Question 1

What is a lapel pin?

Accepted Answer

A lapel pin, also known as an enamel pin, is a small pin worn on clothing, often on the lapel of a jacket, attached to a bag, or displayed on a piece of fabric. Lapel pins can be ornamental or can indicate the wearer&rsquo;s affiliation with an organization or cause.

Question 2

How to Get Enamel Pins Made

Accepted Answer

Question 3

What pin attachments do you have and how do they work?

Accepted Answer

There are a few different attachment options available for your custom pins, so we decided to show you how they all work. Take a look and see which one is right for you!

Question 4

Do you sell or stock the designs that you show on your web page?

Accepted Answer

Any stock pins for sale are found here: personalize pins
All of the pin designs that you see on the web page are previous designs that we have created for other clients. However we can use the designs as inspiration for your custom pin order.
If you would like to reach out to our sales team for help redesigning a custom pin, please email info@signaturepins.com or call us at &#43;1-800-480-6822.

Question 5

Do you offer a rush service?

Accepted Answer

We make all enamel pins as quickly as possible. If you have a time constraint, check with your salesperson. We do have a rush service though! Our Made in USA rush pins are a textured printed pin that simulates the classic soft enamel look, struck-free and produced domestically on stock pin blanks only — no custom shapes, no die-struck, no enamel fill; the same option for tournament pins is made in USA rush trading pins.
Standard production takes 3.5–4 weeks; shipping is additional (free, typically a few days). USA Made Rush pins take 3–5 days of production, typically about a week delivered. Check with a team member to verify!

Question 6

What is the minimum number of pins that I can order?

Accepted Answer

Our minimum quantity to order is 100.
If you plan on reordering, you can save money by bulk ordering the first time, vs reordering throughout the year.
Need fewer than 100, or just one? Our no minimum custom pins builder lets you design a full-color printed pin yourself and order any quantity, with no proof round-trip and no minimum.

Question 7

Do you guarantee your products?

Accepted Answer

Signature Pins backs each and every product we manufacture with our 100% Quality Guarantee. We will replace (at no additional charge to you) any defective custom product. We only require that you submit your written claim of the defective product to us within 30 days of receipt. For purposes of this question, the term &ldquo;defect&rdquo; or &ldquo;defective&rdquo; means a manufacturing error.

Question 8

What types of materials are your pins made from?

Accepted Answer

All of our lapel pins are made from copper, iron or brass. Then they are top plated with your choice of metal based on your design.

Question 9

What options for attachments do you offer for lapel pins?

Accepted Answer

We offer a standard 8 mm post with butterfly clutch or rubber clutch attachment at no charge.
For an additional fee, we also offer (2) piece clothing magnets, jewelry clutch, deluxe clutch and safety pin attachments. Ask your sales associate for pricing.

Question 10

What is the most popular size for a lapel pin?

Accepted Answer

The most popular size of lapel pin to order is the .75″ thru the 1.0″ however we recommend that you consult with your salesperson to discuss the best size for your logo or design.

Question 11

What is a custom back stamp on a lapel pin and how is it used?

Accepted Answer

Next time you order lapel pins for your business, organization or group, you might want to think about using a custom back stamp. This is a great way to put your organization&rsquo;s name, phone number, or web address out in the open. It also is a way to list information that is deemed special edition.
Custom back stamps make your lapel pins even more special and give you additional ways to advertise. This increases your visibility and exposure.
Rather than limit yourself to just the front of the pin, you can extend your branding to the back with a personal message or the name and web address of your site. You can also include a quote, a motto or slogan that you are partial to. If you&rsquo;re trying to find a way to distinguish yourself from everyone else, a custom back stamp is the perfect way to do just that.
We can design the back stamp for you. There is a one time fee of $35.00 and we will keep it one file so you can use it over and over again as you order lapel pins. This is one expense you won&rsquo;t have to pay for again. People will instantly know who was behind the design and where to obtain more information about your business, group or organization. They also know what year the pins were made and handed out if you choose to add a date to your design. Whatever style of lapel pins that you decide to go with, one thing is certain. A custom back stamp can help increase their appeal. People will love the fact that from front to back they are 100% you.

Question 12

What's the difference between employee recognition pins and years-of-service pins?

