What Does Your Basic Badge Look Like?

KillarneyRose · #1 03-12-2013, 12:20 PM

I have badges on the brain lately! Must be because of Badge Day last week.

Anyhoo, I know we have that fantastic thread on Badge trends but I'd love to see what everyone's most basic badge looks like without all the bells and whistles (and diamonds, rubies and opals!)

Here's ours:

We only have one kind of badge (well, you could choose a bezel setting for the diamond instead of the tiffany setting if you want) and there's no option to bling it out. Although, it is pretty decently blingy as is

Anyone else care to share? Guys too! I'm not too familiar with a lot of fraternity Badges.

happilyanchored · #2 03-12-2013, 12:31 PM

Well here is our most basic of basic badges:

but we also have the "chased" basic badge option as well:

I have the basic basic one. I just love the clean lines and everything about it. It's going to be so weird not wearing it the rest of the semester while my little wears it until she gets her own. I'll miss it

Edit:// Eek huge images! Trying to make them smaller...

txAOII_15 · #3 03-12-2013, 12:40 PM

We have two options available in white or yellow gold (or silver). This is the plain one:

And this is the chased one:

Then we also have a plain two tone option and a chased two toned option:

summer_gphib · #4 03-12-2013, 12:43 PM

We have several options for "plain" badges--
Rose Chased

Historic Chased

Plain Polished

and Plain Two-Toned

DubaiSis · #5 03-12-2013, 01:10 PM

This is the one I have. I'd like a fancier one, but I'd actually be happier with a larger version of this to wear as a broach. I like the symbolism (the pen is mightier than the sword), and I like that it's a thing as opposed to letters. I love the basic DG pin. I would definitely have gone plain with them.

DGTess · #6 03-12-2013, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by happilyanchored

but we also have the "chased" basic badge option as well:

I have the basic basic one. I just love the clean lines and everything about it. It's going to be so weird not wearing it the rest of the semester while my little wears it until she gets her own. I'll miss it

I miss the days when we called it what it is, though -- the "rose-engraved" badge. That's what it is -- the chasing is very clearly our rose.

In my chapter, everyone ordered the gold rose-engraved badge; I don't think they all do so any more. I wish I could remember for certain, but I thought we ordered our badges early enough in advance that we got our own at initiation. From what I read on GC, that doesn't seem to be the case with any groups.

KDCat · #7 03-12-2013, 01:58 PM

The plain badge that I received when I initiated was like this one:

The current KD plain badge is this:

.

naraht · #8 03-12-2013, 01:59 PM

Alpha Phi Omega as a service fraternity has gone really cheap. Below is our basic badge, called the "service pin" Current (replacement) cost is $5. The badge worn by pledges is pretty much identical except with a Gold P on a Blue background rather than the Blue S on a Gold Background.

happilyanchored · #9 03-12-2013, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DGTess

I miss the days when we called it what it is, though -- the "rose-engraved" badge. That's what it is -- the chasing is very clearly our rose.

In my chapter, everyone ordered the gold rose-engraved badge; I don't think they all do so any more. I wish I could remember for certain, but I thought we ordered our badges early enough in advance that we got our own at initiation. From what I read on GC, that doesn't seem to be the case with any groups.

I wish I had my own at initiation! But I also loved wearing my pledge family member's badge because it was a reminder of how special our bond is that she was the one to initiate me.

Part of our final new member meeting was the director of ritual came with borrowed badges from chapter members for us to look at and told us what our options were and where to order. We were then left pretty much to our own devices in terms of what we wanted to order and when. I ordered mine when I got home for the summer and had a better idea of how much I could spend. I was one of few to get a basic badge in my new member class, I think most people got four- or full-pearled badges.

badgeguy · #10 03-12-2013, 02:45 PM

Quick question: if ones son or daughter is in school and gets initiated, which kind of badge is better, an antique badge passed down in the family or a brand new plain pin?

I had just the standard plain pin, but then bought the "top of the line" badge with all pearls and was very large....the other guys in the house really didnt think anything of it and thought I was trying to show them up.....

I am curious if the old heavy jeweled badges were more for alumni or current members?

Thoughts?

BG

MysticCat · #11 03-12-2013, 02:54 PM

As I've noted in some other threads, the only choice we have is whether to upgrade to gold plate or 10K gold. But stone-wise and setting-wise, they're the same:

There was a time that the basic badge was scrolled, with no jewels:

During that time, the jeweled options were close-set and crown-set (no choice as to jewels). I'm not sure when the non-jeweled scrolled badge was first offered as the basic option, but it was discontinued in 2003. The pearls and garnets (originally rubies) were part of the design approved by the National Convention in 1910.

I have no clue if there's much of a size difference over the years.

KillarneyRose · #12 03-12-2013, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by badgeguy

Quick question: if ones son or daughter is in school and gets initiated, which kind of badge is better, an antique badge passed down in the family or a brand new plain pin?

I had just the standard plain pin, but then bought the "top of the line" badge with all pearls and was very large....the other guys in the house really didnt think anything of it and thought I was trying to show them up.....

I am curious if the old heavy jeweled badges were more for alumni or current members?

Thoughts?

BG

I can't speak for all the NPC sororities, but Delta Zetas are required to order their own Badge even if they don't choose to wear it in favor of a relative's passed down Badge.

As for the heavy jeweled badges vs. the plainer ones, I think it is all a matter of what the sister or brother likes and can afford at the time.

Anyone else care to weigh in?

MysticCat · #13 03-12-2013, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KillarneyRose

As for the heavy jeweled badges vs. the plainer ones, I think it is all a matter of what the sister or brother likes and can afford at the time.

Anyone else care to weigh in?

I'd think it could also depend on chapter culture, and maybe campus culture or provincial or regional culture if that factors into one's chapter culture. I'd think most collegiates wouldn't want to be the only one with a badge a lot blingier than those of the rest of the chapter.

Titchou · #14 03-12-2013, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticCat

I'd think it could also depend on chapter culture, and maybe campus culture or provincial or regional culture if that factors into one's chapter culture. I'd think most collegiates wouldn't want to be the only one with a badge a lot blingier than those of the rest of the chapter.

But then again, we women......

WCsweet<3 · #15 03-12-2013, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KillarneyRose

I can't speak for all the NPC sororities, but Delta Zetas are required to order their own Badge even if they don't choose to wear it in favor of a relative's passed down Badge.

As for the heavy jeweled badges vs. the plainer ones, I think it is all a matter of what the sister or brother likes and can afford at the time.

Anyone else care to weigh in?

Ditto. New KD sisters are (perhaps were, it's been a while) required to order a badge as part of initiation. You can order a fancy one, but most order plain. I ordered plain and was then given a bejeweled one. I'd love to have one passed down.