'Upgrading' Badges
 

So with the recent posts of alum initiaties & the photos of their *beautiful* new badges, I wondered how many other alums have "upgraded" since college (and the poverty badge, lol!)

Feel free to post before and/or after pics if you want... I never get tired of seeing different badges! :)

I sort of upgraded in the sense that I ordered a plain white gold badge recently (as oppossed to our standard yellow gold one). Our badge can also have pearls. I don't really like pearls- so I didn't get them. But I wouldn't call this the poverty badge as it was about as expensive as the yellow gold/pearl version!

It came via UPS yesterday while I was at work. I thought I would catch the UPS guy today, but he was early & now I have to wait unitl Monday to pick it up :mad: becaues our UPS office is closed on Saturday. (It used to be open. I know that like 2 months ago I was there on a Sat.) I'll post a pic after I get it.

Oh... and to all of the recent initiaties.. a great big CONGRATS!! :cool:

So with the recent posts of alum initiaties & the photos of their *beautiful* new badges, I wondered how many other alums have "upgraded" since college (and the poverty badge, lol!)
...
I sort of upgraded in the sense that I ordered a plain white gold badge recently (as oppossed to our standard yellow gold one).

I have the plain "standard yellow gold" badge, but I aspire to "upgrade" and get the white gold one! The only thing is, being in Canada, the exchange rate on our "Canadian peso" is killer, not to mention the duty and taxes. It pretty much works out to TWICE the price!

Our badge can have pearls and also pearls + diamonds.

I want to get the pin on pendant thing too, which comes plain or chased.

I'm going to upgrade in a few weeks/couple of months. I can't wait! :D I'm torn between the white gold with pearls and tiffany set CZ...

http://mastersofdesign.com/images/Product/img1-403.jpg

... or the white gold with alternating pearls/CZs.

http://mastersofdesign.com/images/Product/img1-420.jpg

(Yeah, I know the photos aren't white gold... work with me here!)

For the same reasons that Cutie mentioned, I'm not going for diamonds on my badge...pity the poor Canadian peso. :D

As a broke azz new member, I could only afford the plain badge after taking care of all the fees:

http://www.burrpatt.com/alphagammade...es/AGDBad3.jpg

After going alum, I upgraded to the Crown Pearl Badge w/ Tiffany Pearl:

http://www.burrpatt.com/alphagammade...es/AGDBad6.jpg

I always admired the Pierced Badge pendant that some of the alums have, so when I finally saved up enough money, I decided to get that too:

http://www.burrpatt.com/alphagammadelta/AGDLav43.jpg

At next year's Centennial Convention I hope to add my chapter guard and dangles to the pendant. I'd do it myself, but knowing my dumb luck I'll probably ruin it!

upgrading
 

As a new initiate, I bought the plain $44 10K gold badge
As an alumna I bought a jeweled badge (pearls with emerald tips). I was able to purchase it through KD's foundation (it's was only $80 and the money goes back to the sorority, not the jeweler or some randon ebay person).
This Christmas my parents bought me a pendant to attach my badge to.

Sistermadly,
I vote for option #2. CZ is SPARKLY & pretty! :D

OTW- you won't ruin anything! I know several members who purchased their badges/chapter guards/dangles separately. The best advice I heard was using little wire cutters to cut and then bend the chains back in place. Just be careful & take your time!

Your pins are so pretty. :)

Here is a copy of mine. I received this type of pin at initiation.
http://www.albany.edu/~dphie/pin.gif

D Phi E's pin is pretty too, Cream! I actually got to see one up close not too long ago, and I was amazed by the intricate details.

OTW: Girl, I feel you on being a broke azz new member. Sure, I could buy textbooks, but I want something SHINY! Right, adduncan? :D

SilverTurtle: I'm leaning toward option 2 as well. I wish I could take a look at an A Phi badge that had been made into a ring.. I bet it would be stunning.

To the Kids on site,

I bought the most expensive Badge I could get, well, with in reason!

My first Badge was White Gold, pearls in the Creasent, and Saphires in the Lambda. LX guard in pearls.

Then bought one from a Brother on Ebay: Yellow Gold, Pearls and Rubys, with Diamonds at the points.

One of the most cherishied is yellow gold with pearls and all opals in Lambda.

