This tie tack features an 8 mm faceted light yellow labradorite set in a six prong stainless steel setting with a new, old stock Ballou stainless steel tie tack.  Labradorite is a plagioclase feldspar.  Deposits are found in Canada, Australia, Madagascar, Mexico, Russia and the United States.  Labradorite is used for bead necklaces, brooches, rings and ornamental objects.  Colourless and yellowish to brown transparent labradorite are cut with facets.

There has been a gradual evolution in attaching methods of insignia.  In the 19th Century, metallic insignia were attached by wire and hoops.  In the 1890's, the first screw back insignia appeared.  About the same time, pin-back insignia also became more common.

Clutch fasteners included; Phinney clutches; Amcraft clutches; Ballou clutches; Tinnerman clutches; Rex clutches; "Ball Type" clutches, and Assman clutches.

Three generations of Ballou men ran the Ballou jewelry business.  The firm was founded by B.A. Ballou, a Civil War veteran, as a jewelry business, incorporating in 1910.  His son Frederick Ballou, became President after his father, B.A. Ballou's death.  Frederick Ballou Jr. later entered the business with his father Frederick.  Frederic Jr. was a veteran of World War I, and was a Brown University Graduate.  The success of clutches was mostly the result of the introduction of the Ballou clutch by Frederick Ballou Jr. and Melvin Moore in 1942.  The Ballou business firm continued improving and patenting their pin clutches.  In time, Ballou's various patents expired and other companies began producing clutches similar to Ballou's.   

Although Ballou was a jeweler, the company did not seem to be a major producer of insignia's, as most of the marked insignia using Ballou clutches were manufactured by other companies.  The W.R. Cobb Company acquired the B.A. Ballou company in 2009.  The Cobb Company still exists today as a subsidiary of Ballou clutches, but Ballou is no longer a family run business.

The last patent for the clutch by the Ballou family was in the year 2000, having 8 cleats, stamped BALLOU REG"D 130 YEARS.  I bought the Ballou clutches and the stainless steel pins, I am estimating 8 years ago.  This entitles them to be new, old stock clutches.

I can no longer purchase the 2000 patented clutches from my original source.  It is quite an extensive process to purchase the Ballou clutches from The Cobb Company and I have not proceeded to check this source.

Many people have become collectors of the older form of clutches, including Ballou.  My tie tacks have been stored and are new, never having been worn.  If you want to have a valuable, classy faceted jewel tie tack, I have this.  Tie tacks can be added to many of your other apparel.  I am always watching the news reporters on television constantly grabbing their tie and putting it in place.  These tie tacks do not represent military insignia, they are an informal wardrobe accessory.