The Green Girl: John Deere jewelry

For many, working within the Deere & Company organization comes with a certain level of prestige and honor.

Deere jewelry

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As decreed by Mr. Butterworth in 1925, an official ceremony marks the process of awarding service pins to employees. Two styles of these pins exist, and they both feature the bust of John Deere. The years of service are noted on the older style and stones designate this number on the current style. Photos Š 2000 Nick Cedar

Employees also receive an added list of benefits, including internal access to anything and everything Deere — from pens and paper to caps and clothing, even service awards in the form of jewelry!

The practice of awarding employees for service to the Company began in 1925 when William Butterworth (1864-1936), Deere’s CEO from 1907 to 1928, proposed the following policy —

"The Officers and Directors of this Company feel that they would like to recognize long and continuous service and while we cannot express, by a button, the great appreciation that we feel for the service and loyalty of those who will receive them, still it is a badge which symbolizes the sincere recognition which we wish to give to this splendid service. In distributing these buttons, we hope that it will be done with some kind of ceremony, which will indicate to those receiving them, our sincere appreciation of their service."

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This jewelry designates employee service in the form of a men’s ring, ladies’ necklace, and bracelet. Since the 1970s, employees have had the option of choosing other jewelry instead of the traditional lapel pin award.

Since that announcement, active employees earn service awards in five-year increments.

A retiree also receives a pin marking the years of employment with Deere & Company. On the back of the pin (or tie tac), an engraving of the retiree’s initials and years of service further distinguishes a retiree award from an active employee service award.

A jewel system (see sidebar) designates the years of service for both of these awards.

Over the 75 years of this practice, only two designs of service pins are known to exist — both with the bust of John Deere. The original design is more oval-shaped with the words "John Deere" and the years of service stamped on it. In 1975, a newer design debuted as a round gold-rimmed pin.

Today, employees are offered a broad choice of 10-karat gold jewelry ranging from the traditional lapel pin to a tie bar, necklace, bracelet, ring, cuff links, money clip, watch, and others. newjewelry.jpg (13226 bytes)

According to Human Resources, Deere & Company currently offers employees their choice of an estimated 25 items, depending on the employee’s years of service with the Company.

If you come across any Deere-decked jewelry, first determine if it’s a service award or retiree piece (hint: look on the back for initials to designate a retiree).

Finally, for an appraisal, use the following approximate value guide in determining the price of a piece of this jewelry:

Employee/retiree service awards	Details	Date	Value
Service pin/tie tac	Old style (oval w/ years)	1930-1975	$30-70
Service pin/tie tac	Current style (round)	1975-1999	$15-45
Men’s or women’s ring	Current style (round)	1975-1999	$110-150
Women’s necklace	Current style (round)	1975-1999	$45-90
Money clip	Current style (round)	1975-1999	$40-60
Cuff links	Current style (round)	1975-1999	$35-75

Jewel system

for active employee service awards:

5-year = no jewel
10-year = one emerald
15-year = two emeralds
20-year = three emeralds
25-year = one diamond
30-year = two emeralds & one diamond
35-year = two diamonds & one emerald
40-year = three diamonds
45-year = four diamonds
50-year = five diamonds

for retired employee service awards:

1 to 20 years = one diamond
20 to 29 years = two diamonds
30 to 39 years = three diamonds
40 to 49 years = four diamonds
50-plus years = five diamonds