Phi Mu doesn't allow bling for collegiates? I've seen so many beautiful Phi Mu pins, too!

I keep coming back to this comment, for some reason it really bothers me! (Not the fact that you made the comment, HQWest, but the fact that there are chapters that would require a woman to buy a second badge because hers isn't the exact style of everyone else's.) Yet another reminder of why I would have gone crazy if I had gone to a southern school.

OP - I say go for the bling! I don't think you will regret it. But, I'm biased. My own original badge is plain, and I haven't worn it since I got a badge with pearls.

Most of the girls in my chapter and a distinct majority of my pledge class ended up choosing the least expensive badge, but not for financial reasons. The simplicity of the badge and its importance in our sorority was the reason we chose the most "plain" badge. The chased O badge was the same cost, but generally everyone got the basic badge and everyone got it in yellow gold.

When I look at the badge I chose all those years ago, I am glad I went with the simplest badge even now. Every time I look at it, I think its beautiful and that there is great beauty in what is simple. That is not to say that I don't drool over the beautiful blinged out badges I have seen on here, especially the vintage ones.

However, you need to choose the badge for you. Is the $150 badge the one you like best? If so get it. If you like the more simple badge, choose that. If your dream badge is more than $150, I would consider getting the basic badge and purchasing the blinged out one you really want later!

Unless it has changed since I was an undergrad, no. I kinda like the idea of everyone being initiated with the same badge anyway.

I bought one of these several years ago:

https://www.hjgreek.com/assets/image...large/9770.jpg

I don't regret it at all.

I believe you, but I am surprised! There are so many beautiful jeweled Phi Mu badges on "that site". Any idea where they come from? Did they come from a time prior to this decision or is it possible to add stones after a badge is purchased?

Seriously!!! Where is this picture, AzTheta???

Do they still make the short tridents? I always thought those were cute. Plus I've seen quite a few long tridents that are bent. Of course if you are super careful with it you'll likely be fine- but any long thin piece of metal is susceptible to getting bent. If it were me, I'd go for a short trident with pearls to set off the badge.

I lamented for the first few years that we didn't have white gold or silver keys. Not for price, but because I never wear anything gold! However, it's hard now to imagine an iconic golden key as anything but gold. I just suck it up and have a few gold necklaces I can wear with my badge. As for the big price gap- the vermeil badge is actually fairly new. We just started offering that either last fall or the fall before to provide a less expensive way of having your own badge.

And personally, if you can afford it (or prioritize to afford it), I would go for the badge that you would both treasure and wear. That's different for each sister- some love the uber bling, and others love the classic simplicity of our golden key. Many fall somewhere in the middle. For the past 20 years or so, sapphire & pearl has been a very popular choice (that's what my initiation badge was as well). Of course, I'm partial to the blue & blue key now- not only because I requested it :D, but because it has our colors within our symbol. That's also been a popular one since it was released in... 2010 I think? Vintage badges are also a great option and have a history all their own. You really can't go wrong... as long as you get one!

I come from a chapter where everyone got the same badge at initiation. It was a lot of years ago, and I seem to remember our pledge master asking "What kind of badge do you want? Our chapter has a tradition of everyone getting the plain rose-engraved badge." and that's what we all got. I don't know if they've changed the tradition since; I didn't ask the women in the chapter now. Though I've bought a couple of badges since, nothing will ever compare to my simple gold anchor. And I still prefer it to the more blinged-out options.

The problem wasn't the style - the problem discussed in that chapter was with the "mini" badge which did not look quite the same.

Alumnae can have them, and the official jeweler offers them for alumnae members. It's only a restriction on collegians.

This is why AOII will NEVER get rid of our plain gold badge. We were founded on simplicity. I bought the pearl O badge, or rather my mom bought me a pearl O badge for initiation. I know own many jeweled badges and a perfect shiny plain gold version which is so pretty in its simplicity. They all mean the same thing...just say something different about the owner.

FSUZeta... I lucked out because my sister was also Gamma Alpha's General Advisor ;) She payed for my badge. I picked turquoise and pearls too. However, I got it on yellow gold because it was 1991 and yellow gold was still the thing in Miami. (OUCH!) Anyway, years later, I ended up getting a white gold and sapphire badge off of eBay. I know its wrong, but it feels so right.

My advice would be just do NOT get a gold filled badge (if your sorority offers that option). My parents paid for most of my sorority stuff and I felt guilty that the badge was something else they bought for me, so I just opted for the cheapest option. Don't get me wrong, I like the plain badge with no bling, but it looks so much better in actual gold and not gold fill. Silly 20 year old me :(

You are a lucky lady(wink-wink)! And I feel your pain about the gold....back in the 70's it was THE thing and my plain badge was gold.

When I was a new member(2005) my Phi Mu chapter did not offer it as an option. I am not certain if that rule formally existed but now that other people are saying that it makes sense.

Since then I have seen new members allowed to make jeweled badge options. I do not know if that has changed for this year or anything, but in years after me new members had very beautiful jeweled badges.