Imperial Curved Iron Cross 1st Class

The term "curved Iron Cross 1st Class" refers to World War I (WW1) era Iron Crosses that have a convex or vaulted shape. These were not official "regulation" issue pieces, but rather privately purchased examples favored by many soldiers and officers for their aesthetic and fit on the uniform. The official, government-issued WW1 Iron Cross 1st Class medals were always manufactured with a flat back. Curved or vaulted versions were private purchase items, made by various manufacturers and sold to recipients who preferred this style. Both flat and curved crosses typically featured a three-piece construction, consisting of a genuine iron core placed within a two-piece silver or silver-alloy frame. The curved shape (also referred to as "convex" or "vaulted") allowed the medal to sit more snugly and attractively on the left breast pocket of the uniform tunic.

This item:
This must have been a very proud owner of the Iron Cross 1st Class. This beautiful jeweler's creation has been worn and has a beautiful patina. It comes with its original case, which is lined with a striking purple velvet. It has a 100% time repair (professionally done by a jeweler) on the hook. This cross has a three-piece construction with a magnetic core and is hallmarked "938" in silver on the back. The "938" silver mark indicates a specific high standard of silver fineness (938 parts per thousand, or 93.8% pure silver) used primarily for gilt awards and decorations of the Imperial era. The mark is typically found alongside a maker's mark (hallmark) of known Prussian court jewelers.

A rare example in its original case.