What Makes a Medal Premium? A Guide to Materials & Finishes

A medal should be taken home and treasured, but that’s not always the case. All too often, medals find themselves forgotten in a tucked-away drawer or, worse, simply thrown in the trash. So what’s the difference between a highly-valued medal and one that’s quickly discarded? It usually comes down to two things:

• The design.
• The quality of the materials.

A custom medal made using quality, made-to-last materials will always outperform a generic, cheap medal. At The Medal Factory, we’re proud to offer quality, custom medals at an unbeatable price. Need some help with your medal’s design? Get in touch to use our 100% free design service.

Why Medal Quality Matters

It’s easy to overlook medal quality during the rush of organising an event but remember: a quality medal offers significant advantages over cheap medals.

Here are some reasons why medal quality matters.

It Makes an Impression

A medal does more than honour the recipient. It reflects the quality of the event. A premium, custom medal helps to increase the importance and sophistication of the event. If you’re looking to demonstrate that your event is valuable, then choosing a quality medal material and finish will do the job much better than low-quality medals.

Quality Medals Last Longer

It’s easy to understand why medals made of cheaper materials get trashed. They offer no aesthetic appeal, and it’s hard for recipients to truly connect with a medal that looks like it could break at any moment. A quality medal becomes a source of pride and is much more likely to be displayed in the recipient's home for years to come.

It’s Great For Marketing

Branding is everything in the event’s world. A solid, quality medal can make a positive impression that can have a long-lasting impact. Attendees are more likely to return to an event if the organiser has taken the time and care to create quality, custom medals.

There can be wider marketing implications, too. A quality medal is more likely to appear on the recipient’s social media pages, helping your brand to reach an entirely new audience.

It’s a Premium Experience

Everyone wants a premium experience, especially if they’ve paid for entry to the event. Ensuring your medals are manufactured using high quality materials and finishes is an easy way to make attendees feel special, all for a cost that’s barely higher than the price of cheap, generic medals.

Premium Medal Materials

At The Medal Factory, you’ll find a wide range of medal materials and finishes. After all, we aim to give our customers as much choice as possible. We’ve put together a collection of some of our favourite medal materials below. And remember — we can create quality custom medals using whichever material you decide is best for your needs.

Enamel Ink Filled Medals

Looking for a medal that’s highly durable, affordable, and looks great? Then our enamel ink filled medals might be just the solution you’ve been searching for. This type of medal offers plenty of customisation options thanks to the variety of colours and shapes available. Have a particular idea of how you want your medals to look? Enamel ink filled medals are available in a wide range of metal finishes, including shiny black nickel, antique copper, and rainbow plating.

And as with most of our other medals, you’ll also have the option to add some optional extras to your enamel ink filled medal, such as laser engraving, glitter enamel, and a custom ribbon.

Raised Polished Medals

If you’re in the market for custom medals that pop, then take a look at our raised polished medals. These types of medals include a raised, metal section on the front that provides extra depth and visual appeal. The sophisticated, expensive aesthetic of raised polished medals is matched by their sheer versatility — they’re just as appropriate for corporate events as they are for sporting competitions.

There are plenty of finish options available for this type of medal, including antique brass, misty gold, and shiny chrome, allowing you to get a custom medal that perfectly aligns with your company’s or event’s branding.

Iron Stamped Enamel Filled Medals

Iron stamped enamel filled medals are versatile, strong, and hold plenty of visual appeal. And though they may look and feel a lot more expensive than your run-of-the-mill medal, they’re actually highly affordable.

Iron stamped enamel filled medals can be customised in plenty of ways, from sophisticated colours with a refined finish for classy corporate events to fun colours with multi-colour finishes for fun runs and other events.

Carbon Fibre Medals

Looking to dazzle your medal recipients? Then carbon fibre medals are the way to go. These medals are made using real carbon fibre, resulting in a stunning medal that’s strong and long-lasting yet remarkably light. They’re excellent at resisting wear and tear, which means they’ll look just as good several years down the line as they do when they’re first given out. Carbon fibre medals are appropriate for many types of events, especially high-end sporting competitions or corporate events.

PVC Medals

PVC medals are fun, highly customisable, and affordable — in other words, they’re perfect for when you’re looking to give medals out at an event that’s low-key and casual. At The Medal Factory, we offer soft PVC medals in a whole host of vibrant colours, ensuring that you can get the medal that best represents your brand.

Choosing the Right Medal for Your Event

The best medal for your event depends on your audience, your budget, and the kind of experience you want to create.

• Family-friendly fun run? PVC medals are colourful and crowd-pleasing.
• Corporate recognition or high-end event? Carbon fibre or raised polished medals will impress.
• School sports day or charity event? Enamel or iron stamped medals strike the perfect balance of value and quality.

Still unsure? That’s what we’re here for.

Let’s Create Something Worth Keeping

We make it easy to create the perfect custom medal. Whether you’ve got a clear vision or just an idea scribbled on a napkin, our 100% free design service is here to help bring your concept to life.

Check out our range of custom medals and get your free instant quote.