Where are the Diamonds???

[Nigel N]

Hi Guys!
I was just thinking that I haven't seen a set of S&L postwar Oaks, Swords and Diamomds???
I have seen a couple of vets at re-union meetings etc. but they appear to be wearing their original Diamonds, Ramcke being a well known example!
I have read comments on WAF, and quotes in books from various collectors and authors, though not all are in agreement....
Gordon Williamson wrote several years ago, that in his opinion, S&L didn't make a postwar version of the Diamonds, not even when the 57 RK's appeared, he thought the tiny number of vets needing them would make it un-worthwhile, and they could always obtain a "new" set from Klein.
Chris Ailsby, in one of his books wrote that S&L did make them in the 50's/60's but they made far too many than would ever be needed, and the majority were sold to collectors.
Bob Hritz wrote on a WAF thread a few years ago, that S&L's postwar Diamonds were little more than normal size Oaks & Swords, with applied paste stones, presumably drilled out??
So what is the truth, does anyone have a set to show??
E-bay is full of junk sets, but I haven't seen anything I would consider a 50's/60's S&L produced set, with a finish and flaws typical for that maker at that time!!
Has anyone any info, or better still photo's to show????
Thanks
-Nigel

[Borzadow]

I was thinking about that too, but as you I haven't got an answer.

I haven't seen anything I would consider a 50's/60's S&L produced set, with a finish and flaws typical for that maker at that time!!

Flaws would be different because the Oaks with diamonds have different design.
It should be than stamped in different die, in differant way, with different finish etc.

[Nigel N]

Right Patryk!
So you believe that S&L's postwar Diamonds were bigger/different to the normal OLS, just as they were in wartime pieces!
This is different to what Bob Hritz wrote, and unless I mis-understood him, he made it sound that S&L simply took a normal set of OLS, and converted them to Diamonds!!!
It is strange we have seen non, in Luud and Mathijs, we have had two of the greatest collections of RK's, but neither theirs' or anyones collection I know of, has a set of Diamonds???
-Nigel

[Tom B]

Hi Nigel, IMO Bob Hritz is the "go to" guy on some answers to this. He posted some pic's of Sepp D. wearing what I believe were stated to be his post war set. I think he either actually has them or maybe just the photos ? Our 57 Sepp may have posted this photo ? The few Diamonds winners I visited still had a war time set to show me. Tom

[Matthieu]

I used to have a set of these ( silver + gold ), but they were considered Souval.

[Tom B]

I have a Klein marked set made in the 80's. I purchased them in Germany when they first became available. Tom

[Nigel N]

Thanks guys!
@Tom.... I might have to get in touch with Bob again so he can tell us what he knows! I remember the photo he showed of Dietrich's Diamonds, Bob said they were the ones he wore with his 1st pattern 57 RK, but if I remember correctly, Bob said they weren't S&L's, and that is when he went on to say that S&L's were of normal size and shape, only with added "Diamonds"

@Mathijs...If S&L did make a postwar set, that is the kind of size and shape I imagined they might be??????

-Nigel

[Nigel N]

Heres a link to a 2010 thread in which Bob shows Sepp Dietrichs Diamonds, the ones he wore postwar.......
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=408431

[Dwight]

The shape of the set Matthieu shows is very much of the same shape as the post war set I posted in an earlier thread (Knight's cross with diamonds) in this Forum. Maybe there somehow is a connection?

[Nigel N]

Hi Dwight!
Yes, I remember that set!
The general feeling is that this type is by Souval, I believe they also made a golden set too?
Postwar S&L RK's both 57 and TR style can sometimes be found paired up with Souval Oaks!
-Nigel

[Tom B]

Thanks guys!
@Tom.... I might have to get in touch with Bob again so he can tell us what he knows! I remember the photo he showed of Dietrich's Diamonds, Bob said they were the ones he wore with his 1st pattern 57 RK, but if I remember correctly, Bob said they weren't S&L's, and that is when he went on to say that S&L's were of normal size and shape, only with added "Diamonds"

@Mathijs...If S&L did make a postwar set, that is the kind of size and shape I imagined they might be??????

-Nigel

The Dietrich set were not made by Klein IMO because he had them in the 50's/60's, long before Klein re-made them in like I said the early 80's. Also Klein's first re-make run were not marked...then followed by the marked version. This info came to me directly from the Klein Jewelers. Tom

[Nigel N]

Thanks Tom!
I don't think the maker of Dietrich's set is at all known. most likely a private jeweller made one-off???
-Nigel

[Tom B]

Thanks Tom!
I don't think the maker of Dietrich's set is at all known. most likely a private jeweller made one-off???
-Nigel

Are you still going to contact Bob? I agree with your private jeweller theory. Tom

[Matthieu]

I used to have a set of these ( silver + gold ), but they were considered Souval.

And I still have this weird "unworked" version of the same OLS ....

[Nigel N]

@Mathijs, I remember those, look like Souval in style?

@Tom....I have sent Bob a PM, I hope he can add to this thread!!

-Nigel