Accepted Answer

Years-of-service pins are built around tenure milestones (1, 5, 10+ years) — see our dedicated years-of-service page for that program specifically. Employee recognition pins cover every other kind of staff award: sales and performance awards, retirement, training completion, and spot recognition.

Question 13

Can I order multiple pin designs for different achievement levels?

Accepted Answer

Yes — many companies order a small series (bronze/silver/gold, or a custom naming scheme) as one combined project. Each design still has a 100-piece minimum, but we can quote the series together so artwork and production stay coordinated.

Question 14

What is a service pin?

Accepted Answer

A service pin is a lapel pin awarded for reaching a tenure milestone — one year, five years, twenty-five years. Most are built as a series, where one piece of artwork is reissued at each milestone with something changed to mark the level: the metal plating, a gemstone, or the year printed on the face.
Some organizations use the term for any long-service award, including the pins volunteers and members earn for hours served rather than years employed. Either way, the design work is the same — see our years of service pins page for how a full program gets built.

Question 15

Which years of service milestones should we recognize?

Accepted Answer

Most companies start at five years, but the average worker now changes jobs before that, so a one-year or three-year pin is worth adding at the bottom of the series. From there the usual pattern is every five years — 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 — with something more substantial at the 25, 30 and 40 year marks.
You do not have to order every tier in the same quantity. Far more people will hit one year than thirty, and we will quote each tier separately so you are not paying for pins that sit in a drawer.

Question 16

What do military pins mean?

Accepted Answer

A military pin is worn as a mark of something earned. Unit crests and distinctive unit insignia identify the outfit someone served with, qualification badges (jump wings, aviator wings, dive badges) mark a skill they qualified for, and branch pins identify the service itself. None of them are decorative — each one is tied to a specific unit, school, or achievement.
The custom pins we make sit alongside those: reunion pins, anniversary pins for a unit&rsquo;s founding, honor guard and veteran pins, and memorial pins for a service member who has passed. They carry the same meaning to the people who receive them, which is why the artwork matters so much.

Question 17

Can you make pins for a specific military branch or unit?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Most of the military pins we produce are unit-specific — a squadron patch reproduced in metal, a battalion crest, a ship&rsquo;s seal, or a branch emblem paired with a unit motto. Send us the insignia you want reproduced along with any restrictions on how it can be used, and our art team will build the proof around it.

Question 18

Can you make memorial pins to honor a veteran?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and it is one of the more common one-off projects we take on. Memorial pins usually combine a service branch emblem or unit insignia with the service member&rsquo;s name and dates, and families often order them for a funeral, a reunion, or an anniversary. The 100-piece minimum still applies, so plan on having pins left to give out over time.

Question 19

Can you match my company's brand colors on a logo pin?

Accepted Answer

Yes — we use Pantone colors on every order, so send your brand guide with your quote and our production team will match your palette exactly. A screenshot of your logo works too; we will pick the closest Pantone equivalents and confirm them with you on the proof before anything goes into production.

Question 20

Can we reorder the same logo pin for future events?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We keep your approved artwork and Pantone colors on file, so a reorder for next year&rsquo;s trade show or a second office matches the first run without redoing the design work. Just reference your previous order when you request the quote.

Question 21

What is a soft enamel pin?

Accepted Answer

A soft enamel pin is a die struck metal pin whose recessed areas are filled with colored enamel paint, leaving the raised lines of the artwork standing above the color. Run a finger across the face and you can feel that texture — it is the quickest way to tell soft enamel from hard enamel, where the color is filled level with the metal and polished flat.
Soft enamel is the most common style of custom lapel pin. It holds fine detail, takes up to seven enamel colors at no extra charge, and costs less than the same design made in hard enamel.

Question 22

What is the difference between soft enamel and hard enamel pins?

Accepted Answer

Both start as the same die struck pin — the difference is the enamel and how far it is filled. On a soft enamel pin the color sits below the raised metal borders of the design, so the surface has texture you can feel. On a hard enamel pin, also called cloisonné, a glass-like enamel is filled level with the metal and polished smooth, which reads as jewelry-quality and costs more per pin.
Soft enamel is the better choice for colorful, detailed artwork on a budget, and hard enamel is the better choice for awards and long-service recognition pieces. If you want a smooth face without the hard enamel price, add an epoxy dome — we include those at no additional charge.

