Pin Grading Scale

Pins come in a few grades. While criteria for A grade pins and “Seconds” pins are different from shop to shop, we use this grading scale to determine which of the pins are considered an A Grade or a Seconds Grade, and rejected altogether. At The Geeky Forge, we have a strong principle on providing the best quality projects, and do not sell any rejects. Pins are inspected in either natural sunlight or a well-lit room.

Pins are handmade items and can vary from unit to unit. Very few pins are perfect, but these are close. These pins have some minor faults to them. Some of these minor faults includes:

A GRADE

Pins are handmade items and can vary from unit to unit. Very few pins are perfect, but these are close. These pins have some minor faults to them. Some of these minor faults includes:

tiny, not noticeable air bubbles
very minor enamel under fill
some light imperfections in the metal plating
light surfaces scuffing or light scratches on the enamel or metal.
light or very small nicks on the enamel or metal
some small areas of plating imperfections on sides of pin
some minor dust on soft enamel pins
encased posts with slight wiggle
plating imperfections on the back of pin

These pins are sold at full price and make nice gifts or additions to any collection. They are beautiful and are great for wear or display purposes. The vast majority of pins that are sold are A grade.

SECONDS

These pins have noticeable flaws, some more minor or major than others. Some of the flaws that would qualify a pin as seconds include:

noticeable or multiple areas of under filled enamel
moderately scuffed enamel or metal
multiple points of imperfections on the metal plating
multiple air bubbles in the enamel
missing metal lines
missing enamel on a small portion of the pin
noticeable off-set screen printing
enamel staining on sides or back of pin
overfilled enamel that floods some metal lines
noticeable amounts of dust on soft enamel
small gouges or marks on enamel
large areas of imperfection of the metal on the sides of the pin

A seconds grade pin might not be as nice as a Standard Grade, but it is still highly wearable and can make a good additional to a collection if the imperfections noted above are not bothersome to a collector.

REJECTS

Pins in these category have multiple and massive defects that prevent them from being sold as standard or even seconds. Their defects are so severe that it would impact their wearability. Some of these defects include:

large and very noticeable areas of scuffing
large or deep gouges in enamel
large or deep scratches in enamel
large areas of under filled enamel
multiple defects or imperfections in the metal plating
large and multiple air bubbles in soft or hard enamel
large or multiple areas of missing metal lines
multiple areas of enamel staining or discoloured enamel
low quality enamel or metal work
significant areas of low-fill
more than one unfilled enamel area
areas where enamel is missing

These pins are never put up for sale and are only sometimes offered for free during specials or sales. Pins without my back stamp or an incorrect back stamp are never given away or sold.

A GRADE

SECONDS

REJECTS

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