Antique fraternity necklaces

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Lj the SigmaK

Now from reading a previous thread, it seems the only people who should wear the crest are initiated fraternity members, but clearly this neckalce is for a woman....just wondering who would wear it back in the day, and do similar jewelry pieces exist today?

As noted in that thread, the rules on who may wear letters or coats-of-arms (the e-bay seller is using the wrong word by calling it a "crest") vary from org to org and have varied over the years even within orgs.

The Phi Kappa Tau website currently says: "The Coat-of-Arms can only be displayed by initiated members."

But my guess is that once-upon-a-time, mothers, sweethearts, fiancées or wives could wear something like this.

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

As noted in that thread, the rules on who may wear letters or coats-of-arms (the e-bay seller is using the wrong word by calling it a "crest") vary from org to org and have varied over the years even within orgs.

The Phi Kappa Tau website currently says: "The Coat-of-Arms can only be displayed by initiated members."

But my guess is that once-upon-a-time, mothers, sweethearts, fiancées or wives could wear something like this.

That's my bet - it's from the era when getting pinned meant wearing a fraternity man's pin, wearing his letters, or even wearing the fraternity crest.

Lovely piece of jewelry, though - I hope it gets into the right hands!