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As the name suggests, lapel pins are pins worn on your lapel. Lapel pins can be custom made with your company logo, emblem or any other design that you may want. These pins are very useful to send a message across during any fundraiser, event, and even company get-togethers. There are many types of lapel pins that are suitable according to the design that you want it to have. You can buy ready lapel pins or get them customized according to your needs.

Types of Lapel Pins

Choosing a type of lapel pin depends on what kind of design you have in mind to put on the pin. The most common types of lapel pins are:

  • Cloisonné Lapel Pins: These types of lapel pins are the most collected type of emblematic jewelry. Cloisonné pins are die-struck from a bronze copper shell. A die is formed to make an impression of your chosen design into the metal. The outsides of the pin and any extras are then cut off with a separate cast. The colors are filled in by hand with a crushed glass-like mixture. The colors are then fused one at a time at 1,700 F for two to four minutes. This procedure is done to make sure that there is no mixing of any colors. After this, the final step is the individual hand polishing of the lapel pins and they are then gold or silver plated, which makes them scratch proof. Cloisonné lapel pins have a jewelry-like finish and the highest alleged value among other pins.
  • Die Struck Lapel Pins: These pins are made much in the same way as Cloisonné pins but they are not used for designs with color. The plating is a metal on metal type with no color. In this type of lapel pin, the raised surfaces are polished to a high luster and the lower-level surfaces are sandblasted to give added deepness. Gold, silver and antiqued metals; all provide a unique finish to die struck pins. A die struck lapel pin is best for designs where colors are not suitable.
  • Embossed Soft Enamel Type Pin: These pins are usually made with copper and brass. As these metals are soft, the designs are stamped better on them. The embossed designs leave deep and recessed surfaces. To fuse the colors, the pins are fired at 450 degree C. the pins are then hand polished and plated. The soft enamel is filled in the deeper areas up to three quarters giving it a higher metal walled look. The enamel is either left open for a 3D effect or can be covered with a coat of epoxy dome for protecting the enamel and colors.
  • Printed Lapel Pins: These pins use designs without having any metal outline to them. Printing can be of 2 types: Silk-screen and Offset. The silk-screening procedure is used for designs that necessitate accurate, color-on-color detailing. The offset printing procedure tenders full-color imitation with exceptional details and precision. The chosen design is printed onto the sheet of metal and then the pin is baked in a kiln (at 160 degrees C for 15 minutes). After being cut according to your custom design, a clear epoxy is applied to make the enamel less prone to damage. Printed pins are the most economical to create.
  • Etched Lapel Pins: In this type of pin, a likeness of your design is taken from a photographic negative and put on the surface of the metal (much like developing photographs). The design is then etched into the metal by an acid-reaction method. The left over acids and added dirt are cautiously washed away. The colors are then filled by hand, by means of different sized nozzles. The metal is then baked and the pin is cut out according to the design. Elevated parts of the pin are then plated and coated to protect the color enamel.