Lego 'Service pin'

Jackad7

I've been seeing some 'Lego Service pins' appearing on ebay lately. As someone who has a collection of pins I think it would be best to get one but I know absolutely nothing about them and search engines weren't helping me out. Does anyone know what the story is with them?

madforLEGO

Well a tie tack anyway. Paging @Istokg .. maybe @davee123 ?
My guess is something to do with years of working at LEGO (maybe 30, a diamond every 10 years?), but that is just a guess

mithridate

I’m really curious about the pin. I’m also curious about the gold: why is it that it looks as though the gold is wearing off — is that what 10-karat gold usually looks like?

As an aside, if they’re  going to the trouble of offering a diamond-encrusted 30-yr service award, you’d think they’d spring for 14K. :)

DadsAFOL

Working 30 years for a company then selling the service pin for $200 seems a bit sad.

snowhitie

@mithridate: Old gold can look like that, especially as it's only 10k. Funny how in the described it stated 'diamonds' - guess those are Swarovski crystals.

@DadsAFOL maybe it's one of the kids after the parent has passed away. They might be annoyed at the time he/she spends at the company instead of with them. For the psychologist amongst you, yes I've just had lunch with my family so make from that what you will.

madforLEGO

snowhitie said:

@mithridate: Old gold can look like that, especially as it's only 10k. Funny how in the described it stated 'diamonds' - guess those are Swarovski crystals.

@DadsAFOL maybe it's one of the kids after the parent has passed away. They might be annoyed at the time he/she spends at the company instead of with them. For the psychologist amongst you, yes I've just had lunch with my family so make from that what you will.

Or they are just are not fans of LEGO and want to sell what they can to make some money for whatever reason (paying off estate debt, or funeral costs, whatever).
I will say this, I think it is a neat piece of memorabilia

SumoLego

LEGO employees get a slightly better item as recognition for their years of service.  They do mark certain milestones with bits and bobs of jewelry.

I have seen a silver and gold 1x1 plate fashioned into a pendant.

Jackad7

Ok so I saw another 4 pins and all were from the same seller. The seller said in the description that they were pins given to executives and that they had acquired them at an estate sale. So I am wondering are these so rare that nobody has heard of them except for the handful of execs who have gotten them and they are just barely trickling out now? Or are these a new thing that we will start seeing more of? I big on all 4 of the pins I saw between $50-$60 but I was outbid on all of them. I am really curious as to what the story is with these.

Jackad7

Correction-When I say same seller I mean the four pins came from the same seller. The original pin was not from this seller.

madforLEGO

They just look like they are older items, maybe from the 60's-80's but just my guess

Istokg

Oh Lordy... over the years LEGO made so many different gift ideas for their employees, one could write a book on just those....

Here's just one genre... LEGO cuff links....
https://www.flickr.com/search/?text=LEGO Cufflinks