Badges as Jewelry?
 

I was looking through the sorority magazine of one of my friends today and I saw a page where one could order a ring with an opening where a sorority badge could be put. I asked my friend about it, and she said it was permissible in her organization for them to make a necklace, ring, charm bracelet, etc. out of their badges.

I was surprised to learn that, because Delta Zeta's are forbidden from wearing our Badges as anything but a badge. (I do love the idea of wearing the Badge as a pendant though :( )

What about your GLO's? Are you allowed any leeway concerning how you wear your Badges?

Phi Mu allows their members to wear their badges as rings, etc, but it can not be worn in a utilitarian manner.

Kappa Deltas are allowed to wear our badges as jewelry once we are alumnae. As collegiate members, we are only permitted to wear it as a badge.

We can buy a ring to put the badge in, or wear it as a necklace. They are prety pricey, so most of us just wear it as a regular badge.

We are also not allowed to wear our badges in a utilitarian form. Also, it is my understanding that Kappa pins are not meant to be worn on a lapel, only on a blouse underneath, in the standard badge place. However, BP&A makes oval pendants which you can attach your key to, and wear it as a pendant. I believe both actives and alumnae can wear the badge pendant. Mary Silzel, our Fraternity Historian, wears her badge in a pendant, and it looks really nice. I think I may put the pendant on my Hannukah list :)

At Delta Gamma, you can wear your badge on a ring, or as a necklace.

I definitely saw a Kappa Alpha Theta at the last City Alumnae Lunch that I went to wearing her badge on a necklace too....

KappaStarGirl/OUlioness,
I'm not exactly sure what you mean by "utilitarian"? Could you please explain when you get a sec?

Thanks :)

Alpha Gams are allowed to wear our Badge as a pendant or a ring...only if she is an alumna. Collegians wear the Badge traditionally over the heart, but when she becomes an alumna, she may wear it as a ring, pendant, or as a lapel pin.

Here's 2 examples of the pendant way:
http://www.burrpatt.com/alphagammadelta/AGDLav43.jpg

http://www.burrpatt.com/alphagammadelta/AGDLav44.jpg

I wish I had a picture of the ring. We have a sister from the Sigma Chapter (Illinois-Champaign) who had her Badge set into a ring. I believe the jeweler in that area still has the mold for it!

Anything for you :D

I just meant that we have to wear the badge as an item of jewelry, we can't use it to hold a rip in fabric together, in place of a button, etc. I've never heard of this happening, but it's nice to have in the rules just so there's no confusion.

AOII alumnae are also allowed to wear the badge as a pendant/charm or a ring, and I think the pendants look like the ones OohTeenyWahine posted for AGD. I believe we're allowed to wear the pendant holder as a necklace or bracelet, but I'm not 100% on the bracelet part. The ring is gorgeous, one of my best friends her badge mounted on the ring and it's just stunning.

We are never allowed to wear our badge as a lapel pin and do not allow a guard to be attached with our badge.

Question: A Chi Omega friend in college once told me that after graduation, Chi O's weren't allowed to wear their badges "over their heart" and also (apparently) no longer could wear their guard and dangles. I've always been curious about this, do Chi O's have to put the badge on a ring or pendant or just no longer wear it? I can't imagine any sorority not allowing an initiated member to wear their badge! I always figured she was joking with me, but is this correct (or is it something you just can't discuss?)

Christin

AGD Ring
 

Several years ago, I tried to wear my badge as a ring, but I kept hitting it on things, esp. the top pearl. Although unique, it was a pain to keep safe. So maybe one of these days, I'll order another type of AGD ring.

I know wear the badge as a pendant. It's a lot easier to put on/off and get straight!;)

AEPhi forbids making the badge or new member pin into any other type of jewelry. Which is a shame... I like my badge as a badge, but I would have liked to make my NM pin into a pendant (since there's no point to my wearing it as a NM pin!)

KappaStargirl, does that mean that if you are wearing a suit with a blouse, you have to wear your badge on the blouse, under your jacket? Doesn't that mean no one would see it? :confused:

Phi Beta is very specific about how and where you wear your badge: over the heart, no other pins, etc. above it. Guards have to be worn with the badge (You can wear the badge alone, but not a guard). Other fraternity jewelry is allowed independently though. (We have recognition jewelry of course, and also a really cool allied arts design).

Only Sigma Kappa alumna can wear their badges as jewelry. Collegiate members must wear theirs as badges. There is a very pretty Sigma Kappa badge ring on ebay right now, and if I could afford to I would snatch that ring right up.

Greek Love,
Lil Snakey K

I know that ADPi does offer the ring/pendent option for badges. I am not sure what the formal rules are regarding Alumna or actives doing this, but I must say that I think it is a nice idea.

That's absolutely correct. I know, it makes me sad too, especially 'cause I like to wear my badge to job interviews. Other than that, I never thought about it much, because I'm a librarian and libraries are more casual, the only people I know who wear suit jackets on a regular basis in a library are management. I guess this is where the badge pendant comes in handy :)

Lil Snakey K,
I saw that Sigma Kappa ring on Ebay too!! I wish that I had the money to buy it also. I have never heard of wearing badges as jewlrey like that before.

The KD's have already basically answered this... but i'm going to anyway.

It's incredibly common among KDs to get their badges made into pendants. Technically you can get it made into a ring, but as others have stated, that's an awfully big ring and hard to keep nice.

I have a really plain badge, and just recently purchased one off of ebay that's been made into a pendant. Here's what it looks like if any of you are interested. I think it's pretty neat:



KD badge/pendant

Chi Omega offers a few variations of ways the badge may be worn. I believe that MaryMayXO has the actual ring badge?!?!? Am I correct?

Hootie

same as a lot of y'all, ASA allows alums to wear their badges in pendant or ring form.

I am glad to see some other people have that "not on the lapel" rule...we always had that drilled into us in school and I talked to a former national ritual chair, and she said it was never a national rule...however some other chapters in our area of the country said the same thing. It might have been a custom we adapted from the other chapters on our campuses.

Alpha Delta Pi alumnae can make their pin into either a pendant or a ring. I think most sorority badges make beautiful pendants (as rings they can be beautiful but tough to wear.) This is not an option for collegians, they wear them only as badges over their hearts.

KD has the "not on the lapel" rule as well. Our pins must be worn as close to the heart as possible and above all other pins. However, I'm not sure on this, but I think we can wear it on a suit jacket, etc. as long as it isn't on the lapel. KappaStargirl, that explains why I don't always see the Kappas at my school wearing their pins...they probably are and I just can't see them.

Chi O's- any answer? First time I ever heard it but I know chapters different from coast to coast.

From Nationals- you can not make your pin into any type of jewerly.