<P> A cigar band is a loop made of paper or foil fitted around the body of a cigar to denote its brand or variety . Although origins of the device are the subject of several legends, modern historians credit a European immigrant to Cuba named Gustave Bock with invention of the cigar band in the 1830s . Within two decades, banding of cigars exported from Havana became almost universal . </P> <P> Their use remains very much a part of modern cigar production, with a recent trend towards larger and more elaborate designs in evidence . Cigar bands are considered a collectible by some people today, with collectors organized into a group called the International Label, Seal and Cigar Band Society . </P>

What is the band on a cigar for