Question 23

How many enamel colors can a soft enamel pin have?

Accepted Answer

Up to seven colors at no extra cost. Each color goes into its own recessed area, and the raised metal lines of the design keep neighboring colors from bleeding together, so the practical limit is how many separate areas your artwork has rather than a price tier. Send your Pantone codes along with your artwork and our art team will match them on the free proof.

Question 24

How are soft enamel pins packaged?

Accepted Answer

Pins can ship in a poly bag, mounted on printed cardstock, or presented in an acrylic case or velvet box. Each is priced per pin, and every pin type page shows live pricing for all four under Presentation Options. Runs headed for retail usually go with custom cardstock and hangtag packaging, which we print in any size, shape, or color.

Question 25

What is a die struck pin?

Accepted Answer

A die struck pin is a bare metal pin stamped from a custom steel die under high pressure, with no enamel color filled into the design. The raised and recessed metal is the artwork, so detail comes from how light catches the sculpted surface rather than from paint.
Because the metal is compressed rather than poured, a struck pin is denser than a cast one and holds a crisp edge through years of wear. It is the classic, formal style of custom lapel pin — and the base that every soft enamel and hard enamel pin is built on before color is added.

Question 26

What is the difference between die struck and die cast pins?

Accepted Answer

Die struck pins are pressed: your artwork is machined into a steel die and stamped into sheets of iron, brass or copper. Die cast pins are poured: molten metal fills a mold and cools into shape.
Casting allows thicker three-dimensional shapes, but it produces a softer, more porous piece and detail tends to soften at the edges. We strike rather than cast because the pressure yields a denser piece of metal and detail that stays sharp. A third term you may see quoted, die cut, describes the outline rather than the process — a pin cut to a custom shape instead of a standard circle, which we do at no extra charge.

Question 27

What is the difference between die struck and soft enamel pins?

Accepted Answer

Both start out as the same struck piece of metal. A soft enamel pin then gets colored enamel paint filled into the recessed areas of the design, with the raised metal lines standing above the color. A die struck pin stops before that step and stays bare metal, finished only with plating.
That makes die struck the more formal and usually the least expensive of the two, and the faster of the two to produce. Choose soft enamel when the artwork needs color, and die struck when you want the design carried by polished or antique metal alone.

Question 28

What metal plating options can I get on a die struck pin?

Accepted Answer

High polish gold and silver for a bright, reflective finish; antique gold, silver, bronze and copper for a darker, glare-resistant look that flatters sculpted 3D artwork; and black nickel for a shimmering charcoal tone.
We also offer dual plating, which mixes two finishes in the same design so certain elements stand out. For a bright pin carrying a lot of text, ask about recessed sandblasting — it adds a matte texture that keeps lettering legible against the shine.

Question 29

Is cloisonné the same thing as hard enamel?

Accepted Answer

Yes. They&rsquo;re two names for one product. &ldquo;Cloisonné&rdquo; is the traditional term for the metalworking technique, and &ldquo;hard enamel&rdquo; is the modern shorthand most buyers use. Either way you&rsquo;re getting a pin whose enamel is fired at high heat and then polished level with the metal, so the face of the pin is one smooth, glossy surface.
The style to compare it against is soft enamel, where the enamel sits below raised metal lines and you can feel the texture of the artwork.

Question 30

Can you make hard enamel badges instead of lapel pins?

Accepted Answer

Yes — the same hard enamel process makes designation badges, name badges, credential and certification badges, and member or volunteer badges. A hard enamel badge stands up to daily wear on a uniform much better than a printed one, and the polished finish reads as official rather than promotional.
Badges follow the same 100-piece minimum and the same pricing as cloisonné pins. If you need something larger to wear on a ribbon, ask about custom medals instead.

Question 31

Can you Pantone match the colors on a cloisonné pin?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Send your PMS numbers with your artwork and we&rsquo;ll mix the enamel to match, then show you the result on your free proof before production starts. If you don&rsquo;t have Pantone numbers, our art team will pull the closest matches from your logo files and mark them on the proof for you to approve.
One quirk of hard enamel: because the enamel is fired and then polished flush, the finished color reads slightly deeper and glossier than the same PMS chip on paper. It&rsquo;s consistent across the whole run, and we&rsquo;ll flag it on the proof if a color in your design is likely to shift noticeably.

