Pin and Cuff Link Glossary

Cloisonne
Lapel pins are die struck from a copper bronze surface. A die is created to imprint your design to the metal. The outline of the lapel pin is then cut with another mold. Colors are hand filled with a powdered glass. After being baked at a very high temperature, the glass enamel is sanded and polished to be flush with the metal lines that separate the colors. This gives the pins a smooth and lustrous quality. Typical plating colors are gold and silver but several other colors are available.

Epola
Epola pins are made using the same technique as the cloisonne but the recessed spaces are filled with a hard epoxy enamel rather than glass. The epola filling gives a beautiful high-quality look similar to that of the cloisonne but at a lower price and with PMS color matching.

Die-Struck Soft Enamel
These lapel pins are are a less expensive versions of the epola pin and have the same looks and PMS color matching options. Softer enamel is painted into the recesses of the brass die-struck base, leaving a relief effect that lets you feel the die struck patter. Add a clear epoxy dome for long lasting durability and a shiny finished look.

Die Struck
This type of lapel pin offers sharp detail, contrast and relief. Instead of using color, the raised areas are highly polished and the recessed areas have a textured, matte or antiqued finish below the polished metal. This creates a clean, understated, elegant look. The metal base is then plated with gold, silver or nickel and can be antiqued, sandblasted, or simply polished.