Email alphatrophies@aol.com
© Alpha Trophies 1999 - 2010 All rights reserved.
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Hard Enamel Badges:
Hard enamel or Cloisonne is the material used for our badges it is said to preserve colours for up to a hundred years. The colours are made from Japanese mineral ore and ground into powder then colour is added. the colour painted onto badges is fired at 800° C.
They are then cooled. This firing is done with every colour as the colours can't be mixed. Hard Enamel is the most expensive material
as it has so many complex procedures, time consuming production and intense skills of the production staff.
Die Struck Soft Enamel:
Usually less expensive than Hard Enamel & Imitation hard enamel badges. ideal for designs requiring fine details. Die struck soft enamel badges are polished before colouring so revealed metal parts are shiny. Epoxy covering is an optional extra.
Imitation Hard Enamel:
Imitation hard enamel alias Soft Cloisonne which was invented in the last thirty years has been used to replace hard enamel because of the lower expense, quicker production and more varied colours to choose from Imitation hard enamel badges are smooth, shiny and colourful. Although very similar you can tell the difference between hard & imitation enamel by pushing a sharp pointed object straight into the colours if the point goes in it is imitation. Hard Enamel is very hard so if the colours are very hard it's hard enamel.
Hard enamel or Cloisonne is the material used for our badges it is said to preserve colours for up to a hundred years. The colours are made from Japanese mineral ore and ground into powder then colour is added. the colour painted onto badges is fired at 800° C.
They are then cooled. This firing is done with every colour as the colours can't be mixed. Hard Enamel is the most expensive material
as it has so many complex procedures, time consuming production and intense skills of the production staff.
Die Struck Soft Enamel:
Usually less expensive than Hard Enamel & Imitation hard enamel badges. ideal for designs requiring fine details. Die struck soft enamel badges are polished before colouring so revealed metal parts are shiny. Epoxy covering is an optional extra.
Imitation Hard Enamel:
Imitation hard enamel alias Soft Cloisonne which was invented in the last thirty years has been used to replace hard enamel because of the lower expense, quicker production and more varied colours to choose from Imitation hard enamel badges are smooth, shiny and colourful. Although very similar you can tell the difference between hard & imitation enamel by pushing a sharp pointed object straight into the colours if the point goes in it is imitation. Hard Enamel is very hard so if the colours are very hard it's hard enamel.
Types Of Enamel Badges Or Lapel Pins
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Photo Etched Soft Enamel:
Photo etching is less expensive than die struck soft enamel badges suitable for a great many colours. lightweight due to the shallow depth of brass Photo Etching is suitable for large sized designs or with inlaid flashing lights. Epoxy covering is optional.
Iron Soft Enamel:
Iron soft enamel is almost identical to copper soft enamel as it employs similar production procedures.Less expensive than both copper and photo etched soft enamel due to the price of iron. Requires less time for polishing and electroplating. Epoxy covering if necessary.
Sterling Silver
Silver is comparatively soft to other lapel pin materials. Fragile on its own silver is easily damaged so it is combined with a little copper. This alloy is called sterling silver. This makes a more dependable and longer lasting lapel pin. The alloy of sterling silver consists of 92.5 percent silver and 7.5 percent copper.
Photo etching is less expensive than die struck soft enamel badges suitable for a great many colours. lightweight due to the shallow depth of brass Photo Etching is suitable for large sized designs or with inlaid flashing lights. Epoxy covering is optional.
Iron Soft Enamel:
Iron soft enamel is almost identical to copper soft enamel as it employs similar production procedures.Less expensive than both copper and photo etched soft enamel due to the price of iron. Requires less time for polishing and electroplating. Epoxy covering if necessary.
Sterling Silver
Silver is comparatively soft to other lapel pin materials. Fragile on its own silver is easily damaged so it is combined with a little copper. This alloy is called sterling silver. This makes a more dependable and longer lasting lapel pin. The alloy of sterling silver consists of 92.5 percent silver and 7.5 percent copper.