Lapel Pins Bring Universal Appeal
There are three main types of lapel pins. Cloisonne, also referred to as hard enamel is stamped out of a sheet of copper. The stamping process produces recesses in the copper which are then filled with enamel powder and fired at a very high temperature. After the pin has had a chance to cool, it is ground down to a smooth surface and the copper is plated.
The soft enamel process differs somewhat from the hard enamel method. Different areas of color are separated by metal strips and color sits below the metal surface. The top is covered with an epoxy to give a smooth finish.
Die struck pins have sharp detail and have very prominent contrast and relief. The raised areas are highly polished and the finish can be textured, matte or antiqued. The pin is the color of the metal used.
The back of a lapel pin has some sort of clutch or clasp to attach to your shirt or other material. A butterfly clutch works by squeezing the metal bar and releasing a pin. A jewelry clutch pops up and snaps down to lock in place. Other fasteners include a safety pin like safety clasp and a magnetic clasp.
Custom lapel pins have been used by companies for many years to recognize performance and achievements of their employees. A real estate broker might receive a pin with an image of a home because they were the number one producer in their office. Another worker may receive a lapel pin for 25 years of excellent work. Pins are often given out to the whole workforce as a way of making them a closer, more cohesive group. A pin celebrating the anniversary of a product invented by the company or maybe one is marking $100 million dollars in sales.
Other organizations use pins to promote charitable causes. There are pins to promote the battle against breast cancer. There are pins supporting the fight against heart disease. There are pins for charity golf tournaments. Some pins are given for a donation to a cause and others are given to volunteers in appreciation of their time and service with the charity.
Children are rewarded for their outstanding efforts with a lapel pin. They might have achieved a perfect score on a big test or maybe took first prize in a science fair. Military lapel pins are very popular. Entire platoons might receive an honorary pin after completing a mission. All those with ten years of service might be rewarded with a special commemorative pin.
From athletes to teachers, children to seniors, lapel pins are a great way of recognizing a big achievement. For really special moments, these pins may be made out of precious metals. A 14 carat gold pin may be given to a firefighter who risked his life to save a family from a fire.
With millions of personalized lapel pins having been created, a market has developed for collectors. Many people collect pins that fall in to narrow categories. There are those who collect only military pins. Some are sports fanatics and collect all of their favorite teams. An international collection of flags from countries around the world might be another collection. Whatever you fancy, there is a lapel pin just for you.