Custom lapel pins are a decorative way to express yourself through your garment. It is a trend among people to use these pins as their name initials, achievement emblems, or pop culture artwork. With great focus on design, color, and shapes, they often tend to forget about the metal plating, which is an important part of the custom lapel pins. This mistake negatively affects the final look.
The metal plating is the base that holds everything together, including the enamel colors. It also adds texture to the background.
We will discuss the different types of metal plating you can use for lapel pins to help you pick the right one for your lapel pin design.
Why Does Lapel Pin Plating Matter?
In addition to custom patches, another tool that you can attach to clothes or display on boards to show off your unique style is custom lapel pins. Lapel pin plating is the process of putting a metal layer coating on top of the surface of the base metal on your lapel pin. The base metal of your pin is usually made of iron or brass or a zinc alloy. Plating does a couple of things for your pin. It helps keep your pin from getting all dirty and tarnished. Moreover, it can also change how your pin looks.
The type of plating you choose is really important because it affects the color of the lines on your pin. It also helps to separate the enamel colors and makes your pin look special. If you pick a bright gold plating, your pin will look different from the one with a black metal plating.
For example, gold plating makes your pin look fancy. In comparison, a black metal plating makes it look simple and not too flashy. The plating you choose can really change the way your overall pin looks.
Pro Tip: When making lapel pins, plan the metal borders that will be a part of your design. If you use bold colors with the metal, it will stand out. Instead, if you use dull colors, your design will be subtle. The metal borders and the colors you pick change how your design looks. Hence, you should plan for them before you start making your design.
Choosing from Popular Pin Plating Types
You can decide based on available choices. Below are the common pin plating types in manufacturing:
- High-Polished Gold: The classic choice, as it gives the lapel pins a traditional look that people love. Gold plating is very popular for things like pins and awards. People also like to use it for high-end retail designs because it looks regal. The classic choice of gold plating is an option for anyone who wants something that looks premium.
- High-Polished Silver (Nickel): The silver plating goes well with some colors, like blue, green, and purple. These are cool colors and look great with the silver plating. The silver plating makes the pins look clean and very professional. The silver plating is versatile and can be used with many things.
- Black Nickel/Black Metal: This dark, glossy, and matte plating is best for pop culture pins, alternative art, and designs with bright neon colors. The black lines really make the vivid enamel colors stand out with an edgy and bold look.
- Copper and Bronze: These warm metals have a kind of charm that is antique. People like to use them when they want to make something that reminds them of nature. They are also great for things that have a steampunk style or for making pins that remember something from history.
- Antique Finishes: They are available in gold, silver, copper, and bronze. The people who make them put a wash over the metal. This dark wash gets into the small area and makes the details stand out, showing 3D details. Antique plating is great for die-struck pins that do not have enamel on them.
- Dual Plating: The dual plating option is really nice because it lets you use two metal finishes on the same pin, like gold and silver. This option is a bit more expensive. It makes the pin feel very special and fancy, like something that was made just for you with a lot of attention to detail and a luxurious feel.
3 Tips for Choosing the Right Lapel Pin Plating
There are many finishes to choose from. It can be really tough to pick one. So when you are trying to decide on a finish, think about these three things:
1. Match Your Color Palette
- Enamel colors are really important to think about when you are making enamel pins.
- Enamel colors, like red, yellow, or orange, look regal with gold or copper.
- Cool enamel colors, like blue or purple or teal, look best with silver or nickel.
If you have a lot of white enamel colors or pastel enamel colors in your design, you should use black metal because it makes the artwork and the enamel colors stand out.
2. Consider the Pin’s Purpose
- The tone of the event or the brand that the pin is for is really important. If the pin is for something like an anniversary or an award, it is probably a good idea to use a high-polished gold or silver lapel pin because these pins look fancy and nice.
- For a brand that just wants to make some things like merchandise or art, a black metal or colored metal pin is a good choice. This is because it is more casual and fun.
- If the pin is for the military or to remember something, you can use a special finish that makes it look antique. This attribute gives the pin a sense of history.
3. Factor in Your Budget
- When getting lapel pins made, usual colors like gold, silver, and black nickel are normally included in the price. Custom lapel pins with features, like dual plating or an antique wash, will probably cost more.
- You should consult the vendor making your custom lapel pins to ensure they fit within your budget while exploring alternative options.
FAQs
What are lapel pins usually used for?
The usual usage of lapel pins is to add style, personality, and decor to your garment.
What is the best placement for lapel pins on your clothes?
The best placement for lapel pins on your clothes is on the left side, between the shoulder and above the shirt/coat breast pocket, as it gives them maximum visibility.
What can be the best options for lapel pin plating?
The best lapel pin plating options are gold, silver, and nickel for a classic look. Additionally, for an antique look, gold, silver, copper, and brass plating provide a vintage design. Meanwhile, for modern and bolder looks, we have black nickel, black dye, and rainbow plating as available options.
What has to be the best material for a lapel pin?
Soft enamel lapel pins are the best material choice, as they can look great even with a pocket-friendly price point.
Buy Your Lapel Pin with the Best Plating
Choosing the right lapel pin plating is really important. It is like picking the right artwork for your lapel pin. A smallest detail, like plating, can make a lapel pin that people will actually remember and desire to have the same.
Selecting the right manufacturer or vendor helps save time and cost without compromising on the quality of your lapel pin. The American Patch is the best place to get your lapel pin customized according to your request.
Do not delay and order your decorative piece to complete your look. Inquire for free with our team today!
