Which Custom Keyring? Hard Enamel, Soft Enamel, Die-Struck or PVC

Hard enamel is smooth and polished. Soft enamel has raised metal outlines you can feel. Die-struck is all metal with no enamel colour. PVC is soft, flexible rubber. Compare the four and choose the keyring that suits your design.

Hard enamelSmooth and polished

Soft enamelRaised metal lines

Die-struckAll metal

PVCSoft and flexible

Four keyrings, four finishes. Hard and soft enamel both use coloured enamel inside metal outlines. Die-struck keyrings are all metal. PVC keyrings are made from soft, flexible rubber.

When to choose hard enamel

Choose hard enamel when you want a smooth, polished face with crisp metal lines between the colours.

The enamel is polished level with the surrounding metal, giving a flat surface. It suits company logos, club crests and bold graphic designs with solid blocks of colour.

The exposed metal forms the outlines and edges, so the plating you choose changes the look of the finished keyring.

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Hard enamel keyrings from the live page: made-to-order keyring detail — Bold lettering in red and white enamel.

Hard enamel keyrings from the live page: custom leaf keychain — A shaped keyring with green enamel and gold-tone metal.

Hard enamel keyrings from the live page: custom-made enamel keyring — An illustrated shopfront keyring on a clasp.

When to choose soft enamel

Choose soft enamel when you want colour and a finish you can feel.

The enamel sits slightly below the metal lines, so the outlines stay raised. That texture helps individual colours and details stand out.

It suits logos, club badges, characters and illustrations. As with hard enamel, you choose the plating for the metal lines.

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Soft enamel keyrings from the live page: custom-made soft enamel keychain — Flowers and lettering in soft enamel on a dark plated keyring.

Soft enamel keyrings from the live page: group of custom plated keyrings — A tag-shaped keyring with raised gold-tone lettering.

Soft enamel keyrings from the live page: custom-made keyring detail — A pink illustrated keyring with raised black outlines.

When to choose die-struck

Choose die-struck when the design works in metal alone, with no colour.

The design is pressed into the metal, so lettering and detail are picked out in raised and recessed levels. Raised areas catch the light and recessed areas add depth.

With no enamel, the plating sets the whole look. Bright, dark and antique finishes give the same design very different characters.

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Die-struck keyrings from the live page: plated die-cast keychain — Round die-struck keyrings in an antique bronze-tone finish.

Die-struck keyrings from the live page: sports team keyrings — A set of coin-style die-struck keyrings.

When to choose PVC

Choose PVC when you want bright colours, a custom shape and a soft, rubber-like feel.

PVC keyrings are soft and slightly flexible rather than rigid. The shape can follow the outline of your design, and raised and recessed levels add texture.

Bold details work best. Tiny details may need simplifying, and we take care of that when preparing your artwork.

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PVC rubber keyrings from the live page: high-quality bespoke keyrings — Round PVC keyrings with layered colours.

PVC rubber keyrings from the live page: bright colour PVC keyrings — Shaped PVC keyrings built around bold lettering.

PVC rubber keyrings from the live page: white and black rubber keyrings — PVC keyrings in black and white.

At a glance

	Hard enamel	Soft enamel	Die-struck	PVC
Material	Metal with coloured enamel	Metal with coloured enamel	Metal only	Soft, flexible PVC
Finish	Enamel polished level with the metal	Enamel sits below raised metal outlines	Raised and recessed metal detail	Rubber-like, with raised and recessed levels
Colour	Solid enamel colours between metal lines	Enamel colours with raised metal lines	No enamel; the plating sets the look	Several PVC colours in one design
Choose it for	Bold logos with a flat, polished finish	Colourful designs with texture you can feel	Logos and crests in a single metal finish	Colourful characters, mascots and bold shapes
	Explore hard enamel keyrings →	Explore soft enamel keyrings →	Explore die-struck keyrings →	Explore PVC keyrings →

What is the difference?

Hard enamel

Hard enamel keyrings have coloured enamel set between metal lines and polished level with the metal, so the face is smooth.

Soft enamel

Soft enamel keyrings also use coloured enamel between metal lines, but the enamel sits below the lines. You can feel the raised metal outlines.

Die-struck

Die-struck keyrings have no enamel. The design comes from raised and recessed areas in the metal and the plating you choose.

PVC

PVC keyrings are moulded from soft, flexible PVC. Colour, shape and raised details are built into the PVC face.

Metal or rubber?

Hard enamel, soft enamel and die-struck keyrings have metal faces, and you choose the plating. PVC keyrings have a soft, rubber-like face; the ring and connecting fittings are separate metal parts.

How to choose a keyring type

Do you need colour?

If the design needs colour, choose hard enamel, soft enamel or PVC. If it works in a single metal finish, die-struck is worth considering.

Smooth or textured?

Hard enamel gives a flat, polished face. Soft enamel keeps raised metal lines you can feel. PVC adds raised and recessed levels in rubber.

Metal or soft rubber?

Choose an enamel or die-struck keyring for a plated metal finish. Choose PVC for a soft, flexible keyring.

Check the detail at keyring size

Very fine lines and tiny text can be lost at keyring size. We check your design and suggest changes where needed.

Not sure which keyring suits your design?

Send us your artwork and tell us how many you need. We’ll help you choose the right type.

Ask about your design Explore custom keyrings