Cigars sizes have developed in many different ways, but some have been inspired by individuals.

Take the Lonsdale size, for example, a 6 ½-inch x 42-ring shape. It was introduced in the 1920s in the Rafael Gonzalez line. The original distributors were two brothers George Samuel & Frank Warwick. They sought out one of the leading “sporting” figures of the day.  Hugh Cecil Lowther (1857-1944), the firth Earl of Lonsdale and designed a cigar accordingly to his preferences.

Lowther was known as a great supporter of sports and was the president of the National Sporting Club of Britain.  He was particularly keen on boxing and created the Lonsdale Belt, a prize given to the boxing champions of Britain to this day.

So his endorsement was big help in promoting the Rafael Gonzalez brand, just as a sports star like Michael Jordan might be used today.

The cigar that bore Lonsdale’s name and the brand have been famous ever since. In fact Lowther’s picture appeared on the interior of the Rafel Gonzalez Lonsdale’s all the way into the 1980s!

The fame and popularity of the Lonsdale size was attested to just a few years later when the Montecristo brand was created in 1935. It was developed at the Particulares factory, the brand was introduced in five sizes which have continued-without change- to today. And Montecristo #1 was, and is a Lonsdale.