What Should You Consider Before Ordering Custom Medals in Bulk?

How Do Different Materials Affect The Quality And Weight Of Custom Medals?

Material selection directly determines the weight, durability, and visual appeal of your custom medals. Traditional custom metal medal options include zinc alloy, brass, and iron, whilst premium custom gold medals typically feature gold plating over a base metal rather than solid gold.

Traditional Metal Options:

• Zinc alloy offers lightweight durability for custom sport medals

• Brass provides a heavier, premium feel for commemorative pieces

• Iron delivers cost-effective solutions for large-volume orders

Modern Alternatives:

• Synthetic materials reduce the weight for children's events

• 3D printed medals enable intricate custom designs at lower costs

• Printed medals suit budget-conscious projects requiring quick turnaround

The weight of custom made medals varies significantly—zinc alloy medals typically weigh 20-40 grams, whilst brass versions can reach 60-80 grams. Heavier medals convey prestige for corporate recognition, whereas lighter options suit sporting events where recipients wear multiple awards. Material choice also affects finishing techniques available for your personalised medals, with metal bases accepting enamel, antique, and polished finishes that synthetic alternatives cannot replicate.

What Design Elements Should You Finalise Before Bulk Ordering Custom Medals?

Locking down your artwork and design specifications before placing a bulk custom medals order prevents costly mistakes and production delays. Every detail—from logo placement to text size—needs approval to ensure your custom sports medals match your vision exactly.

The Impact of Finish on Medal Appearance

The finish you select dramatically changes the medal's appearance and feel. Consider the following options:

• Die-struck soft enamel: Creates recessed coloured areas with a textured surface.

• Shiny finishes: Offers a polished, reflective look ideal for formal events.

• Antique finishes: Provide vintage character for heritage celebrations.

• Painted designs: Allows full-colour reproduction on printed medals, perfect for complex logos or photographic elements.

• Plain designs: Work well for elegant, minimalist custom-printed medals where the metal itself becomes the focal point.

Confirming Additional Requirements

During the design phase, confirm whether you need any of the following:

• Ribbon attachments

• Presentation boxes

• Engraving services

These additions can affect production timelines and costs, so it's important to clarify them upfront.

Verifying Your Medal Design

Before manufacturing begins, request digital proofs of your medal custom design. This step allows you to verify proportions, colour accuracy, and text legibility, ensuring that everything meets your expectations.

How Long Does Production And Shipping Usually Take For Bulk Custom Medal Orders?

The time it takes to produce and ship bulk custom medal orders can vary based on the manufacturing method and location. Here's a general overview:

Production Timeframes

• Standard custom event medals usually take 2–4 weeks from design approval to delivery.

• Specialty techniques like die-struck or cast custom gold medals may require 6–8 weeks for overseas production.

Factors Affecting Production Time

Several factors can impact the production time of your custom medals:

• Manufacturing Method: Different methods have different production times. Standard methods are usually quicker, while specialty techniques take longer.

• Location: If your medals are being produced overseas, it may take longer due to shipping times.

• Design Complexity: Complex designs may require additional time for production and approval.

Importance of Lead Time

When ordering promotional medallions or custom metal medal designs, it's crucial to allow enough lead time. Here's why:

• Design Approval Processes: These can take 3–7 business days, especially for complex personalised medallions that need multiple revisions.

• Shipping Logistics: Depending on your location and chosen courier service, shipping can add another 5–14 days to the overall timeline.

Planning Ahead

For urgent events, rush orders for custom lapel pins or medal designs are possible, but keep in mind that expedited production often comes with additional costs. To ensure everything goes smoothly, it's best to plan your custom event medals order at least 8–10 weeks before your ceremony. This allows enough time for unexpected delays, quality checks, and any necessary design changes before the final delivery date.

What Pricing Factors Should You Compare When Ordering Custom Medals In Large Quantities?

When ordering custom made medals, the quantity you order directly affects the cost per medal. Most suppliers of custom medals offer tiered pricing, which means that the more medals you order, the lower the cost per medal becomes. This makes it more economical to order in bulk, especially for events that occur regularly or programs with multiple locations.

Why Quantity Matters

Ordering 500 branded medals usually costs significantly less per medal compared to ordering just 50. This is because suppliers can save on production costs by producing larger quantities. So if you're planning an event or running a program that requires multiple awards, it's worth considering placing a bulk order to take advantage of the lower prices.

Factors That Affect Pricing

When budgeting for custom medals, it's important to consider more than just the base price of the medal itself. Here are some additional cost factors you should keep in mind when searching for custom medals Australia:

• Mould or die charges: If you have a unique design for your medals, there may be additional charges for creating the mould or die used in production.

• Ribbon or lanyard selections: Depending on your preference, you may need to choose different materials for the ribbons or lanyards that come with the medals. This can also impact the overall cost.

• Engraving services: If you want to personalise each medal with names or messages, you'll need to factor in the cost of engraving services such as laser or 3D engraving.

• Premium finishes: Certain finishes like antique plating or soft enamel detailing, can enhance the appearance of your medals but may also come at an extra cost.

• Packaging options: If you're looking for presentation purposes, consider any additional expenses related to packaging options.

Finding the Right Balance

It's important to strike a balance between quality expectations and available funds when ordering custom medals. Here are some tips on how to prioritise different elements based on your specific needs:

• Commemorative events: If you're creating medals for special occasions or commemorative events where significance matters most, it might be worth investing more in higher-quality materials and finishes.

• Sporting competitions: On the other hand, if you're organising sporting events where quantity is key (e.g., tournaments with many participants), you might want to allocate more budget towards producing larger quantities rather than focusing heavily on intricate finishing details.

By understanding these pricing factors and finding the right balance between quality and budget considerations, you'll be better equipped to make informed decisions when ordering custom medals in large quantities.

How Can You Ensure Your Custom Medals Match The Event's Theme And Purpose?

Aligning your custom medal design with your event's specific objectives creates meaningful recognition that recipients will treasure. Start by identifying whether you're celebrating sporting achievements requiring custom sports medals, honouring service milestones, or marking commemorative occasions with personalised medallions.

Event-Specific Design Considerations:

• Sporting events: Custom sports medals should reflect the discipline, incorporating relevant imagery like runners, swimmers, or team emblems

• Corporate recognition: Branded medals featuring company logos establish professional prestige

• Commemorative celebrations: Special edition custom medallions capture historical significance or milestone moments

Premium custom designs elevate your brand identity by integrating sophisticated elements that resonate with recipients. Custom made medals from experienced suppliers like official Olympic Committee partners ensure world-class quality that matches your event's importance. Work closely with designers to refine artwork that captures your vision whilst maintaining production feasibility for bulk orders.