Question 32

Are cloisonné pins more durable than soft enamel pins?

Accepted Answer

In practice, yes. The glass-like enamel on a cloisonné pin is fired hard and polished level with the metal, so there are no raised edges to catch on clothing and no recessed paint to chip out of a corner. That makes it the better choice for a pin someone will wear on a uniform every day or keep for decades.
Soft enamel pins are still plenty durable for normal wear, and an epoxy dome can be added to protect the surface. The real difference between the two is the look and feel, not whether they last.

Question 33

What is a screen printed pin?

Accepted Answer

A screen printed pin — also called a silkscreen pin — starts as a flat blank instead of a die struck one. Each color is applied to the surface through its own stencil, one at a time, so there are no raised metal lines separating the colors and the finished face is smooth and flush.
That is the practical difference from soft and hard enamel, where color fills areas a mold pressed into the metal. Because nothing has to be molded, a printed design can put colors directly against each other and reproduce artwork exactly as drawn.

Question 34

When should I choose a screen printed pin over soft or hard enamel?

Accepted Answer

Two cases make the decision easy. The first is brand artwork that has to match exactly — printing reproduces gradients, thin strokes, and tight color transitions that a mold cannot hold. The second is a design carrying a lot of small text: a 1″ pin has very little room, and a molded design needs a metal border around every color, which is what makes fine text illegible at that size.
If you want the weight and texture of a molded pin, soft enamel or cloisonné is the better pick — and you can still combine the two, see below.

Question 35

Can screen printing be combined with a molded enamel pin?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and it is a common way to get both. The pin is die struck and colorfilled as a normal soft enamel or cloisonné design, then our production team screen prints the elements that are too small or too detailed to mold — fine lettering, a department seal, a sponsor logo — on top of the finished surface.
The result keeps the raised-metal look and feel of a molded pin while staying legible where a mold alone would blur the detail.

Question 36

Do you charge for artwork made?

Accepted Answer

No, our artists create a custom design based on the ideas and image references you send us. The more details and notes you send us the better. A full color digital proof is sent to your email within 48 hours. If you&rsquo;re not happy with the custom lapel pin design, simply request a revision and we will happily make changes until you&rsquo;re happy with the lapel pin design.

Question 37

What type of format does my artwork need to be in?

Accepted Answer

Signature Pins&rsquo; graphic art department prefers vector art when preparing your files for lapel pin production.
Vector art is best saved as an .ai, .eps, or .pdf file with outlined fonts and curves saved down to CS2.
We also accept and work with any of the following type of files: .jpeg, .gif, .png, .ppt, .doc, .pdf, .bmp, .tiff, .psd., or .pub.

Question 38

What is offset printing and why is it ideal for custom lapel pins?

Accepted Answer

Off set printed lapel pins offer an exact replica of your design. It is great for photographic images as well as color shifts and gradients within a piece of artwork.
To create an off set printed lapel pin, challenge coin or keychain, we take your 300 DPI or higher resolution image or photo negative and digitally recreate it one layer at a time onto a metal plate. An epoxy coating is then applied over the top to protect the image from scratching.
Offset printed products come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors according to the custom artwork that is created in house by our talented team of graphic designers. They can also be layered and placed on gold, silver, copper or black nickel metal as another way of enhancing their appearance.
Custom lapel pins, challenge coins, and keychains are incredibly effective and personal. That is why off set printing remains a popular style of promotional products today.

Question 39

How Do I Start My Trading Pin Design?

Accepted Answer

Question 40

How do I start a lapel pin quote?

Accepted Answer

Online Quote Forms Filling out a quote form on our website is the best way to get a fast and accurate quote. Select the options you want on your design, and click the &ldquo;Upload Artwork&rdquo; button to attach any files for us to use as a reference. Your contact information will be needed in case a sales representative has to contact you for more design details.
Via Phone To speak with a representative call us at &#43;1-800-480-6822 Monday - Friday, 9 AM - 6 PM.
Email Send us an email at info@signaturepins.com. You will need to provide the size, desired metal plating, qty needed, attachment option, and a phone number within the message. One of our sales representatives will contact you if more details are needed before they can send you a quote. Attach any files you have for us to use as a reference.
Social We do not give quotes via social platforms. Our social media team will forward any information you provide (incl. images) to one of our sales representatives so they can better assist you.

