What are Rainbow Plated Pins?

Rainbow-plated enamel pins is a type of pin plating where they’re crafted using a specialised plating process that gives the metal base a multi-coloured effect shifting between purple, blue, green and gold depending on how the light hits the metal. Unlike traditional gold, silver, or black nickel plating, the base metal of these pins boasts a dynamic, rainbow-like sheen.

Rainbow plated enamel pin featuring a vibrant GXS logo with white enamel detailing, highlighting colorful pin plating technique.

Rainbow plating is achieved through a process called anodizing. First, the metal pins are molded like any other pin plating. Next, they are submerged in a chemical solution. An electrical charge passes through the metal wire, it reacts with the solution, creating the rainbow-like effect.

Pro Tip: While you can incorporate additional enamel colors, it’s best to use neutral tones like black and white to let the rainbow plating stand out between contrasting colours. 

Process of making rainbow plated pins using charged metal wire and chemical solutions, featuring a vibrant purple enamel pin with a cartoon character

A metal wire holding the pin is submerged into chemical solution for the rainbow-effect on the pin plating. ImageSource: Insider Art