We had the predecessors of these pins even from the US, the top was there much longer. My daughter loves these pins until today (they hold for almost 4 years). However, when we got this model for the first time at a presentation in the fingers, the disappointment was great. You could not paint so !!! She had learned to keep from the beginning pins properly and not to be taken in the fist. Too bad, the quality of these pins is otherwise super. They are made to last and are washed with a mop again quickly when bib.