Question 41

What happens after I submit a quote?

Accepted Answer

Once we receive your ideas, an artist will be assigned to your project and begin crafting the design. A member of our sales team will reach out if we need more details about your design.
We&rsquo;ll send you a digital proof of artwork via email, usually within 24 to 48 hours. Make sure to CHECK ALL SPELLING and design elements like plating, colors and size to make sure we got your vision just right.
Let us know what you think about the design through email or by calling our sales team. We&rsquo;ll send your notes to the artist working on your project and have a revised proof ready in about 24 hours.

Question 42

What items should I look for on my proof, once I receive it?

Accepted Answer

Check for spelling and brand guidelines Review spelling, design and colors
Our artists will make sure to follow any brand specific guidelines you set forth, but you know your team and your company better than we do. Double check that all brand colors, logos and needed trademarks are properly in place.
If you&rsquo;re unsure about any specific Pantone color, be sure to ask.
Review Specs You should also check for accuracy of pin size and design. The bottom portion of your proof displays the size, chosen plating, and any upgrade options you have selected.
It&rsquo;s important to remember that artwork is not to scale in proof images. Check the graph on the lower left-hand side of your proof image for the best reference to your pin&rsquo;s size.

Question 43

What is the best way to make a revision request for my design?

Accepted Answer

The best way to give revisions on your design is to send us an email describing what changes you would like to see and to include any reference images or sketches that you think will help our art team bring your custom pin to life.
Be sure to include your quote number so we can look up your order.
You can also give us a call, and a member of our sales team will be able to help you.

Question 44

What is an epoxy dome?

Accepted Answer

Have you ever looked at our website and saw an &ldquo;epoxy dome&rdquo; referenced but weren&rsquo;t sure what it was? Well, you&rsquo;re not alone. Many people are unaware of what this option does for their products.
An epoxy dome is a clear plastic coating that can be added to soft enamel, photo etched, silkscreen, and off set printed style lapel pins and challenge coins. By adding this item to a product, it provides a lustrous shine and protects your design from damage.
How they may help Silk screen paint and off set printed designs can fade or scratch over time, the epoxy dome acts as a barrier by preventing the design from being scraped off.
Like many of our other services, we provide epoxy domes at no additional charge which gives you plenty of reasons to consider adding them to your order.
A phone call or visit to our website can help answer any further questions you might have about the advantages of adding an epoxy dome to your custom lapel pin or challenge coin design.

Question 45

Where can I find my referral code?

Accepted Answer

You can find your referral code in your email. Our system will automatically generate a unique code for you after your first order and send it to the email we have on file. Codes go out Tuesdays at 10 am so it might take a few days before you get your code, depending on what day of the week you order.

Question 46

How can I see how much is available to me?

Accepted Answer

You can create an account or log in to our website and see your rewards balance at any time. If you are having trouble logging in or have not set up an account, you can send us an email or chat with a member of our sales team on the phone, and they will be happy to look up your rewards balance for you.

Question 47

What do I get if someone uses my referral code?

Accepted Answer

When someone uses your referral code, you receive a $50 credit on your account. That credit can be used on any future orders, no matter the size.

Question 48

Does the money I earn via my referral code ever expire?

Accepted Answer

The money you earn via your referral code does not expire. It will always be available for you for any future purchase. You can find out more about your rewards by logging into your account and viewing your balance. Find out how here.

Question 49

How do I know when my referral code is used?

Accepted Answer

You can log in to your account on our website to check your balance and see if your friends have been using your referral code. If you are having trouble logging in or have not set up an account, give us a call, and our sales team can look up your information.

Question 50

Is the money I earn via my referral code transferable?

Accepted Answer

The referral rewards you earn when someone uses your referral code are non-transferable.

Question 51

Do referral codes work on any kind of order?

Accepted Answer

Referral codes only work on first-time orders that exceed $300 in total. Any order priced under $300 will not receive the $50 credit against the final bill, even when using a referral code.

Question 52

Do my rewards stack up?

