Badge/Guard problem
 

Hiya! I'm from my college's Fall '09 pledge class, and we just got our shiny new badges in a couple of weeks ago. I just noticed that my guard isn't as shiny as my 10k yellow gold badge. And unlike my badge, there's no '10k' stamp on the back like most gold jewelry has.

I'm afraid I was sent an electroplated guard. I checked my old billing statement to make sure I didn't accidentally order that type, but I was definitely billed for a 10k badge AND a 10k guard.

So, am I just seeing things? Do any of you have 10k guards (preferably women with newer guards) that don't look as shiny as your badge, or don't have a 10k stamp on the back?

Thanks in advance for the help! :)

Q
 

Take it to a local jeweler and have the guard appraised. There may have been a mistake. They can tell you if it is really 10K gold. If it is not, send it back per instructions from you HQ for replacement with the guard you ordered. Electroplated gold is extremely shiny, so I bet it's really 10K. The jeweler may be able to polish it for you to make it shine like your badge, as well.

Excuse the swerve ladies....I didn't realize this was in the Phi Mu forum until after I posted :D

Thank you! I guess this is a general question. I just posted in Phi Mu's forum because I'm not familiar with other sororities' badge ordering practices. I'll get it checked out.

Also, the guard is shiny in certain places, but the back is completely dull (unlike the back of my badge - thus my confusion).

Hello, sister! What chapter are you from? I have the 10k chapter guard and it looks beautiful. If yours doesn't...send it back to HJ (after calling them and telling them you will be sending it back). Keep us posted on what happens!

Gamma Alpha, at William & Mary! I decided to keep the guard, since:

• It's entirely covered with pearls anyway
• I'll eventually detach it and have my badge made into a necklace or ring once I graduate

I think I was just in a tizzy over possibly having a guard of lesser quality. But now I'm going to go ahead and be cheesy and say, "Who cares what metal my letters are? Gamma Alpha isn't electroplate, it's my big and my little and my entire sisterhood!"

And honestly, I know nothing about metallurgy. :rolleyes: It's probably legit 10k.

Welcome! Will you be at the 2012 convention? Good luck with recruitment in the fall, next school year!