Guide · Soft
Soft Enamel Pin Plating: Gold, Silver, Black Nickel and Antique
Compare plating for soft enamel pins: gold, silver, nickel, black nickel, gunmetal, rose gold, antique and two-tone, and how to choose one for your design.
On a soft enamel pin, the plating is the raised metal outline around every color, so it shapes how the whole design reads. This guide compares the platings we offer and how to choose one.
The plating options at a glance
| Plating | Look | Works well when |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | Warm, bright metal | Darker enamel colors need a bright outline |
| Silver or nickel | Cool, bright metal | The design is clean and modern |
| Black nickel | Dark, smoky metal | Bright enamel colors should stand out |
| Gunmetal | Dark gray metal | The design should look understated |
| Rose gold | Pink-toned metal | A fashion or lifestyle look is wanted |
| Antique gold, silver or copper | Darkened recesses with polished high points | The design has real depth and fine detail |
How plating is applied
Blanks are racked, cleaned, given a base layer, then the finish layer, then rinsed and dried. The rack contact point is placed on the back or edge, never on the face. See our electroplating line for the full process.
Antique finishes need depth
Antique finishes start as the bright version, go through a darkening bath, and then the high points are polished back to bright. The recesses stay dark, which is why antique looks best on soft enamel and on designs with real depth. Flat designs have nothing to stay dark.
Two-tone plating
Two-tone pins are plated in one finish, masked by hand, and plated again in the second. Mark on your artwork which areas take which finish.
Matching your reorder
Before a batch leaves the line, it is checked against a color board under the same light every time. The same board is the reference for your reorder later.
What to Send
- Your artwork with enamel colors, with Pantone references if you have them
- The plating you prefer, or ask us to suggest one
- Areas for a second plating, if two-tone
- Quantity per design, from 100 pcs per design
- Backing and packaging
Which plating looks best with soft enamel?
It depends on your colors: gold and silver give a bright outline, black nickel makes bright enamel stand out, and antique finishes suit designs with depth. We can suggest one on the artwork proof.
Can a pin have two platings?
Yes. Two-tone pins are plated in one finish, masked by hand and plated again in the second.
What is the minimum order?
From 100 pcs per design.
Order Facts
- From 100 pcs per design · better price at 500+, best at 1,000+
- Free artwork proof within 2 working days
- Sample 10–14 working days · bulk 30–60 days · rush from 10–15 days
- DDP door-to-door available: duties and taxes included in the quote
- Bella replies within 12 hours