Brooches look like flat objects and behave like three dimensional ones. The decorative face is what you see, the pin assembly on the back is what decides the box. Size the depth from the back, size the footprint from the face, and choose the pad before you fix either.
Take four measurements
- Face width and height, across the widest points of the piece, including any dangling or articulated elements in their resting position.
- Pin standoff. With the pin closed, measure from the back plate to the highest point of the clasp. This is usually the tallest thing in the box.
- Pin length, which decides how thick the pad must be if the pin passes through it.
- Weight. A heavy cast piece needs a pad that grips, not just a surface it rests on.
How the piece is held
| Retention | How it works | Depth impact |
|---|---|---|
| Pierced foam pad | The pin pushes through the pad and closes behind it | Pad must be thicker than the pin travel, plus clearance beneath |
| Slotted card | The pin threads through two slits in a printed card | Thinnest option, least secure for heavy pieces |
| Die cut recess | The piece drops into a shaped cavity | Best for irregular or fragile pieces, deepest build |
| Ribbon or elastic | The piece is held down by a band | Shallow, but slow to pack by hand |
Depth is the number that fails
Add it up: the pad, the pin travel below the pad, the piece's own thickness, the clasp standoff above the piece, and a small clearance so the lid closes without pressing on the piece. On a rigid box the lid has its own board and wrap thickness too, which reduces the visible interior further. Quote the internal depth you need rather than the outside dimension you picture, and confirm on the drawing which one has been specified.
Presentation and protection are different problems
A counter sale box only has to look right and survive a handbag. A mail order box has to survive a parcel network, which means either a sturdier construction or an outer shipper around it. If you sell both ways from the same box, design for the harder case. A rigid box in a padded mailer is the usual answer for direct sales, and it is cheaper than replacing damaged pieces.
Minimum, price and lead time
The minimum is 100 boxes. Pricing runs from about $0.48 per unit at bulk volumes and is confirmed on your written quote. Turnaround is quoted per product in three lanes: rush, which is expedited production plus air freight, standard on air, and cost saver on sea, from about 7 business days in production plus 2 to 5 days for delivery. Rigid boxes with specialty wraps or imported components can run up to about 12 weeks, so ask which lane applies before you set a launch date. The die, the plates, design support, US shipping and a digital proof are included.
If your range includes bands as well as pins, the measuring logic in bracelet box dimensions covers those. To order, see custom jewelry gift boxes, or send a measured piece and your preferred retention method with a quote request.
