What the mold is
Every enamel pin design needs a steel mold engraved with that design. The mold strikes the metal that becomes your pin. Making it takes skilled engraving, hardening and finishing, and it costs the same whether you order 50 pins or 5,000. Our guide how to make enamel pins shows where the mold fits in.
Typical mold costs
Mold charges elsewhere commonly range from about $30 to $150 per design, more for large sizes, 3D sculpts and cut-outs. Some suppliers waive the fee above a certain quantity.
Why it matters for small orders
On a 50-piece order, a $60 mold adds $1.20 to every pin. On 500 pieces, it adds 12 cents. That is the main reason small orders cost more per pin.
Our approach
Our prices include the mold at every quantity, so the per-pin price on the pricing page is what you pay. Reorders of the same design reuse the mold, so they skip the setup and are often faster.
Who owns the mold?
The factory keeps the physical mold so it can be used for your reorders, typically for two years after the last order. Your design remains yours, and we do not use it for anyone else. See our artwork rights policy.
Does each version need a new mold?
Changing colors only does not need a new mold. Changing the shape, text or lines does. For series like years of service pins, the number can be a separate small part so one mold covers every year.
Mold life
A steel mold can strike thousands of pins before it wears. For most customers, a mold lasts through many reorders. If a design is reordered after a long gap, we check the mold and tell you if anything needs refreshing.
Molds for cut-outs and extras
Cut-outs need a second cutting die, which is why they are priced as an add-on.
Written by the Enamelore team, who proof every order. Questions about this guide? Email hello@enamelore.com.
