Fleet badge with "Diamonds"

[Norm F]

Here's one you don't see very often. From Thomas' Huss's latest update, if I'm not mistaken this is the Souval "very early" production (1950's) stamped '800' hollow silver Fleet badge with white sapphires. Interesting to see.

Best regards,
---Norm

[BubbaZ]

Hi Norm,
Thanks for showing, never seen the one like this before
Cheers,
Hubert

[Stan]

Hi Norm,

I recall Andreas Thies having one of these a couple of years ago. He showed it to me at the Kassel show and I told him it was a fake. He still offered it at auction but it didn't sell.

In the 1980's I bought a second pattern E-Boat badge which was the same as this badge but without the diamonds. Pilot Observer badges with diamonds also exist with the same set up. The pin is always marked "800".

All are fakes.

Stan

[Kondor]

Thanks Norm for posting! Very interesting badge. Why would Souval produce these in the 50's?

[panzergren]

Thanks Norm for posting! Very interesting badge. Why would Souval produce these in the 50's?

Souvenirs for the americans
Fantastic looking badge especially as its a souval

[Norm F]

Thanks Norm for posting! Very interesting badge. Why would Souval produce these in the 50's?

Actually, I can't say for sure it was the 50's. I was basing that on the posting of this Pilot/Observer badge with "diamonds" by Alex W. in the '57 forum for which he said:
"This is one rare bird that Souval offered in his earlier years. Souval’s post war version of the Combined Pilot/Observers badge with Diamonds featured white sapphires instead of diamonds. The badge itself is an earlier production piece. Made probably not later than 1957. It’s made of sterling silver that was gold plated. Certainly not one of Souval’s cheaper made post war badges."

The setup includes the same hinge and catch as the Fleet badge but the pin is slightly thicker. The badge itself seems higher quality than the Fleet so maybe the Fleet was a bit later but not before he ran out hardware? I believe Gordon Williamson had once suggested 1960s/70s for the badges of this series which included a similar hollow U-Boat and Auxiliary Cruiser badge.

The Souval 1973 pricelist still includes the Pilot/Observer with sapphires but doesn't list the Fleet badge at this time.

Best regards,
---Norm

[Norm F]

Here are the KM badges listed in the 1973 Souval price list. You can see at this point in time only the S-Boat and U-Boat were offered with sapphires and the U-Boat was offered either with just the swastika studded or the whole badge in the style of Dönitz's.

[Norm F]

A few more badges previously posted by Alex W. that correspond quite nicely to the Souval catalog listings. First an S-Boat in "echt silber" showing the Souval "claw catch" and second an S-Boat "mit weissen Saphiren" with a 1970's looking setup.

[Norm F]

And also Alex W.'s "Dönitz-style" Souval U-Boat. The thread in which he previously posted these images is here:
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=608632

[Norm F]

Here's a Souval Spanish Cross (presumably) with "diamonds" that was on Thomas Huss's update along with the Fleet badge at the top of the thread. It also matches the Souval catalog listing. Interesting to see the double catch that can also be found on S&L '57 products from the late 1960s.

Best regards,
---Norm

[mpiering]

Here's a Souval Aux Cruiser badge with diamonds (it isn't listed in the known price lists).

[Norm F]

Here's a Souval Aux Cruiser badge with diamonds (it isn't listed in the known price lists).

Thanks for posting. Certainly looks like the same "vintage", style and setup as the Pilot/Observer badge posted earlier in the thread.

Best regards,
---Norm

[mpiering]

Hi Norm, thank you for your reply.
Yes, the setup looks to be the same as for example on the HSF badge.

BR, Michael

[Alex W.]

Norm, thanks for adding some of my pictures to this interesting thread.
Souval's Diamond (Saphire) decorations are indeed very interesting and beautiful, especially the pieces of the early post war years. The definite highlight of all of his saphire decorations is the very rare special class of the Volkspflege decoration. It's a jeweler made neckcross made of silver with 110 white spahires.
It's worksmanship exeeds everything else seen by Souval. It's by far the most beautiful decoration I have seen yet. If I find the time I might take a picture and add it in here.

Best regards,
Alex

[Ludwig]

And from a Thies auction catalogue...