this is my pin the day I got it
 

That is my DREAM PIN! But in white gold ;)

Thanks to DGMarie, I know how to take closeups of my badge now! While it's not as close as CJ's pic, it's still pretty darn good! My first dangle (H) is colonizing member, the second one (heart) is for Honor Board and the third (keys) is Social Awareness. I have the director dangle and the big sister dangle on order!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...Picture646.jpg

*bump* because in the GC downtime, this didn't get bumped, and I want everyone to see my photographic skills ;)

Back in the ancient days when we were initiated, our "pledge trainer" just ordered the same for everybody - crown pearl gold badges with crown pearl gold chapter guards. I love it - it's beautiful. That was when you could ONLY wear your badge above the heart. Then Council changed it so you could wear your badge wherever appropriate - on a lapel, or a scarf, for instance. I ordered a plain gold badge (I think it cost about $12 back then) and still enjoy wearing it on blazers. It's very appropriate for business but still a way to display my DG pride! My dream pin - crown diamond gold! But I have seen an all-diamond white gold - *sigh* - awesome!

I love the white gold! You have very excellent photographic skills! ;)

I have a crown pearl white gold badge (I'm really surprised at the number of sisters with white gold), I kept it simple though and made my chapter guard in plain white gold. I love it.

Recently I saw a photo of a very old badge that was made prior to the standardization to just diamond and pearl options. It was yellow gold with opals and rubies at the ends...absolutely gorgeous!!! Made me want to have it for my own!!

I just added new dangles to my badge:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...3/P5311032.jpg

From left to right: Honor Board, Colonizing Member, Lamp of Knowledge, Social Awareness and Big Sister!

Wow...
 

Wow, those are BEAUTIFUL pins...

Thank you! I wish I had a chance to wear my badge more, since I love it so much :)

Sorry to barge in, but I must say that you all have very beautiful badges. A good friend I grew up with pledged Delta Gamma at Miss State and I just love her to death. I always thought DG had a gorgeous badge.

A link to the past...
 

At Eta chapter, there is a tradition to pass down a very old badge (it's from 1890) to the outstanding new member from the pledge class. I don't know all of the details behind it's history but I am pretty sure the badge belonged to a sister of Eta chapter and she left it to our chapter when she passed away. A new recipient is chosen with each pledge class and the badge gets passed down. It's a really cool tradition if you ask me!!

I was lucky enough to have this honor bestowed on me during Spring '06 Initiation. The badge is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen and it gives me goosebumps whenever I wear it. Not to sound corny, but it fills me with such pride to have a close AND tangible link to the past.

Here are some pictures I took of it today...

http://www.geocities.com/craziek8_82/DGbadgefront.jpg

As you can see it has a mixture of emeralds and seed pearls. I believe there is another type of stone on the badge, but I haven't been able to figure out what it is yet. It has the Eta chapter guard, which is chaised (sp?) as well.

http://www.geocities.com/craziek8_82/DGbadgeback.jpg

I know this isn't the best shot but the back has the initials "ASB" with "1890" beneath it.

Although I will be sad when the times comes for me to pass it on, I know that the excitement I felt when I received it will be lived again through a new Initiate!

Oh my gosh, that is GORGEOUS!!!

Thank you!! I'm fond of it myself! ;)