It was not until a vote at the 1906 Convention that Chi Omega badges
were standardized by size and the restriction that only pearls and diamonds
were allowed.
A vast collection of beautiful and unusual badges and jewelry created
prior to standardization resides in the Archives at Executive Headquarters.
View the slideshow above to see some especially interesting badges.
• 1914. Price quotes from various companies: pearl $7.50, diamond $38
• 1942. The Dorst Co., pearl $12.50, diamond (inquire if interested for a
quote) pledge pin (gold filled) 75 cents
• 1977. Gordon B. Miller Co., pearl $25, diamond $117.50, pledge pin
$2.25
• 1985. J.O. Pollack Co., pearl/gold $62, pearl/silver $48, diamond $333
• 1992. Burr, Patterson & Auld, pearl/gold $64, pearl/silver $50, diamond
$350
• 2012. Herff Jones, silver/pearl $110, pearl/gold $175, diamond $556
Both the new-member pin and the badge are worn over the heart, above
all other pins. Members are encouraged to wear their pins often, and with
pride. Pins should be worn only with badge attire—dressy clothes that
honor the symbolism of the badge. New-member pins and badges are
never worn with jeans, shorts, T-shirts, or other casual clothing.
In the 1980s, the Governing Council determined that an alumna may
wear the badge on a ring or pendant, or on the collar of a suit or dress.
Collegians must wear it only over their heart.
Chi Omega badges are the property of the Fraternity. Members are given permission to wear the
badge during initiation. When a member dies, she joins the Omega Chapter and her badge should
be returned to the Executive Headquarters. Because relatives often do not know how to dispose of
the badge, we encourage local alumnae and Sisters of the deceased to assist the family in returning
the badge to the Executive Headquarters.
Help ensure that your precious badge, an official emblem of the Fraternity, does not fall into the
possession of a nonmember who may not realize its significance. On the right is a small form that
you should duplicate and place in your jewelry box with your badge, as instructions to your family.
We also encourage you to include disposition instructions for your Chi Omega badge in your will
or estate-planning documents.
For each badge received, a small donation is made to the Chi Omega Foundation and the wearer’s
name will appear in the annual donor listing.
We believe these badges were lost or stolen, or are being sold by members or family members of
Chi Omegas who do not know that appropriate disposition of the badges is to return them to the
Executive Headquarters.
No Chi Omega wants to see our badge sold this way but it’s impossible for us to control what is
bought and sold online. What we can do is continue educating members about the most respectful
way to treat our badge.
There are a number of dedicated Chi Omegas who monitor online auction sites, looking for Chi
Omega badges and other memorabilia. They purchase these items and send them to Executive
Headquarters. Each returned badge is checked against our member database. If we believe a member
is alive and her badge may have been lost or stolen, we try to contact her.
In our summer 2011 issue of
The Eleusis, we announced
an opportunity for five members to each
win a Chi Omega diamond badge. Those who updated
their EveryDay Profile by September 15 were
automatically entered into a drawing, with these
precious Fraternity symbols offered as prizes.
One winner was selected each week for five weeks. Congratulations to
these Sisters, now proudly wearing Chi Omega diamond badges:
• Jennifer Alderete Miller,
Pi Delta/New Mexico State U
• Robin Rollins,
Alpha Alpha/U of North Texas
• Jennifer Sult,
Pi Epsilon/Roanoke College
• Mikki Allen Cole,
Tau Beta/Oklahoma State U
• Jade Poole Treadwell,
Gamma/Florida State U
Winner Jennifer Miller expressed her delight. “Chi Omega has given me
the best family a girl could ask for! This diamond badge reminds me of
just how special they are to me!”