How are cigars sized?
At the turn of the century there were hundreds of different cigar sizes made, each unique in terms of length and ring gauge (diameter). The length is measured in inches and the ring gauge of a cigar is measured in 64ths of an inch. A cigar with a 50 ring gauge, for example, measures 50/64th of an inch in diameter. The size and diameter of a cigar greatly influences the strength and burning qualities of the cigar. To put it very simply, cigars made with the same filler, binders, and wrapper, but of different sizes (in length and diameter) will each exhibit totally different flavor and strength profiles. Typically, larger cigars will be richer in flavor because of the increased amount of tobacco they contain, but they will have a cooler smoke and smoother taste than a smaller version of the same blend. They will burn slower and the smoke will cool down somewhat as it travels the length of the cigar as it is puffed.
