As you probably already know, enamel pins are mostly handmade and it's very difficult to find pins that are 100% without defects.

Usually then I grade my pins I try not to spend more than 5 seconds for each pin. You can calculate how long I have to take to control batches of 500/1000 pins sometimes!

As I am human I can do mistakes too!And some pins might be classified in A grades when they are B grades, please let me know if you think that I made a mistake grading it ( fourseasonsfoxart@gmail.com ).

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Here's what I consider :

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   "A Grade" pin - which means that the pins are mostly flawless. Some pins may still have minor flaws, such as minor under fill on the enamel, light imperfections to the metal plating, light scuffing on either the enamel or plating, small nicks on the enamel or metal, or possibly even some minor specks of dust. All pins have been very meticulously checked, and if the flaws took longer than 5 seconds to find, being held about 20 cm from my eyes, they were graded as "A." 

 

   "B Grade" pins - these pins have more noticeable flaws, and will vary from pin to pin. This may include noticeable under fill on the enamel, imperfections to the metal plating, scuffing on either the enamel or plating, nicks on the enamel or metal, splotches lightly unmixed color, or possibly more visible specks of dust. All enamel will be intact!  If a flaw was found in less than 5 seconds being held 20 cmfrom my eyes, they were graded as "B."