LXA has a Basic Badge that will be included in the Initiation fees that only cost 10.00.

Most of the Kids do not even wear Badges at school, what a shame.

Now as We get Ai,s they really care! I do, am Proud to wear mine. I just wish I had more times that I could wear it!:cool:

For those who want to Upgrade, GO FOR IT!!!!!!!!:)


Be Proud, look Proud, Hold Your Head High and Smile!!!!!!

As soon as I get some money,
I would like to upgrade to the single diamond badge:

http://www.burrpatt.com/alphagammade...es/AGDBad4.jpg

I purchased the least expensive badge when I Initiated, it was "Balclad" (gold plated) and I'm thinking it was about $44.00 or so.

I rescued a 1929 badge from E-bay last year, and it's stunning. It's similar to this style, but the chasing on mine is just faboo!
http://www.aoiiemporium.com/store/catalog/t-j19.jpg

I'm debating if I want to mount the 1929 badge, I can either have it mounted on a ring or two different charms. I'd really like to get the ring, but I don't know if it would get banged around in everyday wear:
http://www.aoiiemporium.com/store/catalog/t-j35.jpg

Christin

You could buy books, food, rent, mortgage, clothes. All kinds of things, yeah.

;)

Adrienne (PNAM-2003)
Hey--I need some encouragement over here!
:D

But isn't that what husbands are for?

I just set the feminist movement back about a century... ;)

I dunno, let's ask yours!!!

Adrienne
:D

I would.. but he's in the kitchen doing dishes!

*cracks whip*

Mine was massaging my shoulders while I chatted here on GC.

:D

Maybe I should pass the whip on to you! :D

My original badge: (mine didn't come with a chapter guard)

http://www.mastersofdesign.com/image...t/img1-713.jpg

Here's my current badge -- I have a chapter guard with my chapter letters on it, MT:

http://www.mastersofdesign.com/image...t/img1-724.jpg

Sistermadly, you were just initiated recently, why didn't you get the upgraded badge at that time? Just curious.

When I was initiated they did not have my badge ready. They said for AI, they waited until after you were initiated to get yours because of the engraving....so my sponsor let me use her little DG recognition pin (the tiny little anchor badge version).

I got mine last week....
http://gilbert.homeip.net/tinypin.jpg

LOL @ adduncan and Sistermadly... :D

I am so envious of those of you who can get upgraded badges. All AEPhi badges are the same - letters in sequence, 27 pearls, yellow gold. The only choice is whether you get a guard or not.

On the one hand, it's nice to know that I have the exact same badge as all of my sisters... but on the other hand, I would have liked white gold :(

See the "broke azz new member" comment to OohTeenyWahine. :D At the time, I didn't have the $$ to buy the upgraded pin, but I wanted to make sure I had a pin in time for initiation. I could have waited, but ultimately, I wanted to be pinned with my pin, instead of someone else's.

Representing the 'broke azz alumnae club',
C. ;)

So funny that you started this thread!

I just sent in my order for my ADPi badge.

When I joined Alpha Delta Pi, I did it as an alumna initiate (all 3 levels of initiation on one day, yikes!), and bought the basic badge because I didn't know how involved I'd be with the sorority and I didn't want to spend more than the $63 for the plain badge if I wasn't going to stay active.

It's now our five year anniversary, and I'm getting out of grad school in May. I still go to campus for Homecoming and Founders' Day, and I'll be joining the Naperville Alumnae Association in August, since I will finally have Tuesday nights free again (yay, no more grad classes!).

So I got the mid-level pin-- alternating synthetic sapphires (points and center stone of sides) and pearls (other two stones per side). I also ordered a plain gold guard, plus went to GiftMart and ordered a webmaster dangle (since I do run the thing...)

It's supposed to be 4-6 weeks... I can't wait! I know it won't be around in time for formal or Founders' Day, but it'll be around for alumnae assoc. stuff in fall and for Homecoming!

Oh, and I am *so* jealous of LXA and other fraternities where the plain badge is available gold-plated for $9 and the crown or jeweled stuff starts around $65.

Y'all have such gorgeous pins!

