We AEPhis get no choice.

http://www.burrpatt.com/AlphaEpsilon...s/AEPhiB22.jpg

27 pearls, yellow gold, end of story. You can get a chapter guard that is pearl jeweled to match (which I did).

I love my pin and all that it stands for, and I like the idea that all my sisters have the exact same pin... at the same time, I would have liked white gold... I'd probably wear it more if it went with my other jewelry. And I'm envious of those of you who are allowed to wear your badges as pendants or rings...

Currently, there are only two choices in Phi Mu Alpha: The official badge, which is jeweled and is what I have

http://www.vintagefraternitypins.com...phimualpha.jpg

and a non-jeweled version with a scrolled border. The non-jeweled version was originally offered to be less expensive, but the difference in cost is not that great. Because of the meaning of the official badge, there will be a proposal before our National Assembly next month to make the jeweled badge the only option.

I'm glad that we don't offer a variety of options with regard to jewels or white vs. yellow gold. Like KillarneyRose, I appreciate the meaning behind our design. I also like the idea that all of my brothers (well, most of them at least) have the same badge that I do, regardless of income or station in life.

Some of you have posted saying that you have rescued old badges. Where did you find them? At antique stores, or somewhere else? I know I would love to find (and buy!!) an old Delta Gamma badge!!

I have the Tiffany setting because that's what my chapter voted on, but I really like the flush setting better...it's a little more unusual-looking.

My chapter guard is plain gold, but one of these days (when I get the cash!) I'm going to get one of the pearled ones.

Flea markets, antique stores, estate sales, pawn shops, and ebay are the first places to look. You'd be surprised where all you'll find them!

I rescued my badge from our nationals. I don't know if all groups do this, but IO has badges that have been returned to the fraternity (members die, etc) and I got it at a discounted price. Paying $40 for a used badge in mint condition (it really is flawless) instead of close to a hundred for a brand new one sounded much better to me!

Gamma Phi allows our members to purchase "used" badges from IH as replacements for badges that have been lost or stolen.

Having rescued several Quills from ebay I now own:

15 pearl (open crown) quill with diamond tip (mine)
20 pearl (open crown) quill with diamond tip (1928)
20 pearl (open crown) quill (194?)
15 pearl (closed crown) quill (1942)

I have also donated 2 20 pearl quills that I rescued. One to Theta Omega chapter (NMSU) and one to Iota Eta chapter (UTEP) to be worn by the president while she's in office.

I wouldn't know what MY badge looks like b/c it fell off my shirt after a meeting sometime last year. I know is really sad :( I am trying to save up for the pearled Alpha Phi badge. Until then I am going to order a new plain Alpha Phi badge, which I LOVE!

That is Hebrew..

Beta Theta Pi

http://www.betathetapi.org/images/06.gif

The Badge of the fraternity shall be an eight-sided shield, with
concavely curved sides. The face shall be of black enamel, bearing, first, three five-pointed stars of gold, placed in a
horizontal line; second, a brilliant diamond, encircled by a laurel wreath of greenish gold; third, the Greek capitals BQP,
of gold; and fourth the date of the foundation of the fraternity in the Greek notation, of gold, alpha omega lambda theta.
On the reverse side shall be engraved the letter or letters of the owner’s chapter, clasped hands, the owner’s name and the
date of his initiation. Each man will receive a standard gold-plated badge on payment of his initiation fees. The use of the
official badge of the fraternity shall be limited to the pin, the same to be worn over the heart and in a manner befitting the
honor and dignity to which the badge is entitled. A member of the fraternity shall permit none but his mother, wife,
daughter, sister, or sweetheart to wear the official badge.

My badge is sterling silver with all pearls, and a plain sterling silver chapter guard

For about 3 more days, you can see our badge on Ebay :mad:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...category=11145

I have the plain badge (& chapter guard) in white gold:

http://www.carriefrederick.com/photos/badge.jpg


Other options are plain yellow gold (exactly like mine in yellow) or yellow gold with pearls, close set or crown set. Here's the crown set:

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

Here's an SAI badge on ebay right now(grrrrr....):

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...category=11013

All SAI badges are the same. You can either get goldplate or real gold, but there are no different varieties.

That's fine with me, because our badge is beautiful as it is! :D