Your opinion on gold LW Day Fighter Clasp with 500 Mission Rosette

[Adam Lewis]

I picked this up a few years ago at an auction by AAG International. This is the first time I've had an opportunity to ask some experts. What is your opinion?
Thanks very much,
Adam

[Adam Lewis]

Here's the back.

[Adam Lewis]

More pictures

And the hallmark.

[Adam Lewis]

More pictures

The 500 mission rosette.

[Adam Lewis]

A close up of the center.

Here's the center. Last picture.
Adam

[Frank Heukemes]

Sorry Adam, but there is no chance this one is original. Not only the maker mark is off, about everything on the clasp has wrong details, design and shapes.

[RPN]

Sorry Adam ... Frank is 100% correct. Hope you don't have a lot of $$$ tied up in this.

Paul

[Tom Yanacek]

Hello Adam,

Sorry, but I agree with Frank and Paul. This is not an original clasp.
Best regards! Tom

[Adam Lewis]

Ouch!

Thanks for the opinions but Jeez, that's disapppointing. The clasp even came with a CoA signed by Stephen Flood, owner of AAG Int'l.
Adam

[Al P]

Perhaps you could contact them and see exactly what that piece of paper (COA) is really worth. If they have any honor at all they should offer a refund, if not than perhaps there are other options , but those can wait. Contact them and see what they say, and please let us know the result.

Al

Thanks for the opinions but Jeez, that's disapppointing. The clasp even came with a CoA signed by Stephen Flood, owner of AAG Int'l.
Adam

[Adam Lewis]

Need evidence for a follow-up with the seller.

Thanks, Al, and to everyone who replied. I'll contact the seller and see what he says (this piece cost a lot of money! ). But first I would like to have some specific evidence.

I did a GOOGLE search looking for details of authentic Juncker LW clasps but could not find close-up photos to compare to my clasp. Can someone post photos? Or point out the detail of what's wrong with mine? Or point to a web site?

Thanks again, what a great forum!!

Adam

[Frank Heukemes]

Dear Adam,

Proving it is quite simple. Juncker used the same mark for their flight clasps as the one they used on their other Luftwaffe badges (pilot´s badge, Flak badge, etc.). The mark your badge sports is a bogus mark. But the mark is the least problem this badge has. The whole design is plump and very unlike what you see on clasps of ANY maker. The rims around the leaves are too fat and resemble each other to much. They look machinized, industrially made. same goes for the arrow and wings, too fat, like little sausages put together. Nothing like the real thing. The pin has a very wrong shape and is too fat as well. This could go on and on as NOTHING about this clasp looks right, not even the hanger.

Juncker marked clasps are extremely rare and I have never sen a day fighter clasp marked that way, although it could exist. Here are two examples for original, Juncker marked clasps:

1) Recon clasp:

[Frank Heukemes]

2) Bomber clasp:

[Frank Heukemes]

Not a Juncker, but this is what to BASICALLY look for in the design of ANY flight spange:

[Frank Heukemes]

.