A personalized metal medal does not start with a standard piece to which a logo is added. The outer shape, relief, back, and ribbon slot are prepared specifically for the order. The casting process allows the identity of a club, organization, or event to become a physical part of the metal.
1. Separate permanent identity from variable data
The first step is not to draw the mold, but to decide what should last. The logo, organization name, and shape are usually permanent. The year, category, venue, or event name may vary. If these elements are included in the relief, the mold becomes unusable when even a single digit changes.
That is why we usually reserve an area for full-color printing. The metal retains its own identity, while the information for each edition is added afterward, without turning the entire piece into a generic medal.
2. Adapt the artwork for 2D or 3D relief
We can start with a vector file or with a lower-quality original. In the latter case, contours are redrawn and details are simplified where reasonable, but a small file does not contain the information it has lost. Gradients, hair, very fine lines, and photographs need to be interpreted in a way that is compatible with metal.
The relief can be 2D, with defined levels, or 3D, with transitions in volume. Both can accommodate considerable detail, provided the medal size and spacing between elements allow the casting process to reproduce them.
The front and back are decided together
The front carries the personalized relief. The back can be left smooth or can also include relief. In the latter case, the two sides are not designed independently: the raised areas on one side must correspond to the opposite side, and both are reviewed as a single piece. The mold can be prepared for one or two sides; personalizing only one side is slightly more economical.
3. Approve the digital proof before making the mold
The digital proof shows the outline, reliefs, text, color areas, ribbon slot, and layout of each side. This is the time to correct names or visual hierarchy. A physical sample is not like a test print made at home: it requires manufacturing the mold and carrying out the process, so a single piece can cost around €300.
4. Make the mold and carry out the casting
Once the geometry has been approved, the mold is made. For the standard sizes, the cost is approximately €200 for 60 mm, €220 for 70 mm, and €250 for 80 mm. It can be prepared for one personalized side or two; one side is slightly more economical.
The zinc alloy is formed using this geometry, and the relief becomes more than a surface decoration. If the design is repeated, the mold already exists and its cost is removed from the repeat-order quotation.
Zinc alloy metal and physical relief
The medal is made from a zinc alloy, technically known as zamak. The design is part of the piece’s relief: it is not ink, vinyl, or laser engraving applied afterward. It can be modeled in 2D or 3D and retains considerable detail, although lines that are too fine, tiny text, and complex photographs have to be adapted to the metal.
We offer gold, silver, and bronze finishes, aged or non-aged. Additional color is printed in full color directly onto the metal.
5. Add color, ribbon, and presentation
After the metallic finish, full-color printing is applied to the metal where applicable. The ribbon can be generic—a solid color or the Spanish flag—or fully personalized with logos, words, photographs, and backgrounds. The medals are delivered assembled in an individual transparent bag; a cardboard box can also be added.
6. Payment, lead time, and repeatability control
For a first order, payment is 100% in advance by SEPA. Production and delivery are planned for approximately four weeks from payment and confirmation. The exact lead time is set out in a quotation valid for 15 days.
The value of keeping the mold is not only financial. It ensures that a repeat order maintains the same shape, relief, and proportions, which is important when medals are distributed across different seasons or venues.
Applications by organization type
The personalized medal catalog brings together specific criteria for sports clubs, associations, events, schools, and local authorities. All options start at 100 units per reference.
Request a quote for your medal
Indicate the quantity, size, logo or artwork, number of sides, finish, ribbon, and date of use. Also mention whether you prefer one or two sides, the approximate size, finish, ribbon, and presentation. With this information, we can prepare a quote for a minimum order of 100 units per reference.
Frequently asked questions
- Can the relief be 2D or 3D?
- Yes. Both are possible, within the limits of detail allowed by the size and casting process.
- Is a proof approved before manufacturing?
- Yes, a digital proof is prepared. A physical sample can cost around €300 because it requires the mold to be manufactured.
- What finishes are available?
- Gold, silver, and bronze, aged or non-aged, with optional full-color printing on the metal.
- How long does manufacturing take?
- The estimated lead time is approximately four weeks from payment and order confirmation.