That pledge pin looks like the black might be enamel inlay? If so, that's certainly not what mine looked like. :-) Maybe that's why the bidding is high. . .(total conjecture)

Katy?

It looks really old. I HATE that Ebay now hides the bidder IDs. No idea if HQ or other Thetas are bidding on it or not.

So the pledge pin in question is older (the current ones have a one piece pin & catch attached in the center of thel square vs separate like this ). To clarify, I'm meaning 1990s or earlier, not 'older'=1920's.

All pledge pins are gold w/the black enamel inset into the black square, though i think these days the 'enamel' is more like a black paint or some kind of black epoxy. this one looks a little defective in that the enamel is not flat w/the surface of the pin-I'm wondering if that is just a camera artifact?

re: sale price....realistically this is a VERY high price for a pledge pin (the cost to a chapter is ~$12 or so), but not the highest they've sold for in the last year.. Most collectors already have one-i think it's just thetas doing the bidding. Certain members are very passionate about seeing Theta stuff on ebay, and just keep bidding regardless of the cost.

Hey all,

Just wanted to post a reminder about ebay. As a bidder you should make sure to follow the 'buyer beware' principle. When bidding on any item (esp jewelry), read the description very carefully. if it does not say "old"/"antique"/"vintage", it is NEW. If it does not say "10K" or "14K" or "sterling" it is base metal or plate. Do not get distracted by lots of other text in the listing. The description of the item is critical!

There are a number of un-ethical sellers right now trying to pass of goods they have manufactured or 'married' together. If you see glue residue around edges/corners, or if you see different shades of metal, be suspicious!

I hate to see Thetas spending money on something that will dissapoint you once it comes out of the mailing envelope.

-K

Thank you so much for the warning!! It can be hard to evaluate items from pictures, especially for amateurs like me!

So, I am still crying over losing this auction last night. I was able to submit what I thought would be a really competitive bid (told husband to make it my birthday and/or Christmas gift) and had been looking forward to placing that bid all week. However, seconds after placing my bid, the winning bid of $1325 was placed, and that was more than I could justify spending.

The badge is from 1944, has opals, and is larger than our standard badge. The "points" on the badge are also slight variations. I am not sure when they stopped putting opals in the badge, but I suspect is was long, long ago.

Kaokite, please tell me that you were the high bidder? Even if you weren't the winner, can you at least provide any inisights that you have on this badge? It is just gorgeous, and I had so hoped to wear it to Founders Day and convention next year. Instead I now hope that you or another Theta get to proudly wear it. While I am glad that it wasn't melted, thrown away, etc, I am sad to think that it will just be displayed in a box with other random Greek badges and not actually worn by someone.


http://i.ebayimg.com/11/!BbW3bzgBmk~...u8L+g~~_35.JPG

That badge is stunning. I'm sorry you weren't able to win it. I can't believe it went for $1325!

Wow!! That is really beautiful! I would love to know more about this badge, too... Let's just hope that a Theta won it.

Sorry to crash but I saw this badge too...absolutely gorgeous. Do they still make them with the long tip at the bottom? I guess I had never seen one like that and the opals were just stunning.

Not a Theta myself, but I was browsing ebay for a birthday gift for a friend and came across this badge:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Small-Kappa-Alph...d=p3286.c0.m14

Just wanted to give you guys up, so you can try to prevent a collector grabbing it ..

Wow. That looks like a lost Grand Council badge. The Fraternity Vice President Education wears an opal badge. I wonder if this is one that was lost a few years ago? I do hope whomever won it is a Theta! I know that there are several Theta collectors who bid on ebay so hopefully they got it.

Here is the description that appeared on ebay:

Absolutely superb 1944 Kappa Alpha Theta 14K gold sorority pin with enamel, opals and diamonds. No chips, cracks, missing stones. I rarely see fraternal pins of this quality. Measures 30mm tall by 20mm wide and weighs 5.3 grams.


The seller is in Terre Haute, IN.

Outing myself... I was bidding also. I thought my bid would take it, but I was outbid in the last four seconds, by only $25.

am reluctant to say more, b/c this is an open forum. would like to take this private...PM me

ps.... heartsick. Please let it be in Theta hands. Amy, does the Fraternity have any record of the details of the "lost" badge? There are many details about this one that the seller posted, including very clear pictures of the engraving on the back.

It was "only $25" however, who knows how much their max bid was. Could have been $2K. Who knows?

At least that is how I am comforting myself.