Badges: To Jewel Or Not To Jewel?
 

So I need to get my badge ordered this week and I'm more or less pulling my hair out trying to decide between a more traditional two toned badge:

https://www.hjgreek.com/index.cfm?ev...roduct_ID=9954

or a more individualized jeweled one:
https://www.hjgreek.com/index.cfm?ev...roduct_ID=9938

My parents have both voted for the two toned because they think it "pops" more, while my friends have unanimously voted jeweled, because well, its just really freaking pretty. However my mom brought up the issues that having jewelry with any sort of gem can invite, such as damages, pieces falling off, etc. I was wondering what people's thoughts on the matters were? Has anyone ever had issues with a jeweled badge? Also, please feel free to cast a vote on which one I should order. I know its my decision in the end but that certainly doesn't mean I can't be swayed by some peer pressure :)

I really like the unjeweled one better.

I have an unjeweled badge, but that was a decision of economy as much as aesthetic.

I will tell you that if you're wearing a delicate fabric, there's always a chance of a jeweled badge snagging it, but that said, they're both really nice. Trust your gut!

The jeweled badge is gorgeous, but there's something so striking about the two toned badge.

As a Delta Zeta, I can't really customize my badge but I'd say look around at all the badges you can online and especially in person.

Which one do picture yourself getting excited to pin on?

The good news is that all Gamma Phi Beta badges are gorgeous so you really can't go wrong.

I'm pretty classic in my tastes so I'd go with pearls, and only on the Phi. My badge is crown pearl and there is a pearl sticking up on the center of the Alpha and I've never caught it on anything.

http://www.hjgreek.com/index.cfm?eve...roduct_ID=9933

With the two tone I'd be concerned about scratches on it that would be more obvious due to the contrast, points with pearls move my eyes all over the place, and all pearl crown badges make the Gamma and Beta become one letter and I can't see them individually. I'm so set with keeping the old style badge I'm not a fan of our silver option now.

Jeweled badges like that are so pretty...but I have to say that two tone badge truly does "pop". It's gorgeous.

I have a pearl badge with a diamond in the center, and I'll say that at some point the diamond has disappeared...I still haven't fixed it or ordered a new one, so I don't know if it's a pain to repair them or not, but it is something to consider.

As the owner of a pearled AOII badge for 17 years, I have never had an issue with my jewels falling out, catching on things or otherwise causing problems. Don't let that cause you to opt out of a jeweled badge. That being said, I love the two toned badge. It is really distinctive. In the end, you have to be happy with your choice...not your parents or your friends. I agree with pixell, think about which one will make you happiest pinning onto your shirt for the rest of your life. I still love my badge as much as the first day I bought it (of course, I love the 11 other badges I have since rescued, too! ;))

The 2 toned is gorgeous. I have to admit I'm a BLING girl

I think the 2 toned is prettier, and the pearls and pink stones sort of make the phi become invisible. The meaning of Phi might be your favorite secret so it would be a shame for it to lose its place on the badge.

They're both beautiful but I really love the jeweled one. I especially like that it's more than just pearls.

the two toned one is gorgeous!

I have a jeweled badge, and I've never regretted it. I've never had a problem with it, and I wear it often. I have the emeralds-- it has a persoanal meaning to me. All of the badges are beautiful...
:) Good Luck with your choice-- but remember pick the badge that YOU want, don't let others persuade you. It's a choice you'll have to live with forever or until you buy another badge! ;-)

Like other said, the most important thing to remember is that this is your badge, so get what makes you happy.

That said, my vote is for the jeweled one--ruby is my birthstone :)

I've had no problems with my crown pearl badge - and I love our jeweled badges!

I also really think the two-toned pops more... but it is your badge, so get the one you adore!

That two toned badge is SO much cooler. I know that in our chapter some women had silver lavaliers and some had gold - this would have been such a neat symbolism of bringing them all together.

Also depending on how dark those garnets are in person...if they're more red than pink, they'll look like rubies and that badge is just going to scream Alpha Sigma Alpha. :)

The jeweled badge is pretty. It's great that you have that option and it truly is gorgeous and I'm sure it would be really special.

That being said, I really like the two toned best. It does pop a lot more. What do most girls in your chapter order? Do you want to share having similar badges in common or do you want to stand out?

See I really like the jeweled badge. I think that it is absolutely beautiful and almost understated, even though it is jeweled. Also is not pink an unofficial Gamma Phi color? That could be a neat aspect as well.

However I would check to see if the rubies are more pink or red. That could be a deal breaker for me. Also as everyone else is saying, go with your heart. You'll probably have to wait to buy another one, so go with what you can imagine being above your heart with pride.

Do you have the emerald phi or the pearl with emerald points? I have an emerald phi and love, love, love it. :)

The two toned badge is gorgeous--it's the badge that my big sis had, so I got to wear it while mine came in the mail. If you don't like it once you get it, you can always upgrade later.

I really like the two-toned, but as an owner of an un-jeweled badge, I'm biased! I think the badges with no jewels are classic and will go with anything. Someday I'd live to have a flashy blinged-out badge too, but I think having a basic one that you can keep forever is so much nicer. Jewel colors come and go but the basic two-toned badge will be a recognizable symbol even a hundred years from now.

Most importantly, get the badge you LOVE, not the one you can live with. I like both of them.

Having a jeweled pin, I will add one caveat: I have sapphire points, and I've noticed over the years that, if I'm wearing ruby rings, I'm not as apt to wear my pin. But I'm really somewhat crazy about mixing stones at will.


ETA: Get thee to the Badge Trends thread! You'll see a lot of opinion there!

I really like the two-toned.

If I knew that I could order the jeweled one later, I would go for the 2-toned.

My first badge was actually ALL emerald, but it was stolen. :( Now I have the emerald phi, and I think I actually like it better!!

Thank you all for your opinions! After talking to my friends and sisters I decided on Saturday morning that I was going to order a badge with an all pearled phi and told my parents who said we'd order tomorrow. I was confident that this was the right decision for me. So of course mid way through today I changed my mind and decided to go for the two toned badge which I KNOW was the right decision and has now been ordered. Now to begin the long wait between ordering and receiving. Thanks all again for the input, it was extremely helpful!

Congratulations on your badge! They're all lovely -- I know you're going to love wearing it.

No matter what it is made of, our badge is gorgeous, and its meaning makes it all the more beautiful. Congratulations!

I know how hard it is to make up your mind! My badge is the pearl Phi with diamond points, but the two-toned one sure looks sharp. I'd like to have that one made into a ring.:)

As much as I ADORE jeweled badges (heck, I've got two of my own), the Gamma Phi Beta badge is unique in that it is absolutely STUNNING in two-tone, and not many other badges are available that way. The jeweled option you linked to, in my opinion, also doesn't show off the stones enough to make it worthwhile, at least to me... so I truly would recommend the two-tone. If, later on, you want another badge, you can always get another one (and then post it in the Badge Trends thread, of course). :)

I have to agree...everytime I see the two toned Gamma Phi badge, I have to stop and look at it. It really is beautiful. I like my own badge in two toned gold, as well, and it may be my next buy. It, however, doesn't hold a candle to the look of the Gamma Phi badge.