Is cloisonné the same thing as hard enamel?

Yes. They’re two names for one product. “Cloisonné” is the traditional term for the metalworking technique, and “hard enamel” is the modern shorthand most buyers use. Either way you’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.

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