Enamel pin terminology explained

If you’re shopping for pins and confused by some of the technical terms, you’re in the right place. This blog will explain all the terminology in a simple-to-understand way. If there’s a term that’s not listed below, let me know and i’ll add it to the list!

Let’s get started!

Pin Terminology

Terms are sorted alphabetically.

3D Pins (AKA ‘Sculpted Pins’)

Pins with raised or layered elements that appear more complex than standard pins. These are usually plated with a zinc alloy. This results in a single colour finish, but additional colour can be added to specific flat areas or via the application of gemstones. 

Blind Bag

These are sealed and obscured bags containing a random pin - usually from a set, so the buyer doesn’t know what they’re getting. Disney, Funko and other larger companies lean more into these, but the interest in them appears to be waning, at least in the pin community. 

Butterfly Clutch

Butterfly Clutches are the metal variants of pin backs. Thye get their name from their wing-like shape. They have a mixed reputation with pin makers; some love them, others don’t like the fact they can ‘trap’ your pin in place if they are crushed. 

“C” Colours

You may see colours listed on product pages which are a series of numbers followed by a ‘C’, e.g. 348C. This is the Pantone colour code, specifically the Solid Coated Pantones.

All this means for you is that - if you really want to - you can check the specific colour code to see if it matches your outfit, bag, etc.

Chase (or Chase Variant)

This is a term primarily linked to Blind Bags. It refers to the rarest possible option available in the bag - the one that collectors are ‘chasing’. Oftentimes it will have some uniqueness to it’s visual makeup; glitter, single-tone, ‘jelly’ etc.

Cloisonné

This is basically the technique used in Hard Enamel pins (see below). Metal is shaped in a way so that the outline is raised. This creates pockets or ‘cells’ which can be filled with colour.

This term is used frequently in Disney Pins’ descriptions, but most other online pin retailers tend not to use it. 

Deluxe Clutch / Locking Pin Back / Premium Locking Pin

These are heavy-duty pin backs that are more secure than rubber clutches or butterfly clutches. They’re bigger and bulkier also, so they don’t really suit more delicate garments. They go on easily, but are quite a more more difficult (and tend to hurt the untrained fingers) to come off. Some stores like Strike Gently Co offer these as standard on their pins. 

Die Struck

These are pins with no fill, they’re just the bare metal shaped into a particular design. The term is mostly used by manufacturers, though it does pop a lot with military pins. Examples of Die Struck pins in my store are the Celtic Knot and the Cara Brooch.

Double Posted

Sometimes referred to as ‘Double backed’ or ‘with two pin backs’, it just means there are two pin-points on the pin. Having two, prevents the pin from moving in place. It’s generally only possible with pins over 25mm. 

Epoxy Coating

Not an ugly coat from finglas (that’d be a poxy coat) Epoxy Coating is typically found on budget pins, or soft enamel pins that need a bit of extra protection. A thin layer of epoxy is added to the top of the pin, protecting the design underneath. It usually forms a ‘dome’ shape and it’s slightly soft to the touch. Lots of 90s and early 2000s mass-produced pins will have this.

Glitter Enamel

Fairly self-explanatory, but Glitter enamel is an enamel fill that contains glitter flakes to give a sparkling visual appearance. Generally this is a hard enamel technique, but it can be applied to soft enamel pins and then coated with epoxy, to keep it in place. 

Hard Enamel

As mentioned in the Cloisonné section above, hard enamel pins have their outline formed by raised metal. The lower sections are filled with enamel colour and then the whole piece is polished off to a flat, smooth finish.

These are usually more expensive than their Soft Enamel Pin counterparts and within the pin-collecting community they’re often seen as the ‘premium’ option.

You can see the metal outlines in the hard enamel example here - and the lack of outlines in the soft enamel version:

Iron Alloy

Pins, for the most part, are made with either an iron alloy, or a zinc one. Alloys are just a mix of metals. In the case of iron alloy pins, the alloyed metals are usually chromium or nickel.

For flat and simple ‘2d’ pins, iron is usually the preferred choice.

Iron is generally cheaper to produce and it is ‘tougher’, but it is prone to rusting. These alloys are shaped and then plated.

Here is what raw iron alloy sheets looks like,

Pin Backs

This term is a little confusing, as it is used in two different ways.

Some use it to refer to the actual points on the back of the pin. Others use it to refer to the fixtures that keep the pin in place, like the locking backs or the rubber clutches. 

In fairness, when used in context, you’ll probably get the meaning.

Plating

Most pins are made from a base alloy (usually iron or zinc) and then they are coated to strengthen the pin and give it a finessed finish. Common plating options include gold, silver, rose gold, black nickel, and antique finishes. Plating affects both the look and the price of the pin.

Rubber Clutch

The small rubber piece that slides onto the pin post to hold it in place. Cheap, lightweight and available in various colours, but prone to falling off in more raucous cases (i.e. moshers, touchy-feely people). Usually included as the default backing.

Soft Enamel

Unlike hard enamel, the enamel sits below the metal outlines that form the design, leaving a slightly textured, recessed surface. These are generally cheaper to produce, they allow for finer detail, more colour variation, and broadly speaking, they are the most common type of enamel pin.

Screenprint (AKA UV Screenprint)

This is a printing technique that is applied to the top of the pin after the manufacturing stage to achieve visuals that would otherwise be impossible. Gradients or very technical and small details would be the most common uses of Screenprinting on pins. Some purists don’t like this technique as it can be ‘rubbed off’ and it’s a more recent development to pin manufacturing. 

Slider Pins

These are pins with a part that slides back and forth. Sometimes the sliding part is concealed and then revealed, sometimes it just moves side to side. These interactive pins are popular, though usually a little bit more expensive than ‘standard’ pins. 

Spinner Pins

Another fairly self-explanatory one. These are pins with elements that spin. There are generally two elements to this pin, one fixed and one that can spin attached via a rivet. Due to the extra mold required, the metal cost and precise tweaking to make them work correctly, Spinner Pins are usually priced slightly higher - about 20% or so. 

Zinc Alloy

The other major base metal for pins (alongside iron). Zinc is better suited for detailed or 3D sculpted pins as it holds fine detail better. It's slightly more expensive than iron but doesn't rust.