SITE DIRECTORY
WHAT'S ENAMEL & CLOISONNE?
CLOISONNÉ
Cloisonné is an ancient Chinese art form. It is the highest level of quality available for pins. First a steel cutting die is made by hand and is used to stamp an impression into a piece of copper. Then die stamping creates recessed areas in the surface of the copper bordered by raised areas. A fine powdered colored glass is then mixed with purified water into a paste and is applied in the recesses with a small metal implement. Each color is fired in a kiln separately at different temperatures. The more colors utilized in an emblem, the more firings will be required. After this has been completed, the emblem is faced off with a soap stone and polished with very fine pumice. then the pin binding is soldered to the back. Jewelers rouge is used in a final polishing.
ENAMEL
The enamel pin is done with a paint and an clear enamel coating. First, a hand made steel cutting die is made using brass rather than copper, which is die struck in the same fashion as cloisonné. After the pin is created the pin binding is soldered to the back. Then the enamel paint is applied by hand with a hypodermic syringe. After all of the enamel paint has been applied, the pin is baked in an oven for several hours creating a durable finish. It is then finely polished. In the final step a flat coating of clear enamel is applied over the surface.
WITHOUT ENAMEL
The painted pin without enamel is made exactly like the clear enamel pin except for the final step. After the enamel paint has been applied and the pin has been baked, the final clear enamel finish is NOT applied.
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