Please note everyone has their own system for grading and all pins are handmade so every one is unique.
I grade pins in natural lighting at an arms length. Backs and sides are not accounted for when being graded, unless visible from the front or the posts are extremely lose/broken off.
Standard Grades
These pins may have minor flaws, but only noticeable when directly observed up close or in specific lighting. These could include one or two of issues:
- minor scratches or scuffs on the metal or enamel
- slight underfill/overfill
- dust in an unnoticeable area
- miss colored sections in small/unnoticeable areas
- minor sections missing enamel
- very slightly lose backing post
If a pin has too many minor issues, it will be deemed a b grade.
B Grades
These pins can have any number of defects and may vary in quality between it and another defect pin.
These pins are suitable to those on a budget and don't mind the defects or those who want to wear pins without fear of them becoming messed up.
The types of defects a b grade could have may include any number of the following:
- major scuffs or dents in the metal or enamel
- major underfill/overfill
- major areas missing enamel
- dust or marks around the face or in larger portions of the pin
- miss colored sections in larger/more noticeable portions
- spill over enamel into other sections
- bubbles/swirls in the enamel
- extremely lose/broken backing posts
Other/Misc Grades
These pins are graded based on batches with a high number of the same problem that may be a noticeable issue but is not bad enough to be a b grade.
- example: all pins having a portion of the hair filled in blue
When these come up, the listing will specify exactly what the issue is in greater detail.