Manufacturer · Fashion & Home Accessories
Metal crest buttons are the classic of the blazer, the club jacket, the coat and the uniform. The heraldic relief gives the garment a sense of tradition and belonging, while the antique finish brings out every detail of the relief. Polkom is a manufacturer of metal shank buttons with a crest, lion head, crown and anchor – in antique brass, antique silver, antique copper, gold, light gold and shiny nickel colour (nickel free). We make them in any colour and size, and also with your own crest or logo.
Motifs: crest, lion head, crown and anchor
Each motif carries a different mood and suits a different type of garment:
- Heraldic crest – a shield framed by branches, ribbons and a crown. The most formal motif, typical of blazers, uniforms and club jackets.
- Lion head – a strong, recognisable mark for men's jackets, coats and double-breasted styles.
- Crown and anchor – nautical and club symbolism that sits naturally on a navy blazer and on pea coats.
The motifs are often combined with a decorative edge – a rope rim, stripes or a smooth frame that outlines the button and adds extra depth to the relief.
Finishes for crest buttons
On relief buttons the finish plays a decisive role. Antique tones leave a darker colour in the recesses and a lighter one on the raised parts, so the crest looks more three-dimensional. Smooth and shiny finishes give a cleaner, more representative look.
| Finish | Look | Suitable garments and fabrics |
|---|---|---|
| Antique brass | warm vintage tone with pronounced relief | tweed, wool jackets, hunting and country styles |
| Antique silver | cool, muted silver tone | grey and black jackets, winter coats |
| Antique copper | warm copper-brown tone | brown, green and beige fabrics |
| Gold | classic shine | navy blazer, uniforms |
| Light gold | softer, lighter golden tone | light and pastel jackets, women's blazers |
| Shiny nickel colour (nickel free) | bright silver shine | black, grey and navy styles |
All Polkom metal buttons are nickel free – "nickel" refers only to the colour of the finish. You can read more about the cool antique tones in the article antique silver and pewter, and about lighter shades of gold in light gold, champagne and matt gold. A full overview of finishes is in metal button finishes.
Crest buttons for jackets and blazers
Jackets and blazers are the most common place for crest buttons. Usually a larger size is used on the front and a smaller size of the same model on the sleeves, so that the set looks uniform. How many buttons are needed for a single-breasted and a double-breasted jacket and which sizes are used is described in the articles metal buttons for jackets and blazers, buttons for double-breasted jackets and jacket sleeve buttons.
If you are looking for advice specifically on the classic navy blazer with gold buttons, see the article gold buttons for a navy blazer. For silver options – silver buttons for blazers.
Crest buttons for coats and uniforms
On coats, crest buttons are larger and more noticeable – they become the main decorative element of the front. The lion head and the heraldic crest in antique brass or antique silver look especially good on double-breasted wool coats and military-style coats. How to choose the size and weight of a metal coat button is explained in the article metal buttons for coats.
On uniforms – for hotels, security, clubs, schools, bands and corporate wear – a crest button shows belonging. Here the crest is often the organisation's own emblem. The specific requirements of uniform orders are collected in the article logo buttons for uniforms.
Buttons with your own crest
Besides the ready-made motifs, we make metal buttons to your design – with the crest of a club, school or hotel, or with the brand's logo. You send us a vector file or a clear image of the emblem, and we prepare the relief and a sample in the chosen finish. How to prepare the emblem so that it remains clear at a small size can be found in the article logo for buttons – preparing the design, and the difference between relief and laser engraving in engraving or relief on buttons.
Matching with the fabric and other details
A crest button is a strong accent, so the other metal details of the garment should be in the same tone. If the buttons are antique brass, choose a zip, buckle or metal plate in an antique or warm golden tone. With shiny nickel colour (nickel free), silver and dark details are suitable. The combination with the fabric also matters:
- Smooth wool fabrics – bring out the relief and shine, suitable for gold and shiny nickel colour.
- Tweed and textured fabrics – look best with antique finishes that do not compete with the texture.
- Dark fabrics – navy, black and dark green make any motif more legible.
Before production, place the sample on a piece of the fabric and look at it in daylight – antique tones look different under artificial light.
Sewing on shank buttons
Crest buttons have a shank – a loop at the back through which they are sewn on. The button therefore sits slightly above the fabric, the relief is clearly visible and dense wool fabrics do not pucker around it. On heavy coats it is a good idea to sew a small backing button on the inside as well. Details are in the article metal shank button.
How to order metal crest buttons
- the motif – crest, lion head, crown and anchor or your own emblem;
- the finish – antique brass, antique silver, antique copper, gold, light gold or shiny nickel colour (nickel free);
- the sizes for front and sleeves;
- the garment – jacket, blazer, coat or uniform;
- the approximate quantity and whether you need a sample.
Price, minimum quantity and lead times depend on the model, size, finish and volume, so contact us for a quote.
Crest buttons from the manufacturer
Polkom is a manufacturer of buttons and accessories for fashion, furniture, footwear and bags with over 30 years of experience. We make metal buttons with a crest, lion head, crown and anchor in any colour and size, and also with your own crest or logo. Browse the metal buttons and men's buttons in the gallery and send us your enquiry.
