This guide will address only the COLOMBEY-NOUILLY  clasp which was worn on the 1870-1871 Kriegdenkmünze (KDM). The COLOMBEY-NOUILLY  clasp was authorized in 1895 and made available for private purchase for 35 pfennigs to 1 Reichsmark, depending on the salesman.  The clasp COLOMBEY-NOUILLY was awarded for the battle against the French in 1870 during the Franco-Prussian War.  This clasp was awarded almost exclusively to the Imperial German 1st Army. 

(photo pending)

COLOMBEY-NOUILLY  clasp

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  (2) flat single ribbon width, narrow lettering  (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 (6) flat single ribbon width, tall & wide lettering and ca. 25% taller than the official clasps.  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 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.  It is currently unknown as a verified single clasp to the KDM.  The clasp with the lettering COLOMBEY NOUILLY  may be original or copy or forgery, it's currently suspected that it is a variant from one manufacturer but the potential buyer should exercise extreme caution (all currently recorded are Type 2B and were offered on eBay since January 2006).  The following is a list of clasps which have appeared on the market.

• 1993 (Type 1B, €36), German dealer.
• Feb. 2001 (KDM with COLOMBEY-NOUILLY - Type 1B, Gravelotte-St.Privat - Type 1B, and SPICHEREN - Type 5B), Private German collection.
• Sep. 2002 (KDM with COLOMBEY-NOUILLY and METZ, €75), German dealer.
• Jan. 2005 (Type 3B, €75), German dealer. 
• Sep. 2005 (KDM with COLOMBEY-NOUILLY and METZ - both Type 3B, €100), German dealer.
• Dec. 2005 (KDM with COLOMBEY-NOUILLY clasp only - Type 3B, $250), USA dealer.
• Jan. 2006 (KDM with COLOMBEY NOUILLY clasp only - Type 2B, €69), eBay.
• Mar. 2006 (COLOMBEY NOUILLY clasp only - Type 2B, auction ended early without sell), eBay.
• July 2006 (COLOMBEY NOUILLY clasp only - Type 2B, further info not available), eBay.
• Sep. 2006 (KDM with COLOMBEY-NOUILLY clasp only - Type 1B, €75), German dealer.
• Oct. 2006 (KDM with COLOMBEY-NOUILLY and METZ - both Type 1B, €75 - damaged), German dealer.
• Oct. 2006 (COLOMBEY NOUILLY clasp only - Type 2B, auction ended early), eBay.
• Oct. 2006 (KDM with GRAVELOTTE ST. PRIVAT and COLOMBEY-NOILLY - both Type 1B, €75), German dealer.
• Nov. 2006 (COLOMBEY NOUILLY - Type 2B, €30), eBay.
• Apr. 2007 (KDM with COLOMBEY-NOUILLY clasp only - Type 3B, €150), German dealer.

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 +COLOMBEY-NOUILLY+ (or one of the spelling variants as well as +COLOMBEY+) or made of a type of metal noticably different than the 1870-1871 KDM (and very often it's very similar to the Kyffhäuserbund Medal) and are very rarely Type 6.  They are normally similar to Type 2B or 3B - 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. 

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!