This guide will address only the ORLEANS clasp which was worn on the Imperial German 1870-1871 Kriegdenkmünze. The clasp ORLEANS  was awarded for the battle of Orleans in 1870 during the Franco-Prussian War.  The ORLEANS  clasp was authorized in 1895 and made available for private purchase.  German recipients were varied and entitlement must be considered individually.    

(photo pending)

ORLEANS clasp

It currently seems that there was 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.  The ORLEANS clasp is in high demand by collectors and is often found as a single clasp.  ORLE'ANS and ORLÉANS are spelling variants.  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 in all cases and is not flat or smooth (a good indicator of a copy, reproduction, or late-issue 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.   The following is a list of clasps which have been noted on the market:

• Type 1 (1982, $5), US dealer.
• Type 3 (1993, €28), German dealer.
• Type 5(1993, €28), German dealer.
• KDM with PARIS, ORLEANS, and SEDAN (private German collection, Nov. 2002-)
• Type 2B with KDM (Apr. 2004, €35), German dealer.
• Type 3A ORLE'ANS (Sep. 2005, €50), German dealer.
• KDM with LOIGNY-POUPRY, BEAUGENCY-CRAVANT, and ORLEANS (Jan. 2006, €145), German dealer.
• Type 4A (Jan. 2006, €50), German dealer.
• mounted Prussian Merit Medal (in silver) & KDM with LOIGNY-POUPRY, BEAUGENCY-CRAVANT, and ORLEANS & 1866 Austrian-Prussian War Medal & Centenary Medal & Landwehr Decoration (Jan. 2006, €675), German dealer. 
• mounted KDM with ORLEANS, BEAUGENCY-CRAVANT (both Type 1B) clasps and Centenary Medal (Oct. 2006, €28.50) , eBay.
• KDM ribbon with METZ, GRAVELOTTE-ST. PRIVAT, ORLEANS, and LE MANS (all Type 2B) (Oct. 2006, specialist collection)Type 3A (Nov. 2006, €40), eBay.
• mounted 1870 Iron Cross 2nd Class (with 25th Annivarsary device) & Prussian War Aid Cross & KDM with ORLEANS (Type 1B, 4 holes drilled in each corner and sewn on) & Centenary Medal (specialist collection, Nov. 2006)
• Type 1B ORLÉANS (Nov. 2006, €45), German dealer.
• KDM with PARIS, ORLEANS, and SEDAN (Jan. 2007, €150), German dealer.
• Type 5B ORLEANS (May 2008, €40), 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 +ORLEANS + or made of a type of metal noticably different than the 1870-1871 KDM and are very rarely Type 6.  They are normally similar to Type 2B &/or 3B - with longer than normal prongs which are typically flat or slightly beveled.  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 a dealer who specializes in Prussian or Imperial German medals and who will offer you 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!