Die Struck and Cloisonné Pins
polished metal relief · fired-glass cloisonné · the two styles above hard enamel
Above hard enamel sit two older, more formal techniques. Die struck pins skip color entirely: the design lives in polished and textured metal relief, the style of military crests and government service pins. Cloisonné replaces enamel paint with crushed glass fired at kiln temperatures, the centuries-old jewelry technique.
Both cost more than standard enamel and both exist for briefs where gravity matters more than color count.
Die struck: the metal speaks
Your design is struck deep into brass or copper, then the raised surfaces polish bright while recesses take a sandblast or antique finish. The two-texture contrast is the entire design language: crisp, formal, immune to trend. Ideal for crests, seals, service awards, and anything a color version would cheapen.
Cloisonné: fired glass, heirloom grade
True cloisonné fills the cells with colored glass frit, kiln-fires it, then grinds and polishes the surface stone-flat. Colors sit slightly muted and jewel-deep, and the pin has heirloom permanence: no resin, no paint, nothing to age. The trade is a narrower palette and about double the hard enamel price.
Pricing
| QUANTITY | PRICE PER UNIT | ORDER TOTAL |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | $6.90 | $172.50 |
| 100 | $3.95 | $395.00 |
| 300 | $2.80 | $840.00 |
| 500 | $2.30 | $1,150.00 |
Die struck runs about 1.4x the enamel tiers, cloisonné about 2x, both quoted exactly on the proof.
Common questions
When the design is a crest, seal, or monogram and formality is the point. If your logo depends on brand color, stay with hard enamel; if it would look at home embossed on stationery, die struck will flatter it.
For heritage pieces, yes: anniversary pins, honor society pins, pieces meant to outlive the wearer. For a merch table, no, and we will steer you back to hard enamel without ceremony.
Polished, sandblasted, and antique in gold, silver, brass, and copper tones, plus dual-plating on request. The proof renders the texture split so you approve the exact contrast.