Hard enamels
A hard enamel can be characterized as having a glass-like quality to it. The high luster and durability of hard enamel is an ancient art that requires meticulous hand-crafted detailing. Most hard and durable pins.Your custom designed product is hand-filled with colored hard enamel pastes and then kiln-fired at 770° C. After firing, each product is hand-grinded and polished and plated resulting in an exquisite piece of jewelry.
| Process | Stamped copper with hard enamels |
| Used metal | Brass |
| Enamels | Hard enamels |
| Plating | Gold, antique gold, silver, antique silver, nickel, black nickel, antique nickel, brass, antique brass, black nickel |
| Epoxy coating | – |
| Attachments | Various |
| Colour reference | AOKI chart |
Synthetic enamels
These enamels are harder as soft enamels, but softer, as hard enamels. After firing at 230° C , each product is hand-grinded and polished.
| Process | Stamped brass with synthetic enamels |
| Used metal | Brass |
| Enamels | Synthetic enamels |
| Plating | Gold, antique gold, silver, antique silver, nickel, black nickel, antique nickel, brass, antique brass, black nickel |
| Epoxy coating | No |
| Attachments | Various |
| Colour reference | Pantone colour chart |
Soft enamels
Soft enamels offer brilliant color and fine, raised metal detailing. The recessed areas of your custom designed pin are hand-enameled and then kiln-fired at 230° C. Each pin is hand-polished and then plated with chosen metal. Soft enamel products can also be coated with a protective layer of epoxy for an even more durable finish.
| Process | Stamped brass with soft enamels |
| Used metal | Brass, zinc alloy, iron |
| Enamels | Soft enamels |
| Plating | Gold, antique gold, silver, antique silver, nickel, black nickel, antique nickel, brass, antique brass, black nickel |
| Epoxy coating | With or without |
| Attachments | Various |
| Colour reference | Pantone colour chart |
Offset or silk-screen printing
Offers the highest degree of detail achieved. If you have artwork that has blended colors this is the only process for you. This process allows for pictures or photographs to be transferred to a product.
| Process | Offset or silkscreen printing |
| Used metal | Brass, stainless steel, aluminium |
| Plating – finish | none |
| Epoxy coating | With |
| Attachments | Various |
| Color reference | C.M.Y.K. |
Photo etching
Photo-etching also allows more details and intricate designs. This pins with photo etching uses a lighter metal thickness 0,8 mm and is recommended with an epoxy dome for protection of the paint. With a computer’s assistance, your design is etched onto a brass plate. After etching, the design is filled with the appropriate colored enamels and is then kiln fired to ensure lasting quality. A protective epoxy dome is optional and available at no extra charge.
| Process | Photo etched brass with soft enamels |
| Used metal | Brass |
| Enamels | Soft enamels |
| Plating | Gold, antique gold, silver, antique silver, nickel, black nickel, antique nickel, brass, antique brass, black nickel |
| Epoxy coating | With or without |
| Attachments | Various |
| Colour reference | Pantone colour chart |
Products without colouring
After being struck with the die or casted from zinc alloy, the products can then either left in the state to give an attractive relief look with highly polished or recess areas with different finishes, that includes sandblasting (raised areas are polished, recessed – matt), antique finish (raised areas are lighter, recessed – darker), matt, two-tone (e. g. gold & nickel) finishing.
| Process | Stamped copper, brass or iron |
| Used metal | Copper, brass, iron |
| Enamels | Without |
| Plating – finish | Gold, antique gold, silver, antique silver, nickel, black nickel, antique nickel, brass, antique brass, black nickel, sandblasting, foggy painting. |
| Epoxy coating | Without |
| Attachments | Various |