Service Award Charm Appraisal

Vintage Fairchild Semiconductor Corporate Service Award Charm

This is a small, rectangular corporate service award charm or pendant, likely dating from the mid-to-late 20th century. The piece features a gold-toned frame with a detailed Greek key or fretwork border. A central horizontal brushed silver-toned panel contains the embossed text 'FAIRCHILD' in a distinctive sans-serif font, representative of the Fairchild Semiconductor logo. Directly below the company name is a small, round, bezel-set synthetic ruby or red gemstone, which historically indicated a specific milestone of tenure (such as five or ten years of service). The charm is constructed from multiple metal components and is suspended by a small integral loop and jump ring attached to a delicate gold-toned chain. The metal appears to be gold-filled or plated over a base metal, showing minor surface wear and a light patina consistent with age. There are no visible maker's marks on the front, but such items were frequently produced by specialty jewelry firms like Jostens or Balfour. The craftsmanship is precise, featuring clean lines and architectural geometric styling associated with mid-century corporate jewelry design. Condition is generally good with no significant gouges or loss of the central stone, though some tarnishing is visible on the chain and jump ring.