Badge Trends? - Page 252

kaokite · #**3766** 08-07-2011, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sigmagirl2000

I didn't know. The clasp didn't look like it matched the rest of the badge, and it looked to me in one photo of the back like you could see pearls through two adjacent ports on the back, but when you look at the front it is alternating diamonds and pearls. When I saw the enlarged photo of the back, I wasn't as positive about one of them being a pearl back, but still seemed like it could be. Perhaps some of the gemstones were switched out?

If you 'zoom' the prongs are all wonky and the bottom stone almost looks like it's set slightly to the left. Note how the prongs on that bottom stone are all different sizes and look slightly shifted. On older badges, esp those from the 1900's & 1910's, the stone settings are IMPECCABLE in terms of the regular prong placement, size of prong, and stone height/placement. The same sadly cannot be said for modern badges or for repairs. Once you start bending/moving prongs around, you can never get them back the way they once looked. This badge is highly suspicious. The only way to really tell what was going on would be to get a side shot and see how the prongs surround each stone. I'll dig around in my photo archive and see if I can find a good prong shot to show the old-school craftsmanship.

the other strange thing is the pin/catch. having a plate underneath the pin-hinge and the catch like that SCREAMS bad repair job. they should be gold soldered right to the main badge. However, there seems to be some oxidation/tarnish on all of the parts, so that pin/catch could be an older (read: 50 years) repair. it could also be the tarnish is a result of all the work that was done on the front.

(SIDEBAR: for those of you who find something without a pin/catch, you need to find a high quality jeweler who can laser solder for you. That's how you avoid the ugly plates like this!! Laser costs more, but is a quality repair and the laser doesn't get hot and burn out the pearls/enamel on the front side. it's not a lot of money, but it's SO worth it.)

I'm unclear on what's at the bottom of the back of the badge beneath the 'new' catch-is that an old c clasp leftover or is there something else going on that is just out of the frame? if you look at the front side photo, there's some strange white metal that seems to be around the bottom?

I hope whomever pays all that $ is happy with the end product.

kaokite · #**3767** 08-07-2011, 10:53 PM

So I do have a good prong photo! This is a side view of a 1900's pin. Note how the pearls are all at *exactly* the same height, and how there is almost a scallop around the bottom of each setting.

Caveat: the last pearl on the right is a bit lower-I think it got bashed down into the setting-the badge was converted into a charm, which is really hard on all the prongs & stones/pearls. Charms just clank around on a bracelet and get all dinged & dented.

violetpretty · #**3768** 08-08-2011, 05:08 PM

ACK, scratch the plans for a mondo show and tell. I misread the email. We're going to have 2-3 members each talk about their badge to start off each monthly meeting for the year. So it'll be spread throughout.

katydidKD · #**3769** 08-08-2011, 11:29 PM

whoa KD HJ badge prices soared up. No me gusta.

sigmagirl2000 · #**3770** 08-09-2011, 05:06 PM

Okay. Badge back marking and engraving question.

I received my newest rescue badge today and I love it, pictures to come later today or tomorrow. I'm trying to figure out the date/ possible owner. Going by the membership records it can be one of 2 people. Either 1929 or 1969. I'm 95% certain it's from 1969 for the following reasons: There is a balfour stamp (little b inside some shape) rather than the LGB initials as they are on my badges from the 1950's and 1930's. There is also a little "R" in a circle next to the clasp (registered trademark?). Lastly, the clasp looks much more modern than the others, no fancy spinners or whale tail bling thing time around.

Anyone have timeline info on the Balfour markings as far as helping to date the pin?

katydidKD · #**3771** 08-09-2011, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sigmagirl2000

Okay. Badge back marking and engraving question.

I received my newest rescue badge today and I love it, pictures to come later today or tomorrow. I'm trying to figure out the date/ possible owner. Going by the membership records it can be one of 2 people. Either 1929 or 1969. I'm 95% certain it's from 1969 for the following reasons: There is a balfour stamp (little b inside some shape) rather than the LGB initials as they are on my badges from the 1950's and 1930's. There is also a little "R" in a circle next to the clasp (registered trademark?). Lastly, the clasp looks much more modern than the others, no fancy spinners or whale tail bling thing time around.

Anyone have timeline info on the Balfour markings as far as helping to date the pin?

Is there no chapter marking in the back, or are your two possibilities within the Chapter marked on the back?

sigmagirl2000 · #**3772** 08-09-2011, 05:48 PM

There's only a set of initials, the balfour mark, a 10k mark, and the registered trademark symbol. There is a chapter guard attached that I'm assuming is accurate as far as searching for members goes. Nothing else on the back such as initiation date, initiation/ member number, chapter, etc

kaokite · #**3773** 08-10-2011, 12:51 AM

That Balfour symbol wasn't used until much later-it's definitely the 1969 initiate. On 1920's balfour there wasn't a mark at all. They started with a large B stamp, then the LGB, then the B in a house.

sigmagirl2000 · #**3774** 08-12-2011, 10:07 PM

Okay... and another question....