Accepted Answer

All referral rewards stack up, so the more people you refer to Signature Pins, the more you save! As an example, if 10 people use your code, you will have a total of $500 to put towards your next order of pins!

Question 53

If I'm a customer with my own referral code, can I use a friend's referral code to place an order?

Accepted Answer

Once you are issued a referral code, you will not be able to use other referral codes in your future orders. You will, however, be able to use all of the referral rewards you have collected on orders of any size.

Question 54

Can I get a specific/unique referral code?

Accepted Answer

The referral codes we send out are automatically generated and cannot be customized. The system ensures that no two codes are ever the same and allows our team to keep track of your referral rewards accurately.

Question 55

Once I approve the proof, how do I place my pin order into production?

Accepted Answer

Production starts as soon as a payment has been made. Changes are not accepted after production has started. If you&rsquo;re happy with the design proof, and you reviewed your order details, you may place your order one of the two ways:
Via Email Locate the quote we emailed you.
Click &ldquo;Add to cart&rdquo; at the bottom of your quote, or click on the image thumbnail.
You will be directed to a checkout page, provide shipping information and choose your preferred method of payment.
Via Website Login to your account here. Use the same email you provided when you submitted a quote, or signup with the same email.
Next, click on &ldquo;Quotes & Proofs&rdquo; on the left side of the page.
Locate the quote you&rsquo;d like to order and click &ldquo;Add to cart.&rdquo;
In the checkout page, provide shipping information and choose your preferred method of payment.

Question 56

What is your refund policy?

Accepted Answer

Due to the custom nature of the products we manufacture, all sales are final. Once an order has been placed, it may not be canceled for any reason. If one of the products we manufacture is found to be defective, we will gladly replace it (at no additional charge to you). We only require that you submit your written claim of defective product to us within 30 days of receipt. Signature does not issue refunds, give credits or offer discounts.

Question 57

Do you offer APO/FPO shipping service?

Accepted Answer

We do! We can ship to any APO, FPO, or DPO address. We do charge for shipping to these addresses.

Question 58

Do you offer overnight shipping service?

Accepted Answer

We don&rsquo;t offer a separate overnight service — every order already ships the fastest practical way for its route. We work with all the major carriers, and the exact carrier and service depend on where your order is produced and where it&rsquo;s headed. Shipping is free to US addresses — typically just a few days in transit — and we offer reasonable shipping rates to international addresses.

Question 59

Custom Pin Design Template

Accepted Answer

Our lapel pin design template was designed by Signature Pin artists to be easy to use and to give you the opportunity to include all of the needed information to get your pin designed and delivered quickly. The template includes a section for marking which pin type you&rsquo;d like, metal plating and other extras and add ons you&rsquo;d like to use.
Download
Draw your design and check all that apply in the bottom portion
Take a photo or scan
Attach to your email or upload when filling out the quote form.

Question 60

Custom Lapel Pin Checklist

Accepted Answer

We put together a lapel pin checklist with the most important pin design elements that make the order process simple and painless.
Also, while moving through this list, don&rsquo;t be afraid if you can&rsquo;t answer all the questions. Our team of artists will happily work with you to come up with a unique design to make the perfect custom pin.

Question 61

Download Our Ultimate Trading Pin Checklist

Accepted Answer

Question 62

How do I switch between multiple accounts?

Accepted Answer

If you manage orders for more than one team — or keep separate work and personal accounts — you don&rsquo;t have to log out and back in to move between them. Every account you log in to on this browser is remembered in your account menu.
Switching accounts Click your name at the top right of the page. Under &ldquo;Switch account&rdquo;, click the account you&rsquo;d like to use. The page reloads and you&rsquo;re working as that account — carts, quotes, and orders all belong to whichever account you&rsquo;re using.
Adding another account Choose &ldquo;Add account&rdquo; from the same menu and log in as you normally would. Both logins are now saved, and you can swap between them in one click.
A few things to know:
Saved accounts are remembered on the browser you used to log in — a different computer or phone starts with its own list. &ldquo;Logout&rdquo; signs out and removes only the current account from the saved list; the others stay put. If a saved login has expired, it drops off the list when you try to switch to it — just log in again from &ldquo;Add account&rdquo; to re-save it.

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