Cloisonne
Cloisonne lapel pins have the greatest perceived value and a jewelry-like finish. It is said that cloisonne can be preserved for 100 years without fading because it is derived from mineral ore. This ancient art that developed over thousand years in China requires meticulous handcrafted details. The custom designed pins are formed to a copper bronze surface, and then hand-filled with colored cloisonne paste. The pins are then kiln-fired at 800 degrees centigrade. More color is added, the pins are fired again. These steps ensure bleeding of colors do not occur. After firing, each pin is hand-polished and plated to give hard and smooth enamel, which is resistant to scratching. Owing to hard durable finish, cloisonne is best suited to make military badges, car badges, and athletic medals. They are also ideal for recognitions, achievement awards and important events.
Stamped Soft Enamel
Same principle as pictures taken by camera, photo etched soft enamel is manufactured by taking an image of your design and transferring it from film onto the surface of a sheet of metal. Your design is then etched into the bronze or stainless or aluminum using an acid etching process. Then all of the acids and other impurities are carefully cleaned from the surface. The indentations created by the acid etching process are then filled with the enamel colors. Each color is applied by hand, one at a time, using different sized syringes. The sheet of metal is then fired at 160 degrees centigrade for 15 minutes. The lapel pins are then cut from the metal sheet according to your custom design. Non-colored (raised) sections of the pins are then plated and brushed to a shiny finish. An optional epoxy protective coating (dome) can then be applied to protect the color enamels from being scratched or damaged.
Photo Etched Soft Enamel
Same principle as pictures taken by camera, photo etched soft enamel is manufactured by taking an image of your design and transferring it from film onto the surface of a sheet of metal. Your design is then etched into the bronze or stainless or aluminum using an acid etching process. Then all of the acids and other impurities are carefully cleaned from the surface. The indentations created by the acid etching process are then filled with the enamel colors. Each color is applied by hand, one at a time, using different sized syringes. The sheet of metal is then fired at 160 degrees centigrade for 15 minutes. The lapel pins are then cut from the metal sheet according to your custom design. Non-colored (raised) sections of the pins are then plated and brushed to a shiny finish. An optional epoxy protective coating (dome) can then be applied to protect the color enamels from being scratched or damaged.