I just received the replacement for my initiation badge from Hreff Jones.... I know I've heard people say that they are good about repairing vintage badges etc, but the badge they sent me isn't correct. They sent me a scroll edge plain badge although I ordered it (and paid for it) to have amethyst points. I'm assuming I can send it back to get it fixed, but I'm disappointed after waiting so long to get it, and don't really want to send it back for another 8 weeks or so.... Has anyone else experienced getting a badge that wasn't as ordered? How long did it take to get it back if sent in for repairs/ alterations?

Thanks in advance!

katydidKD · #**3775** 08-12-2011, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sigmagirl2000

Okay... and another question....

I just received the replacement for my initiation badge from Hreff Jones.... I know I've heard people say that they are good about repairing vintage badges etc, but the badge they sent me isn't correct. They sent me a scroll edge plain badge although I ordered it (and paid for it) to have amethyst points. I'm assuming I can send it back to get it fixed, but I'm disappointed after waiting so long to get it, and don't really want to send it back for another 8 weeks or so.... Has anyone else experienced getting a badge that wasn't as ordered? How long did it take to get it back if sent in for repairs/ alterations?

Thanks in advance!

I don't have experience with this type of situation with them, but if they have any good customer service they will send you the correct one ASAP since they goofed up.

ElleLeann · #**3776** 08-13-2011, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sigmagirl2000

Okay... and another question....

I just received the replacement for my initiation badge from Hreff Jones.... I know I've heard people say that they are good about repairing vintage badges etc, but the badge they sent me isn't correct. They sent me a scroll edge plain badge although I ordered it (and paid for it) to have amethyst points. I'm assuming I can send it back to get it fixed, but I'm disappointed after waiting so long to get it, and don't really want to send it back for another 8 weeks or so.... Has anyone else experienced getting a badge that wasn't as ordered? How long did it take to get it back if sent in for repairs/ alterations?

Thanks in advance!

I had this problem with a lavalier for my honors society. Mine was an understandable mistake (Alpha Chi vs. Alpha Chi Omega), but it was still really frustrating. There is a phone number at the top of the pink or yellow paper in the envelope. If you call them and let them know that you received the wrong badge, they will email you a FedEx shipping label so that you can ship it back to them with no expense to you. Once they receive it, they should ship out your replacement pretty quickly. It only took me about a week after they received the incorrect one for me to get the correct lavalier. I hope that helps and good luck!

AlwaysSAI · #**3777** 08-13-2011, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sigmagirl2000

Has anyone else experienced getting a badge that wasn't as ordered?

/start rant
I've mentioned this before on GC, but I've never been impressed with HJ. I ordered a Founder's Day ring from them--ordered it to be sterling silver. I received it and within weeks of wearing it, my finger broke out. Upon closer inspection, it was not marked 925. I've never been allergic to SS, only nickel, so obviously, it was not SS. When I called them, they swore up and down it was SS (even though it's not marked). They told me I could send it back for a refund, but I wanted the ring. I kept the ring and only wear it on special occasions, still it was disappointing.

When my sister graduated college, I got her badge made into a pendant by HJ. She did not want the badge sauntered--she wanted it removable. HJ claims they can do this. NOT. Her badge fell out of the pendant on several occasions. She ended up getting it sauntered so she wouldn't lose it.

It bothers me that HJ has the corner on the market and no competitors.
/end rant

AOII Angel · #**3778** 08-13-2011, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sigmagirl2000

Okay... and another question....

I just received the replacement for my initiation badge from Hreff Jones.... I know I've heard people say that they are good about repairing vintage badges etc, but the badge they sent me isn't correct. They sent me a scroll edge plain badge although I ordered it (and paid for it) to have amethyst points. I'm assuming I can send it back to get it fixed, but I'm disappointed after waiting so long to get it, and don't really want to send it back for another 8 weeks or so.... Has anyone else experienced getting a badge that wasn't as ordered? How long did it take to get it back if sent in for repairs/ alterations?

Thanks in advance!

I would call them and have them ship you the correct one as you mail the one the sent you back. You might also post about it publicly on their FB page to get immediate attention.

AZTheta · #**3779** 08-13-2011, 02:49 PM

Hey AlwaysSAI - I know a trick for attaching a bubble guard to a badge whether you've got it on your clothing or in a pendant holder. And it'll ensure that the badge stays where you put it even if the clasp opens. Seriously.

I'm crummy at explaining it so I bet AOIIAngel will step in and rescue me. Every time I show someone it's like AHA!

ETA: I use a bubble guard with my badge when I put it in my badge holder pendant.

sigmagirl2000 · #**3780** 08-13-2011, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

I would call them and have them ship you the correct one as you mail the one the sent you back. You might also post about it publicly on their FB page to get immediate attention.

It isn't that they sent me the "WRONG" badge, it just isn't correct. I know it was intended to be mine, as my initiation information is engraved on the back (which is also interesting in my opinion and may confuse someone rescuing someday if it gets lost, or not buried with me for some reason out of my control... because we didn't have silver as an option when I was initiated, or amethysts as far as I know)

So Im figuring they can't just "send me the right one" as the first took about 8 weeks to get done and it's a custom order? Of course I notice this on a Friday evening when I checked my mail so they're closed for the weekend....