An enamel pin is a small decorative metal badge made by filling die-struck recesses in a metal base with colored enamel, then polishing and plating it. They are worn on clothing, bags, and lanyards, and produced as collectibles, event merchandise, or club badges.
How enamel pins are made
A pin starts as a die-struck metal shape with recessed cavities matching the design. Enamel (a colored resin or glass-like fill) is added to each cavity, then the piece is baked, polished, and electroplated in gold, silver, or another finish.
Hard enamel vs soft enamel
Hard enamel pins are polished flat after baking, giving a smooth, glass-like surface. Soft enamel pins keep the raised metal lines visible, giving a textured feel. Both start from the same die-struck process; the difference is in the finishing step.
<nav class="article-breadcrumb"><a href="https://www.amball.com/magazine">Magazine</a><span class="article-breadcrumb__sep">/</span><a href="https://www.amball.com/glossary">Glossary</a><span class="article-breadcrumb__sep">/</span><span class="article-breadcrumb__current">Enamel Pin</span></nav> <h1 class="article-h1">Enamel Pin</h1> <p class="article-byline"><span class="cluster-badge">Craftsmanship & Durability</span> · Updated September 19, 2026</p> <div class="article-intro"><p>An enamel pin is a small die-struck metal badge filled with colored enamel and plated in a metal finish, worn on clothing or collected as merchandise.</p></div> <ul><li>An enamel pin is a die-struck metal badge filled with colored enamel and plated in a metal finish.</li><li>Hard enamel pins are polished flat; soft enamel pins keep a textured, raised-line surface.</li><li>Production quality depends on die-strike tolerance and plating thickness, not just the enamel color fill.</li></ul><p>An enamel pin is a small decorative metal badge made by filling die-struck recesses in a metal base with colored enamel, then polishing and plating it. They are worn on clothing, bags, and lanyards, and produced as collectibles, event merchandise, or club badges.</p><h2>How enamel pins are made</h2><p>A pin starts as a die-struck metal shape with recessed cavities matching the design. Enamel (a colored resin or glass-like fill) is added to each cavity, then the piece is baked, polished, and electroplated in gold, silver, or another finish.</p><h2>Hard enamel vs soft enamel</h2><p>Hard enamel pins are polished flat after baking, giving a smooth, glass-like surface. Soft enamel pins keep the raised metal lines visible, giving a textured feel. Both start from the same die-struck process; the difference is in the finishing step.</p> <section class="related-section"><h2>Related Glossary Terms</h2><div class="related-grid"><a href="https://www.amball.com/glossary/soft-enamel-pin" class="related-card"><p class="related-label">Craftsmanship & Durability</p><p class="related-title">Soft Enamel Pin</p><p class="related-snippet">A soft enamel pin is a die-struck metal pin left unpolished after the enamel fill, keeping the raised metal outlines visible for a textured, hand-finished look.</p></a><a href="https://www.amball.com/glossary/hard-enamel-pin" class="related-card"><p class="related-label">Craftsmanship & Durability</p><p class="related-title">Hard Enamel Pin</p><p class="related-snippet">A hard enamel pin is a die-struck metal pin whose enamel fill is polished flat and smooth after baking, giving it a glass-like, jewelry-grade finish.</p></a></div></section> <section class="from-blog-section"><h2>From the Magazine</h2><a class="from-blog-link" href="https://www.amball.com/magazine/custom-pin-manufacturers-corporate-gifts">Who Manufactures Custom Pins for Corporate Gifts?</a></section>
