Cloisonné vs Enamel Pin Badges: Which Should You Choose?
Both give you a smooth, glossy finish and a premium feel — so what actually separates them? It comes down to the process behind the finish, and a small step up in price.
7 min read · Updated September 2026
What Makes Cloisonné Different?
Cloisonné badges go through an extra firing and polishing process compared with standard enamel badges, leaving no raised lines at all — just a completely smooth, glossy surface across the whole design. Like our enamel range, cloisonné badges can be made to any custom shape and finished in gold, silver, nickel or antique plating.
How the Price Compares
Using our real pricing for a 25mm badge, side by side:
| 25mm (1") | 50+ | 100+ | 200+ | 300+ | 400+ | 500+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enamel | £1.61 | £1.11 | £1.00 | 80p | 73p | 66p |
| Cloisonné | £1.71 | £1.31 | £1.05 | 93p | 84p | 78p |
Both include the same £39 one-off die cost. Prices exclude carriage and VAT — see full enamel and cloisonné pricing pages for every size.
Wondering about minimum order quantities? See our MOQ guide.
Which Should You Choose?
Choose Hard Enamel If…
You want a similar glass-smooth look for a lower price — see our hard vs soft enamel guide.
Choose Cloisonné If…
You want the smoothest possible surface with zero raised lines anywhere in the design — the gold standard finish.
Want a printed detail on top of that smooth finish? We also offer cloisonné with print, combining the cloisonné base with a single-colour printed layer.
Not sure which is right for your design? Send it across and we'll recommend the finish that suits it best.
Ready to Get a Quote?
Send us your design and we'll advise on the best finish, plus a free, no-obligation quote.
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