Tri Delta, like AEPhi, has only one standard version of the pin. While I think it's gorgeous as it is, and it's really cool to know that all Tri Deltas are wearing the same thing . . . I am officially jealous after seeing all the upgraded versions that you guys get. :D

When I'm a rich old lady, though, I am going to upgrade my current lavalier to something like this:

http://www.mastersofdesign.com/image...ct/img1-87.jpg

Although, at $495, it's a little out of my broke-college-student price range. :p

Re: OTW's "plain" badge...

When I pledged in the mid-70's, it was common for everyone to start out with the one with all pearls. Of course, my chapter was only 2.5 years old when I pledged, so there wasn't the tradition of going with the plain badge to start off with. Not sure when it switched. (FYI, my pledge trainer only earned 12 pearls so she wanted to make sure we all earned 13 for our badge!)

Something I have noticed, is that none of the collegians (at least GTaus) ever order the chapter guard. Not sure why. I'll have to ask next time I think of it.

Because I got the pearl badge years ago, last year I ordered the plain badge to wear some times.

Side note, after a couple of decades, I finally got another new green jersey with red yellow (gold) green letters outlined in white, GT in white on the sleeve and my name in white on the back. ! The GTaus wear them Bid Day and I was tired of feeling out of place with my other jersey, lol. ;) :D

Thanks Sistermadly.

I never bought a chapter guard because I thought that they were too expensive. My big sister had a pearl chapter guard that was more money than the badge. I didn't know that they sold less expensive plain gold guards which I would have bought at that time.

Question: where can I buy a chapter guard and dangles. I held a few offices in my chapter. :)

Since Alpha Sigma Phi prohibits jeweled badges (all badges are the same size (except for the chapter president during the term of his office) and unjeweled), the only option I have is to upgrade my badge from the 'GI issue' Balclad to 10K. (Dunno if they make a 14K, and I doubt I could afford one. :( )

I could have my chapter guard jeweled but in keeping with the badge being plain, the guard should be plain as well.

The only jeweled badge is the sister pin, worn only by the wives, mothers, sisters or daughters of an Alpha Sig. Basically it's the seven-pointed star of the old Alpha Kappa Pi fraternity with the letters Alpha Sigma Phi and crossed swords replacing it and optional jewels on the gold edge.

Check with your international HQ, or visit the website for the company that makes the D Phi E badge. I know that Masters of Design includes dangles and chapter guards in the Alpha Phi brochure.

Edited to add: I need sunglasses after seeing that Diamond Delta! :cool:

I found it. Thanks. :)

I know! That's why I'm going to have to be both rich AND old when I get it -- rich enough to afford it, old enough to get away with wearing something that flashy! :p

But it's gorgeous, sugar and spice! I don't think any woman can go wrong with diamonds. ;)

If I may interject: Diamonds go well with almost anything in my opinion. Except maybe raggidy cotton t-shirts.

You need to put a kidney on layaway to get one of those, but it's BEAUTIFUL! :)

Hey Marie,
When I was alumna initiated into Delta Gamma, and I was filling out the 'paperwork' and sending in my money, the option was actually not offered to me that I could order one of the "fancier badges". I kind of wish that that option had been made available to me, but oh well.

Yeah, it would seem like they should've mentioned it to you since otherwise you end up buying TWO badges and what are you going to do with two of them? It was mentioned in my letter but I assumed it was a form-type letter that everyone got.


Marie

I'm considering donating my plain badge to Beta Theta chapter to use as a 'loaner' during initiation.

I upgraded my plain chapter guard to a pearl one. I wish Delta Zeta offered a white gold badge like some other sororities do! :)

I wish Alpha Gamma Delta did, too! I don't really have any jewelry (except pearls) that goes with my yellow gold badge, because yellow gold doesn't really look that great on me. It seems to me that if the color of gold isn't required to be yellow by ritual, we ought to be able to get it in white gold, too. I know most of the girls in my chapter would get one!

Gamma Phi Beta has a two-toned badge that is soooo neat -- and affordable...wish they'd had it when I was buying mine way back when -- I got the all pearl one and it was a huge chunk of change at the time I recall!
Here is the two-toned badge
http://legacycollections.com/images/...limage-593.jpg

Finally!!
 

I remember seeing that GFB badge before & thinking it was a great solution for the yellow vs. white gold question!

I finally got my white gold badge today!! Here it is:

http://www.carriefrederick.com/photos/badge.jpg

What a pretty badge, SilverTurtle! I have to admit, I love badges with chased letters.