Metropolitan Life Insurance

Blue and gold CrystoGlass background.  Black text on yellow circle around periphery of button face.  Image of gabled top of skyscraper with golden rays coming out of top.

Metropolitan Life Insurance (often known as MetLife) was founded in 1868 and has provided insurance, annuities and benefit programs. The company’s headquarters was the MetLife Tower until 2005. It is depicted in the button. It was erected in 1909 and was the world’s tallest building until 1913. Its image and the slogan “The Light That Never Fails” have been featured in their advertising for years. A national landmark, the majority of the MetLife Tower was converted to a hotel. 

Buttons made with the crystoglas process, which was developed by Whitehead and Hoag, was used around 1915. Crystoglas buttons are produced by placing clear celluloid on certain areas of the front of the button with colored foil underneath over a stamped metal background. The process was not used often due to the high cost.