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| Cloisonne lapel pins have the greatest perceived value and a jewelry-like finish.
It is said that cloisonne can be preserved for 100 years because it is derived
from mineral ore. This ancient art that was developed for over a thousand years
in China requires meticulous handcrafted details. These custom designed pins
are formed on a copper bronze surface and then hand-filled with colored cloisonne paste.
The pins are then kiln fired at 800 degrees centigrade. More color is then added
and the pins are fired again. These steps ensure that the bleeding of colors does not occur.
After firing, each pin is hand polished and plated to make a hard and smooth
jewelry like finish which is extremely resistant to scratching. |
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Soft enamel pins are struck from a die that is cast
from your design. The pins are then cut using a special cutting
die. The shaped metal is then plated, and the cut indentations
are filled with enamel. Each pin is individually painted by hand
using special syringes. The raised areas are then cleaned of
enamel and the pin is baked in a kiln to harden the enamel. |
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Silkscreen is the perfect alternative when the
enamel fill process is not compatible with the pin design.
Each color ink is squeezed through a silk mesh directly onto
the metal background. An epoxy dome is then applied
to insure a durable glossy finish. This process allows for
blends and small details to be duplicated on the pin. |
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Die struck lapel pins give the appearance of the design being carved into the metal.
Your image is stamped on a sheet of iron or copper.
Plating of the die struck lapel pins is done next.
The raised metal surfaces of the lapel pins are then polished to a luster finish while recessed areas are left with a sandblasted look. The end result is an elegant and impressive "tone on tone" creation. |
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