1)does your group offer different varieties?
We have two options: the crown-set badge with 12 pearls and 6 garnets (no other choices or substitutes) and the plainer (no-stones) scroll border badge.

2) how much was yours
Scroll-border badges are included in the initiation fee. A brother can "up-grade" for an additional $30+. Guards, which are optional but common, run anywhere from $15 to $75, depending on the metal (gold filled, sterling, or 10K) and design (plain, etched, or pearls) and whether one is in a one- or two-letter chapter. (While all of these options are available, I have rarely seen anything except plain 10K guards).

3) did you get the standard or the upgrades?
The crown-set definately! I would say the vast majority of brothers up-grade for the crown-set badge. Technically, this is our official badge -- the stones are part of the official design, and it is the central element in our coat-of-arms. In fact, I understand that consideration is being given to discontinuing the scroll border option altogether.

4) is there a "pressure" in your chapter to get the more expensive ones?
I wouldn't say there is pressure. Most brothers want the crown-set badge -- I have known very few brothers who got the scroll-border badge (and they regretted it). The fact is that the crown-set badge is not only the official badge, it is nicer looking, more traditional, more meaningful, and not that much more expensive.

Re: Your organizations pin
 

Alpha Phi Omega has several different varietes.

The APO badge is fairly expensive. Costs start at $20 and go up, based on whether its done in "Gold Kase" or 10carat gold, and if you have pearls or not.

You can also add chapter guards & officer dangles, again increasing the costs.

So not everyone gets one. Many chapters will have a chapter president's badge which is passed to each prez.

Our basic pin is the Service Pin, which costs $4, and EVERYONE gets as part of their Induction. So for most people, that's it for pins.

If you become a Life Member, you get the Life Member pin (which also costs $4).

If you make a Torchbearer donation, you get another pin.

I did get the basic badge, plus chapter guard & dangles, but then I can afford to. There is seldom any pressure to get them. I atleast try to make sure people are aware of them.

Hope this helps.

I want to add that no one has the jeweled up version of our badge. If we still had the diamond shaped badge it would look cool with rubies on the corners and perals around it. On our badge though i would only maybe do the swords. Snakes don't look right with jewelry.

I noticed this thread said "PIN" -- Is it a Badge or a Pin for you?

Mine's a badge :D

Kitso
KS 361 rubies i'm gonna get on my BADGE if i ever make it big time.....j/k

The design is a badge. I hold it on my shirt with a pin. Everyone calls it a badge though, because its officcal. The sweetheart pin is the same thing only smaller but is called a pin.

Ours is actually officially called a "pin"... I've been saying "badge" here for simplicity's sake (the whole pin/pin noun/verb thing)

1)does your group offer different varieties?
I believe there are three styles - a semi-crown set and crown set (both in 10k gold) and then a semi-crown set in gold electroplate. Honestly, I'm not sure what the difference is between a semi-crown and a crown set.

2) how much was yours
$85

3) did you get the standard or the upgrades?
I started out with the standard badge (the $45 electroplate that most collegians get), but after that badge accidently got sucked up by my vaccum cleaner, I traded it in for the crown set. It's purty. :D

4) is there a "pressure" in your chapter to get the more expensive ones?
No.

BTW, the official SAI terminology is "badge" although in my experience, a lot of people say "pin"

Re: Delta Zeta Sorority
 

Actually, I think you can chose between the standard balclad (sp?) or solid 14k gold with a real diamond....

Re: Your organizations pin
 

1)does your group offer different varieties?
Yup. Off of the top of my head: we have plain gold-plated, plain 10 K, single Tiffany pearl, single Tiffany diamond, crown pearl with Tiffany pearl, crown pearl with Tiffany diamond, crown pearl with diamond points, and all-diamond (reserved for the International President).

2) how much was yours?
I think mine was $40, but I don't remember.

3) did you get the standard or the upgrades?
I have the 10 K plain badge, which I suppose is standard. A lot of girls in my chapter have either the 10 K plain or the gold-plated one. I didn't get the gold-plated one because I'm allergic to nickel and I break out into a nasty rash if I'm wearing jewelry that isn't solid silver or gold.

4) is there a "pressure" in your chapter to get the more expensive ones?
No, some people do and some people don't, depending on how much money one has at the time of initiation. I am planning on upgrading to the 14 pearl badge with chapter guard and officer dangles as soon as I have some spare cash on hand (definitely before our centennial convention in 2004! :D).

I think the cost ranges for AGD's badges are $27-$200.

I think I paid $21 for the plain one. I want to upgrade though.

I love our badge (which our chapter calls a pin, but I like the word badge better)! It's a diamond shape, and you can get it plain, like mine, which is $62. You can also choose from other varieties, with jewels, pearls, and/or diamonds at the corners or all the way around. I don't know how much the upgraded versions cost, because I like mine the way it is.

You can see a small picture of our pin on our chapter's website at www.aggieadpi.com
I don't know where I could tell you to find a better pic.

Our badge (officially badge, not pin) is available in plain gold, gold with close set pearls, or gold with crown set pearls. Range from about $30-$190; more if you also get chapter guards (especially the 3 letter chapters with the pearls!), dangles, etc.

Everyone in my chapter had plain. The pearl-set ones look to girly for the guys and most of us couldn't afford the upgrade. So there was no pressure towards any one type. I personally don't like pearls, so I won't ever upgrade anyways. (Unless we start offering a silver/white gold option.. then I'll be the first to order it!) :P

Lost of the female alumnae from all of the chapters do upgrade, though, once they can afford to. And if we offered a diamond one I might have to save up, because those sound awesome!

Here are the 3 styles of badge, and you can see that one has a guard and dangle:

http://www.phibeta.com/graphics/jewelry/badges.jpg

Alpha Sigma Phi does not have jeweled badges (they're prohibited per the constitution of the fraternity) and all badges are the same design except for the HSP (president) pin which is larger and resembles the original badge as worn in the 1850s. The HSP badge is the property of the chapter and is passed between presidents as the symbol of their office.

Back when I was initiated, the garden-variety 'Balclad' badge was about $25, (it's now around $50). I don't recall if there were 10K badges offered for sale to members.

1)does your group offer different varieties? The only options we have are goldplated, 10k, 14k, or 24k yellow gold, each with or without the 21 pearls surrounding the BADGE itself

2) how much was yours my NM Badge was about 35 and my Sister Badge was 185 (goldplated w/ 21 Pearls)

3) did you get the standard or the upgrades? in my chapter that is the standard....although i wish i would've have known i could have gotten it in REAL gold when i was a NM

4) is there a "pressure" in your chapter to get the more expensive ones? not really since we all get the same one...no one has ordered a pearl-less Badge to date