This guide will address only the BEAUMONT clasp which was worn on the 1870-1871 Kriegdenkmünze. The BEAUMONT clasp was authorized in 1895 and made available for private purchase for 35 pfennigs to 1 Reichsmark, depending on the salesman.  This is rarely seen on the market as a loose clasp.  The clasp BEAUMONT was awarded for the battle against the French on 30 August 1870 during the Franco-Prussian War, which was a prelude to the Siege of Sedan so it's quite common to find the SEDAN clasp with BEAUMONT.  The German recipients were mainly from the 3rd and 4th Army (although there were a very few exceptions).   A German cavalry recipient of this and the SEDAN clasps are particularly highly valued by specialist collectors.

BEAUMONT clasp (Type 3B)

Currently, there appears to be less than 20 manufacturers of official clasps.  It should be noted that the prices can vary considerably from dealer to dealer - especially if accompanied with other medals or documentation.  Some jeweler's copy clasps have been hallmarked.  Each clasp has different manufacturing styles:  (1) flat single ribbon width, wide lettering  - ca. 3.1 cm long, .5+cm tall, .05 cm thick (2) flat single ribbon width, narrow lettering - ca. 3.1 cm long, .5+cm tall, .05 cm thick  (3) flat 1 1/2 ribbon width, wide lettering  (4) flat 1 1/2 ribbon width, narrow lettering  (5) thick single ribbon width, hollow back, "fat" wide lettering - ca. 3.1cm long, .6cm tall, .1cm thick (6) flat single ribbon width, tall & wide lettering and ca. 25% taller than the official clasps - ca. 3.1 cm long, .6cm tall,  .05cm thick.  There are 2 different attachment methods:  (A) slip-on (B) prong back - and there are different styles to the prongs.  It's important to note that the clasp background is pebbled (or cross-hatched) in all cases and is not flat or smooth (a good indicator of a copy clasp).  Another tip is that if you view the edge, it is smooth, there is no ridge showing the mold separation because the original clasps were struck from dies.   You will aslo need to know that a BEAUMONT clasp was made post-WWI for wear on the various veteran medals - most of these have a flat background or say +BEAUMONT+ or have a very low relief pebbled background with 2 long flat beveled prong-backs that extend so they are almost touching.  The following is a list of clasps which have appeared on the market.

• 1993 (Type 3, €36), German dealer. 
• Feb. 1998 (remounted 1870 Iron Cross 2nd Class with 25 oakleaf & KDM with BEAUMONT, SEDAN - both Type 3B - & Centenary Medal with papers indicating a cavalry casuality at Sedan, €500), German dealer. 
• Jan. 2004 (Type 3B, €50), German dealer.
• Sep. 2006 (possible copy - Type 3A, €35), German dealer.
• NOTE:  mounted KDM with GRAVELOTTE (not GRAVELOTTE-ST.PRIVAT - Type 6B), PARIS (Type 5B), SEDAN (Type 5B), BEAUMONT (Type 5B), LE BOURGET (Type 5B) & Hohenzollernschen Kriegbundes Kreuz & Centenary Medal & Landwehr Decoration - the KDM and Centenary Medal are mounted on each other's ribbon while the HKK is mounted on a KDM centered with the 5 clasps in 3 rows spanning the entire KDM ribbons width.  On display March 2007 and prior, Museum des Wasserschlosses Glatt bei Sulz am Nekar.
• Apr. 2007 (Type 3B, €60), German dealer.
• June 2007 (mounted 1870 Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse mit Jubiläumsspange & Roter Adler Orden & Prussian Dienstauszeichnung für 12 Jahre & 1913 Prussian Landwehr Dienstauszeichnung II. Kl., KDM with BEAUMONT, SEDAN, PARIS - all  Type 3B & 1897 Centenarmedaille.  Reverse has tailor tag "GUST. UHLIG  Orden und Ehrenzeichen  HALLE S.  untere Leipzigerstr."  (unsold at €1500), eBay.
• May 2008 (Type 3B, €75), German Militaria Show.

There is a series of clasps bearing this name that are made for the various WWI veteran medals.  They are typically distinguished by having a flat (or relatively flat) background or with the wording +BEAUMONT+ or made of a type of metal noticably different than the 1870-1871 KDM (and very often it's very similar to the Kyffhäauserbund Medal) and are very rarely Type 6.  They are normally similar to Type 2B, 3B, and 5B - with longer than normal original prongs which are typically flat and slightly beveled.  While these clasp are collector items in themselves, they are not original official clasps for the KDM.  There are a few exceptions to these general rules but these are best left to a specialist collector. 

My best advice is:  purchase this clasp from an Imperial German or Prussian medal specialist who is very familiar with these clasps and who offers a 100% guarantee.  For your convenience, other associated guides can be found at:    http://reviews.ebay.com/Imperial-German-Medal-Guides-Index_W0QQugidZ10000000002386112.  Please visit my blog (http://blogs.ebay.com/tsa-li) and/or guides for further information.  Thank you for your visit!