This guide will address only the PARIS clasp which was worn on the Imperial German 1870-1871 Kriegdenkmünze. The clasp PARIS was awarded for the seige of Paris in 1870 during the Franco-Prussian War (1 of 4 seige clasps on the KDM).  The PARIS clasp was authorized in 1895 and made available for private purchase.     

(photo pending)

PARIS 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. 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 - 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 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.  Recipients of this clasp were mainly the 1st, 3rd and 4th Army.   PARIS is common as a single clasp but there is a very high market demand which drives the price higher than expected.   The following is a list of clasps which have been noted on the market:

• Type 4A (1982, $5).
• Type 1 (1993, €21).
• Type 2 (1993, €31).
• Type 6B (1993, €31).
• Type 5B (Sep. 1994, €30).
• mounted Iron Cross 2nd Class with 25 oakleaf device,  KDM with PARIS, SEDAN & 1897 Centenary Medal & Landwehr Long Service Badge 2nd Class, Kyffhäuserbund Medal with +PARIS+, +SEDAN+, crossed swords device (private German collection, ?-2004-2006-?).
• remounted KDM with PARIS (Type 1B) & 1897 Centenary Medal & Kyffhäuserbund Medal with +PARIS+, crossed swords device (private German collection, ?-2004-2006-?).
• mounted 1870 Iron Cross 2nd class (25th Anniversary device) & Order of the Red Eagle 4th Class (with swords) & Prussian Lifesaving Medal, KDM with PARIS & 1866 Austrian-Prussia War (Königgratz) & Centenary Medal & Mecklenburg-Schwerin 1870 Military Service Cross & Württemburg 1884 King Karl 25-year Jubilee Medal & Turkey 1889 Kaiser Wilhelm II Visit to Konstantinopel (in gold) (Apr. 2004, €2,500).
• mounted KDM with WEISSENBURG, WÖRTH, SEDAN, PARIS, BEAUGENCY-CRAVANT, LE MANS, and PARIS (all Type 1B) clasps & Centenary Medal (Jun. 2005, €?).  
• Type 1 (Sep. 2005, €35).
• Type 1A (Jan. 2006, €60).
• mounted KDM with PARIS & Centenary Medal (Oct. 2006, $245).
• Type 4B (Nov. 2006, €40).
• mounted KDM with VILLIERS and PARIS & SW Africa Medal (non-combatant) & Centenary Medal (specialist collection, Nov. 2006).
• Type 2B (Nov. 2006, €35).
• Type 2B (Nov. 2006, €29).
• KDM with PARIS, ORLEANS, and SEDAN (private collection, Nov. 2002), (Jan. 2007, €150).
• Type 2B (Jan. 2007, €55).
• mounted KDM with GRAVELOTTE (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).
• 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."  (June 2007, eBay unsold at €1500).
• Type 4B (May 2008, €40), German Militaria Show.

Jeweler's copies and forgeries are common.  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!