Yugoslavia - Fakes of the ''Balloon badge''

[bovec1313]

Lately a number of the fakes of the so called ''Balloon Badge'' of the Yugoslav Royal Air Force have appeared on the marked. (In fact the proper name is Badge for Flight Mechanics, but due to image of the balloon in central part, badge got popular name ''Balloon Badge'')

As badge is extreme rarity and thus expensive, I would like to point out some detail how collectors can recognize fake from original. Original is forged from silver and fakes are (usually) made by casting, as well form silver. Even that casted fakes are made extremely good, they still differ in some details.

Hallmarks; badge is always hallmarked with producers hallmark (FS for Fran Sorlini) and with silver hallmark (a rooster). On original, under the magnifying glass hallmarks are still crystal clear, while on fakes hallmarks are rather smooth.

Flat surface; flat surface, for example on the cross in coat of arms, which is placed in the centre of badge, even looking under magnifying glass, surface is perfectly flat. On fakes, due to casting, in flat surface we can see that surface is not flat but have small wrinkles; edges are not sharp anymore.

Edges; on forged badges holes were cut out with small saw ( handwork of course), and under magnifying glass we can see the remains of the saw-teeth. Fakes, which are cast, lack of this detail.

There are more details, but these three above can be clearly recognized. I hope this will help collectors among you, who wanted to add this extraordinary badge in your collections.

Bellow is an image of the original ''Balloon badge''

[bovec1313]

Fake ''Balloon Badge''

[bovec1313]

Hallmarks on original ''Balloon Badge''

[bovec1313]

Hallmarks on fake ''Balloon Badge''

[bovec1313]

Original ''Balloon Badge''; flat surface (on coat of arms)

[bovec1313]

Less flat surface with wrinkles on fake ''Balloon Badge''

[bovec1313]

Marks of saw-teeth on holes; on original ''Balloon Badge''

[bovec1313]

Holes lack of saw-teeth marks, as made by casting; on fake ''Balloon Badge''

[Kev in Deva]

Hallo bovec1313.

thanks for this very informative post.

Another point to note, is the red and gilt are painted on opposite upper and inner surfaces of the checkered areas, and the detail areas of the real & fake items.

Kevin in Deva. :cheers:

Edited April 7, 2010 by Kev in Deva

[Brian Wolfe]

Thank you for a well written and educational post.

Regards

Brian