Among all those variants there can be distinguished between three main types of the order. This typing helps also to place the items in their appropriate time periods. So lets talk about those 3 types.
This is the original look of the order as it was instituted in 1883. It's main characteristics are that the saint on the avers side of the order is wearing red robes. The drawings on this type of orders are all very clear and rich in details. The saint has stretched fingers of the right hand and holds the archbishops crosier in the left hand. The reverse side of the order bears in the center of the medalion the MI monogram of King Milan I who was the founder of the order. The size of the monogram varies from producer to producer. All items having the monogram on the reverse side belong to the period between 1883 and 1903.
The known producers are: G.A.Scheid, K.Fischmeister,C.F.Rothe, V. Meyer
The drawing of the saint on the avers is left almost unchanged. The saint is still wearing red robes, altough some of the images are no more that elaborated and poorer in details than type I badges. The reverse side was submited to the change that now the monogram MI is ommited and replaced by the cyphers 1883 which represents the year the order was instituted. All badges of type II belong to the period of 1904-1921.
The known producers are: G.A.Scheid, A. Bertrand
On badges of this type the saint is shown in clothes of yellow-green colour holding an open book in his left hand. The right hand holds a sceptre. Some of the producers of this type changed the colors into more blueish tones and some of the drawings are of very poor quality.
The known producers are: Huguenin, F.Sorlini, F.Zimmermann, Griesbach&Knaus