Grading Guide

If you recall Grade 11 Chemistry, you would be familiar with theoretical yield and actual yield. In reality, we would love for all of our pins to come out as perfect, but we have chosen to classify our pins into two categories: Standard (Grade A) and Grade B. Below is a guide to help you make your purchasing decision.

Overview
In general, the flaws in Standard can only be noticed with super close inspection and cannot be easily seen by others when you are sporting our pins out in public. The flaws in Grade B can be larger compared to those found in Grade A, or consist of more than one flaw. Again, only with close scrutiny can Grade B flaws be noticed. 

All our pins are placed under rigorous screening and re-screening processes to ensure the correct grading. Pins that were manufactured and do not fit our grading standards become retired and are not put up for sale. 

Standard (Grade A)
Clean and smooth enamel, metal plating is polished and shiny. Dye plating should be cleaned and matte. Near perfect, about only one minor flaw which can be any of the following:

• enamel discolouration
• uneven shininess
• small scratches that can only be detected by light variation
• tiny imperfections in screen-printed details
• small imperfections in the metal or enamel 
• tiny chips

Grade B
Close to being Standard, but have more than one to two minor flaws of any of the following:

• enamel discolouration
• under-filled areas/cracks along edges of enamel filling
• uneven shininess
• minor spilling of the metal plating 
• smudging of screen printing/scratched screen printing 
• large specs of dust or paint
• small areas with wrong colour fill
• overlapping of screen-printed details onto metal
• tarnishing of metal/enamel

 We hope this guide has been helpful. As always, consult us at hello@apothera.co should there be any questions.