Whenever you are going to customize custom lapel pins, you have to choose between the hard enamel and soft enamel pins. Despite the first glance, both styles look the same, but the main differences lie in cost, durability, finish and design flexibility.
Let’s break down all the important details about hard enamel vs soft enamel pins. This way, you can understand the right type of custom pin for your brand or collection.
Hard Enamel vs Soft Enamel Pins
Hard enamel pins come in smooth, polished and flat surfaces. Moreover, these key features in hard enamel pins make them suitable for durable and premium items.
Soft enamel pins on the other side consist of raised metal borders with recessed enamel. Likewise, you get a textured feeling with multiple vibrant colour options, but still affordable costs.
- Choose hard enamel for luxury, durability, and long-term use
- Choose soft enamel for affordability, bold designs, and intricate details
What Are Hard Enamel and Soft Enamel Pins?
Before we jump to the main comparison between hard enamel vs soft enamel pins, let’s discuss what they actually are.
Hard enamel pins are made using overfilling the enamel inside the metal moulds. Additionally, they are polished continuously until they become entirely smooth. As a result, you get a sleek, glossy, and high-end finish.
Soft enamel pins, on the other hand, are usually partially filled with enamel inside them. Moreover, you get nice raised metal edges with a unique textured look, and they are ideal for 3D shapes.
Both of these hard enamel vs soft enamel pins go under extreme temperature and pressure during their production. But the main structure and finishing process of both types of pins are different.
Why Hard Enamel Pins Feel More Premium
The main reason behind the popularity of hard enamel pins is that they are associated with luxury items because:
- Smooth, jewellery-like finish
- Highly durable and scratch-resistant
- Long-lasting color and shine
- Ideal for professional or corporate use
Hard enamel pins reflect all the light evenly because of their certain polishing method and give out a clean and nice look. That’s why most brands, companies and organisations love hard enamel pins for their fashion accessories.
But the downside for most people is that they are a little costly and take more time in production.
Why Soft Enamel Pins Offer More Design Flexibility
Most brands, teams and groups use soft enamel pins for their incredible creativity and durable designs. Some of the benefits of soft enamel pins include:
- More affordable for bulk orders
- Supports intricate designs and fine lines
- Vibrant, bold color contrast
- Allows custom plating colours (including dyed metal)
As the soft enamel pins don’t undergo the extreme polishing process, their metal edges stay sharp. That’s why soft enamel pins are the first choice when you want to put artworks, brand logos and expressive designs.
You can find the soft enamel pins in different fashion brands, streetwear and marketing campaigns.
Design Considerations: Which One Works Better?
Let’s uncover the key differences between hard enamel and soft enamel pins and find out the design process of both pins. Meanwhile, you can choose the hard enamel pins you want your design to have:
- Minimalist or clean aesthetics
- Solid colors without heavy detailing
- A polished, professional finish
- Long-term durability (awards, keepsakes)
Pick soft enamel pins in case your design includes elements like:
- Thin lines and intricate patterns
- Multiple colors or bold contrasts
- Textured or layered visual effects
- Creative or artistic elements
In short, if you have a simple design, you can go with hard enamel pins. On the other hand, for complex patterns and detailed designs, always select soft enamel pins.
Uses of Hard Enamel vs Soft Enamel Pins
You can use both hard enamel pins and soft enamel pins in your casual clothing or market your brands on a higher level. However, before we move on to this guide for selecting the right enamel pins, let’s find out the uses of both types of pins.
Hard Enamel Pins Work Best For:
- Corporate branding and executive gifts
- Luxury merchandise
- Awards and recognition pins
- Commemorative collectibles
Soft Enamel Pins Work Best For:
- Promotional giveaways
- Fashion and streetwear brands
- Event merchandise
- Creative or artistic pin collections
Both types of pins are suitable for different purposes, which is why brands choose the right type based on their product demand.
Cost and Production: What to Expect
Let’s break down the cost structure for both types of custom pins:
- Soft enamel pins are cheaper because they require fewer finishing steps
- Hard enamel pins cost more due to repeated baking and polishing
Additionally, the time of production for hard enamel vs soft enamel pins also differs:
- Soft enamel: faster turnaround
- Hard enamel: longer due to additional processing
You can save enough money when you try bulk orders. Meanwhile, soft enamel pins are the most practical pick for your brands. You can save extra cost for premium branding if you order a large quantity at once.
Durability: Do Both Pins Last?
Yes, both types of enamel pins are highly durable in their own ways.
You don’t have to worry about scratches and wear with time if you choose hard enamel pins. That’s why it’s a much better option if you need long long-lasting pin for your brands. On the other hand, soft enamel pins are also strong, but you might deal with minor wear if you regularly wear them.
Don’t get confused with the “Soft” enamel with flexible material, it’s not. However, the soft enamel pins are known for their manufacturing process.
Final Verdict: Which One Should You Choose?
It all depends on your brand requirement while choosing the hard enamel vs soft enamel pins, because the right choice for your company and collection depends on the key points like polished look and longevity. You can pick soft enamel pins for affordability and multi-colour options. Hard enamel pins work best with their polished and high-end finish.
Get in touch with Custom Patch Makers in Canada for high-quality custom hard enamel and soft enamel pins in Canada.