Differences in pins
 

I was just now reading aephialum's badge thread and this hit me. Do many GLOs allow members to choose the jewels in their pins?

I got opals in mine--I don't think that Pi Phi has set requirements, although pearls are the classic choice. The neat thing is that instead of being bluish-white like those of my big and others, my opals are actually wine and blue, the sorority colors!

I bought another pin to pin my daughters with, should any of them pledge Pi Phi. I wear it some so that they'll think of it as mine too but...ain't no way I'm gonna let those kids wear my special opals around campus!;)

An AEPhi badge is an AEPhi badge. The 27 pearls have to be pearls... the chapter guards also have pearls, so they match the letters on the badge. The only customization that's done (as I already mentioned) is that your initials are engraved on the back.

ZTA allows you to customize your pin. You can have either gold or silver lining the outside of the badge. You can add whatever gems you want to the outside lining such as pearls, rubies, sapphires, etc.

Delta Zeta's Badge
 

The only variation allowed on the Delta Zeta Badge is the setting of the diamond. It can either be in a "Tiffany" setting (six prongs around the diamond) or in a "Flush" setting (embedded in gold).

I have my initials and initiation date engraved on the back, but I think some chapters put chapter name also.

Members of Alpha Gamma Delta can choose from these types of badges:

1. Plain Badge (10K or goldplated)
2. Plain Badge with Tiffany Pearl (one in the center of the A)
3. Plain Badge with Tiffany Diamond
4. Crown Pearl Badge with Tiffany Pearl (having seed pearls going around the A plus the one in the center of the A, raised)
5. Crown Pearl Badge with Tiffany 5 pt Diamond (like one above, but a diamond raised)
6. Crown Pearl Badge with Tiffany 5 pt Pearl with 3 pt Diamond points (the diamonds on the corners of the A)


I own #5, the Crown Pearl Badge with the Tiffany 5 pt Diamond. I have a armorial bearing (shield) guard also.

All badges are shown here:
http://www.burrpatt.com/alphagammadelta/AGDBadges.asp

AOII Badges
 

Members of Alpha Omicron Pi can choose from these types of badges:

1. Plain Badge (10K or goldplated - A, O, II all polished)
2. Chased Badge (The A & II are plain polish, and O is chased)
2a. **New - 2 toned - white gold A & II, with yellow gold O (see below right)
3. Jeweled Badge (Crown pearls going around the O, chased A & II)
4. Jeweled Badge (Crown Pearls going around all letters)

http://www.aoiiemporium.com/store/catalog/j19.jpghttp://www.aoiiemporium.com/store/catalog/j54.jpg

The ruby is always at the apex of the 'A', and you can choose between yellow or white gold. There are no 'guards' for AOII badges.

There are honour badges with rubies on the A or ruby on A & pearl on O, but those can only be purchased by chapter)

See http://www.aoiiemporium.com/store/home.html and select "jewlery". To see the 2-toned, click here

OK let me see if I can enumerate the variations of Alpha Xi Delta Quills

- plain quill
- three pearls or diamonds set raised on the shaft of the plain quill (very rare - not sure if these are still made)
- 15 open crown set pearls
- 15 open crown set pearls with a diamond set in the tip
- 15 diamonds

any of these may be in white or yellow gold.

Also, the older quills were 20 pearls set in a closed setting, but these aren't available anymore.

Variations
 

Phi Beta's badge can come in 2 basic styles:

I don't have any pictures, unfortunately. The Phi is superimposed on top of the Beta (so the Phi is directly on top of the Beta). It is always gold, with engraving on the Beta (kind of a laurel leaf design). The Phi can be plain, or jeweled with pearls. The pearls cover the entire surface of the Phi... I don't think they have a specific setting. I have, and prefer, the plain gold one (I personally hate pearls). I think most of the men prefer that one, too ;)! Most of the older women I have met have had the pearled one, though.

We do have guards, they are always plain gold with your chapter letters. There are also plain gold dangles for officers.

I was reading others' posts, and wondering if we could get ours in white gold, since I like silver better as a general rule. I don't think so, but I would like that! Oh well, the gold one gives me another reason to wear my beautiful gold jewelry my boyfriend has gotten me. :D

You can do a lot with a theta pin with the exception of the twin stars on our badge. The twin stars must be diamonds. A starter pin is plain gold around the kite with the diamond twin stars or you can get pearls surrounding the kite , or a gem stone, or diamonds. Or you you can have diamonds with a gem stone on the tips of the kite or pearls with a gem stone on the tips of the kite. or you can rotate diamonds and gems or pearls and gems. Also when you get your badge customized the kite tends to be bigger than a standard badge. visit the the theta marketplace at www.kappaalphatheta.org. I bought my boyfriend since he is an elc an new badge with diamonds surrounding it and it is simply gorgeous but it was costly.

Phi Sigma Sigma's badge is a Sphinx head with enamel letters at the bottom (phi sigma sigma) the eyes are two sapphires. There is a jewled bage where the Sphinx head is set on a pyramid and there are three sapphires in each corner as well as the eyes.

We do have gaurds, Ive never seen anyone with a jewled gaurd (the letters in sapphires) but its possible! (I have the jewlery catalog infront of me!)

<3Alison

A Chi Omega's pin is always either pearls or diamonds (most get pearls because they're not as expensive).
My chapter orders us all the same badge so that no one feels left out.

http://www.chiomega.com/chiomega/abo...tory-badge.gif

ASA can have a plain badge, badge w/ pearls or badge w/ pearls and 4 ruby points. Those are the only jewels allowed to be used. All with plain or pearl chapter guard, although I've seen some women with no chapter guard on their pin at all. Our chapter all got the same (plain badge & plain guard) for the sake of unity and economy.

Oh, and the badge "bases" are always gold with black enamel, no subs allowed there!

Our chapter president gets a diamond badge handed down to her from the out going prez, but otherwise we all have pearls as far as I know. I'd get the diamond one if I had the $$
H

Standard 22-pearl badge (our chapter gets this one)
3-pearl badge (cheaper option, fairly new)
3-diamond badge (most expensive)

I think you get different jewels based on special positions. I'm really into my standard badge...guess I don't have much imagination.

TKE insists that all its undergrad members have the same badge, it symbolizes equality. a pearl in each corner of the triangle, they used to have rubies in the skull's eyes, but they discontinued that. why? no idea. alumni are allowed to wear variations of the badge, rubies in the corners, pearls all the way around the triangle, etc. but it still the basic skull on top of the triangle, with a scroll with tke underneath.
question... are there rules to wearing your badge? we always have to have ours on our dress shirt (never as a lapel pin)and slightly askew to point like the triangle that the original 3 chapters formed.