A cigar's shape is not decoration. Length and ring gauge decide how much wrapper you taste relative to filler, how hot the smoke runs, and how long the evening lasts. The word for all of it is vitola.
Length and ring gauge
Length is measured in inches (or millimetres). Ring gauge is diameter in 64ths of an inch: a 50 ring is 50/64", just over three-quarters of an inch. Dimensions below are typical; every maker interprets them slightly differently.
Parejos: the straight-sided family
| Vitola | Typical size | Smoke time |
|---|---|---|
| Petit Corona | 4½" × 42 | 30–40 min |
| Corona | 5½" × 42 | 45–60 min |
| Corona Gorda | 5⅝" × 46 | 60–75 min |
| Lonsdale | 6½" × 42 | 60–80 min |
| Lancero | 7½" × 38 | 60–90 min |
| Robusto | 5" × 50 | 45–60 min |
| Toro | 6" × 52 | 60–90 min |
| Churchill | 7" × 47 | 90–120 min |
| Double Corona | 7⅝" × 49 | 100–150 min |
Slender parejos are wrapper-forward and intense; fatter ones run cooler and emphasize the filler blend.
Figurados: the shaped family
| Vitola | Typical size | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Torpedo | 6⅛" × 52 | Pointed head concentrates the smoke |
| Belicoso | 5½" × 52 | Short, rounded taper |
| Pyramid | 6⅛" × 52 | Even taper, foot to head |
| Perfecto | 5" × 48 | Tapered at both ends |
Why we draw them to scale
In Humidor Luxe every one of these thirteen shapes is rendered true to scale against the others. It sounds like a detail. It changes how a collection feels: your humidor stops being a list and starts being a shelf.
Explore each shape in depth in the Vitola Guide.
Next in the Journal: How to Read a Cigar Before You Light It