Enamel pin care is crucial for maintaining the shine and beauty of your pin collection. Every pin will need a bit of TLC at some point, so it's best to establish a regular care routine.
All pins will tarnish over time, though the degree and nature of tarnishing can vary. Some may develop small, barely noticeable spots, while others might acquire a full patina. Various factors influence this, such as usage, handling, exposure to moisture, care practices, and the type of plating used.
Generally, rose gold and copper tarnish faster than other metal plating, often turning a dark, rusty color. They are notorious in the pin world for tarnishing. However, as a designer with a lot of experience with rose gold plated pins, it's often just out of your control. I have rose gold pins over five years old with no notable tarnish, while others just a year old show a considerable amount of tarnish. Honestly speaking, the inconsistency in tarnishing on the plating is why I've decided to start taking a step away from rose gold over the last year. Personally, I am too busy to routinely care for rose gold in the way that it requires and I'm sure a majority of you reading this are too! Fun fact: gold plating doesn't tarnish as quickly as other plating!
3 Easy Steps to Care for Your Enamel Pins:
Consistent pin care can help to control tarnish. Following the routine below will help keep your pins looking beautiful for years.
Polishing:
- For Hard Enamel Pins: Polishing is the best way to remove dust, tarnish, and fingerprints. Microfiber clothes have worked wonders on some of my pins! If the tarnish is particularly heavy, keep at it. Sometimes you have to really rub for a while. In more severe cases, tarnish can build layers if you wait to long to polish your pin. You may notice the tarnish change from a gray color to a yellow color to a blue color and so on til you get down to the shiny surface of the pin. You may even notice that as you rub, it has a bit of resistance in the beginning, and suddenly feels more slick when you break through the tarnish. I have heard of people using jewelry polishing pastes, but I have not tried this before. I'd test a small area of the pin first and use very sparingly to test first.
- For Soft Enamel Pins: You don't want to polish soft enamel pins! I do not make soft enamel pins so this doesn't apply to my designs, but soft enamel pins are prone to scratches and buildup. If you absolutely must, use a clean microfiber cloth and gently swipe the surface - don't rub!
Cleaning:
- Never soak enamel pins in any sort of liquid. Rarely do pins need liquid cleaning. In extreme cases, I have used a Q-tip with a tiny amount of rubbing alcohol to help clean difficult spots, especially dirty enamel, and this has worked well for me without negative effects (so far anyway). Aside from that, I would avoid any harsh chemicals or cleaning agents.
Storage:
- Naturally, you'll probably be wearing or displaying your pins, but in cases where you're not, storing them properly can play a key role in making sure they last. Make sure they are stored in a cool, dry place. Jewelry pouches work well but I suggest letting them breathe every once in a while. I personally keep my pins that are not on display in anti-tarnish cases by Artbin and these have worked really well for me. You can also try using anti-tarnish strips or silica gel packets if you prefer to keep your pins in other types of boxes or containers to help slow down tarnishing.
How you care for your enamel pins will determine how they look years from now - but don't worry! It's easy, and even if they do scratch or tarnish - it gives them character.
Just another note, in my experience, pins that have tarnished tend to tarnish again quicker than those that haven't. If you have cleaned a tarnished pin, just make sure to check on it more often.
Lastly, your pins should be cared for in the way you want and on a schedule that works for you. A little patina on the plating can add character and look cool. All metals and plating will eventually rust and tarnish with time and it's perfectly fine to embrace that and enjoy the natural evolving beauty of the metal plating!