A custom metal medal does not start from a standard piece to which a logo is added. The outer shape, the relief, the back and the hole for the ribbon are prepared for that order. The casting process lets the identity of a club, an organisation or an event become a physical part of the metal.
1. Separate permanent identity from variable details
The first job is not to draw the mould but to decide what must last. The logo, the name of the organisation and the shape are usually permanent. The year, a category, the venue or the name of the event may vary. If the latter are put into the relief, the mould stops being useful when a single figure changes.
That is why we usually reserve an area for full-colour printing. The metal keeps an identity of its own and the information for each edition is added afterwards, without turning the whole piece into a generic medal.
2. Adapt the original to 2D or 3D relief
We can start from a vector file or from a lower-quality original. In the second case, outlines are redrawn and details are simplified where reasonable, but a small file does not contain the information it has lost. Gradients, hair, very fine strokes or photographs need an interpretation that works in metal.
The relief can be 2D, with defined levels, or 3D, with volume transitions. Both allow a good level of detail, provided that the size of the medal and the spacing between elements allow the casting to reproduce them.
Front and back are decided together
The front carries the custom relief. The back can be left plain or also have relief. In that second case, two independent sides are not drawn: the raised parts on one side have to match the opposite side and are reviewed as a single piece. The mould can be prepared for one side or for two; customising only one is slightly cheaper.
3. Approve the digital proof before the mould
The digital proof shows the outline, reliefs, text, colour areas, ribbon hole and layout of each side. This is the moment to correct names or hierarchies. A physical sample does not work like a home test print: it requires making the mould and running the process, so a single piece can cost around €300.
4. Make the mould and cast the medals
Once the geometry is approved, the mould is made. For the reference sizes, the cost is around €200 at 60 mm, €220 at 70 mm and €250 at 80 mm. It can be prepared for one customised side or for two; a single side is slightly cheaper.
The zinc alloy is shaped with that geometry and the relief stops being a surface decoration. If the design is repeated, the mould already exists and its cost is removed from the repeat-order quote.
Zinc alloy metal and physical relief
The medal is made in 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 afterwards. It can be modelled in 2D or 3D and keeps a good level of detail, although lines that are too fine, tiny text and complex photographs have to be adapted to the metal.
We offer gold, silver and bronzefinishes, aged or unaged. Additional colour is printed in full colour directly on the metal.
5. Add colour, ribbon and presentation
After the metallic finish, full-colour printing on the metal is applied if required. The ribbon can be generic — solid colour or the Spanish flag — or fully customised with logos, words, photographs and backgrounds. Medals are delivered assembled in an individual clear bag; a cardboard box can also be added.
6. Payment, lead time and repeatability control
The order is confirmed with 50% paid in advance and the remaining 50% is paid on dispatch. Production and delivery are planned at about three or four weeks from payment and confirmation, or around one week if we have the medal in stock. The exact lead time is set in a quote valid for 15 days.
The value of keeping the mould is not only financial. It allows a repeat order to keep the shape, relief and proportions, which matters when medals are handed out across different seasons or venues.
Applications by type of organisation
The catalogue of custom medals brings together specific criteria for sports clubs, associations, events, schools and town councils. Usual orders are for 50 to 100 medals.
Request a quote for your medal
State the quantity, size, logo or original, sides, finish, ribbon and date of use. Add whether you prefer one or two sides, approximate size, finish, ribbon and presentation. With that information we finalise the quote; usual orders are for 50 to 100 medals, and we also prepare large runs for events.
Frequently asked questions
- Can the relief be 2D or 3D?
- Yes. Both are possible, within the limits of detail allowed by the size and the casting process.
- Is a proof approved before manufacturing?
- Yes, a digital proof is prepared. A physical sample can cost around €300 because it requires making the mould.
- Which finishes are offered?
- Gold, silver and bronze, aged or unaged, with optional full-colour printing on the metal.
- How long does production take?
- About three or four weeks from payment and confirmation if the medals have to be produced; if we have the medal in stock, around one week.