (known) Intertabac or LCdH box. Perhaps I've just been lucky .... but, I have had several square cut dividers from sources operating outside of the regular Habanos network. As I said, just an idle observation.

[Puff Scotty]

I've had a look at the easy to get to ones...all rounded so far..does that mean I'm allowed in Boisdales?

[tippexx]

...all rounded so far..does that mean I'm allowed in Boisdales?

only if you can prove it's similar to a green Carnation!

[monkey66]

Never heard about it before as a quality indicator, are you basing this on any other input Arf?

[tippexx]

are you basing this on any other input Arf?

No, just my own idle thoughts. For myself I know I'm always a little disappointed to get a box with a square cut divider, in my own mind because it isn't 'right' it knocks my valuation of the box back a bit. But as I've said, I've not had one from an EMS or from an LCdH source.

The nick in a shoe heel does several things. 1) It demonstrates the shoe as not being 100% perfect (although it might well have been before being cut). 2) It demonstrates that the shoes have been sold in a SALE and is there to deter folk from bringing them back after the sale and trying to reclaim the pre-sale price.

A square cut divider just seems a simple method of separating that which is judged 100% — and destined for pukka distributors — from that which is not quite 100% and destined into other areas.

No proof, just idle thinking. Hence the original question.