Pin Grading

Pin Grading Policy

The quality of my pins are very important to me, and I strive to provide the best quality possible. With that said, realistically, no pin will be perfect and every batch/design is different. The reason these pins cannot be perfect is that they are handmade items that have natural variations and slight flaws that occur during every production process. A lot of time/energy is put into the production and grading of these pins. Please read below for more details my grading standards.

A Grades/Standards

A grades are the best of the batch for the particular design. If there is a minor imperfection that is across more than 20% of the batch, that will be considered part of the standard grade for that design/batch. No major defects will be considered standard. A-grades may exhibit very minor imperfections that can be seen under close inspection.

  • Stray glitter
  • Wiggly posts
  • Low-fill or very slight overfill of enamel in small areas
  • Slightly misaligned screen printing
  • Small traces of random debris (dust, fuzz, etc.)
  • Small amount of tiny bubbles in enamel, glitter or epoxy coating
  • Light scuffing, scratches, dents, enamel bleeding
  • Slight discoloration and imperfections in/on the metal plating on the sides and /or back of the pin
  • Minor enamel miscoloration

B Grades

Noticeable minor defects, however, very close to being Standard grade pin.

  • Moving posts
  • Low-fill or overfill/spillover of enamel in large areas
  • Chipped metal plating
  • Discoloration or staining
  • Missing enamel or plating
  • Wrong enamel fill colors
  • Large dents, divots, scratches
  • Missing or badly printed screen printing
  • Excessive bubbles, scratches, dents, divots
  • Foreign materials embedded in enamel, glitter or epoxy
  • Lightly discolored / tarnished plating

C Grades

Very visible multiple minor and / or major defects. Perfect for those on a budget. In addition to defects mentioned above, C grades may also have…

  • Missing posts
  • Heavily Discolored / tarnished plating
  • Other

*By purchasing from Teal Teacup you agree to these conditions. Thank you.