Customers are always asking us to describe the difference between hard and soft enamel pins, and we’re always happy to help. Enamel is the paint used to add color to any kind of lapel pin design. For soft enamel pins, the color is added to the recessed portions of the artwork. The raised metal lines of the design act as a border between color fill areas so that the enamel paints don’t bleed together. Hard enamel pins, also called cloisonné pins, have a different kind of enamel. It’s a powdered, glass-like resin that’s added to the recessed portions of a design and filled to an even level with the raised surface of a pin.

If you run your finger across the surface of a soft enamel pin, you will feel the texture of the raised portions of metal above the enamel color fill. Hard enamel pins have a smooth, polished surface since the paint is at an even level with the top of the pin. So, not only can you see the difference between hard and soft enamel pins, but you can also feel the difference. If you aren’t sure what kind of custom enamel pins will work best for your design, just let us know, and our team will be happy to help.