Didn’t Balfour make jewelry for GLOs long time ago??? I think they made my badge.

Nearly positive they made my initial one. Sadly, it was lost, and my replacement came from JBrandt.

We ordered ours around October and got them in January. We weren't offered any engraving beyond the chapter number and member number on the back.

My original plain Balfour one has my name, chapter and date of initiation on it. My replacement for my diamond that was stolen just has initials,chapter,month and year of initiation.

AEPhi currently uses HJ for badges. I honestly don't remember if they were our supplier when I was a collegian *mumble* years ago, but, back in the day, new members' badges always arrived in time for initiation. This is probably in part because we had exactly one option. (Now I think we have two options, 10k or 14k gold. Be still, my heart. :p ) Your initials were engraved on the back, you either bought a chapter guard or you didn't, end of story, no other customization allowed. So the turnaround time was quick.

Balfour was the official jeweler when I was initiated (there were still dinosaurs roaming the earth in those days). Mine had my badge number and chapter on. When I went on the leadership team, I rescued a pin that had pearls (mine was plain) from Ebay. It too had a number and chapter letters. When I checked with National, they said it was from a woman who was initiated 40 years before me.

DaffyKD

Interesting history on why Balfour isn’t still producing badges:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/L.G....rority_jewelry

I remember this too. It was determined to be an inside job.

https://www.dallasnews.com/news/crim...s-in-arlington

I'm not sure the years but I think there was a short period of Balfour badges for us and the numbering system is totally screwed up on those badges. Instead of our normal Chapter-Member Number the Balfour badges are just A-#### and I think I've seen a B-####

I know exactly what you mean, Clemson Girl! These badges and symbols mean so much to us, and I don't think that many badges are made well enough to represent it. Thankfully my Alpha Gam badge seems to look as it should, but it's not necessarily worth the $220 I paid for it. I'm hoping to find a white gold vintage badge eventually, even though I know it will take patience and luck!

My initiation badge was our plain gold version. I couldn’t make up my mind which of the seemingly endless varieties to choose from. Years later I got my turquoise white gold badge from headquarters. I would never buy a new badge. Cheaply made with little attention to detail.

When I got initiated, we weren't given an option. We automatically got the cheapie badge. I dunno if that was due to whoever was in charge of that or what. Some sisters later ordered the nicer badge. I've never gotten around to getting the nice one. I'd prob order one off eBay. I'd rather a sister (me) buy it rather than someone wanting to melt it down for gold and pearls.

Yep - I have a Balfour badge from 1982 and the number on the back is B-####. One of these days I'm going to have it removed and replaced with my chapter and initials.

I agree with all who say the quality of the recent badges leaves a lot to be desired. We have a special badge since the Panhel National President is an AOII for two years, and a good number of members who ordered that badge had problems with it, mostly the ones who ordered a holder to go with it. The badges came mounted off center in the holder or had asymmetrical stone placement in areas. I've also heard people complaining about losing pearls.

Forgot to update! DD finally got her badge—10 months after initiation, and the diamond shaped badge in the middle is crooked! Sooo disappointing. Can’t imagine how long replacement will take.

My badge from 1966 is a Balfour and is very special and well made with emeralds and pearls. We ordered our pins prior to initiation (of course in the olden days we pledged in August but weren't initiated until March) I remember when we all clustered around looking at options.

I also loved our pledge pin and 2nd degree pin we wore the the week before initiation. Are pledge pins even worn anymore. In the day, our big sisters allowed us to wear their pin after initiation until our pins arrived which was maybe a month after initiation. Special memories.