How to Count Weaves Per Square Inch?

Judging from my own Montecristi, the weaves nearer the center of the hat are significantly smaller than the weaves outside.

Click to expand...

The only times I see this is when the hat was passed from one weaver to another or when a Cuenca is passed off as a Montecristi. With a couple of photos, I should be able to tell.

As I mentioned previously, I just received my Stetson Centerdent hat.
They don't confuse people with stuff like tuis,
jipijapa,toquilla, llano, brisa, Cuenca, Montecristi and grades fino, 7/8, or
how many weaves to the inch or anything else. I'm already confused anough They did state that the hat was woven in Ecuador and blocked in the US. I think it's a very nice-looking and comfortable hat, although clearly not one of those famous museum-quality hats we read about. I've never seen one up close, much less handled one, but I can certainly imagine the look and feel of such a sombrero.
Although "soft touch" was mentioned on Stetson's site, it's about as stiff at any other straw hat I've ever had. I believe they spray it with something to make it water-resistant. But overall, considering price, looks and fit, I'm quite satisfied. If my ship doesn't flounder before coming in, I may go for a really dandy Panama. I like their look more than the look of any other hat.
May it has something to do with the fact that my dad always wore one.

Post a picture, and we'll tell you the details. As far as confusion, I don't understand. By telling people what they are buying, you consider that confusion? I think Stetson omits on purpose. At least they don't mismark hats on purpose.

I wanted to post pics. I uploaded two on photobucket, but for some reason, I can't get the image thingy to do anything for me. Maybe I'm just doing something dumb. But you're right about the Stetson; they don't make a lot of promises about weave, etc. In my case, my wife ordered it as a surprise after my disappointment with PH Direct. This definately looks more like something off the hat assembly line, but it does look nice. I dampened the brim a little on either side now, and have the brim really well-shaped.

PS, I say confusion because it seems every site has its own set ratings and methods of describing hats. I always thought x meant a beaver fur. I have two vintage hats, one a Towncraft from Penney and the other a Resistol from the defunct Weinstock's Department Store. The Towncraft says xxxx Beaver and the Resistol (with a braided felt band) says 5x Beaver. The Towncraft is showing wear (mostly from me), but both are still very nice hats and I wear them a lot. Maybe one of these days I can post them at the Lounge too.

OK, I think that we've established that so-called "objective" measures of hat quality leave so much variability as to be anything but.

I think the lesson here is, if you are not yourself an expert, always do business with a reputable merchant who is--like Panama Bob.

Of course, if you are buying a pre-owned hat on E-Bay and the like, you have no choice but to take the risk that it is what they say it is.