Medals serve as lasting symbols of achievement, recognition, and commemoration. When creating custom medals, organizers must choose between traditional metal/enamel medals and modern printed medals. Each option offers distinct advantages and limitations depending on your needs, budget, and purpose.
Metal and Enamel Medals – this is what medal lab provide.
Pros:
- Prestige and Tradition: Metal medals carry centuries of tradition and are universally associated with high achievement (Olympic medals, military honors)
- Durability: Crafted from metals like zinc alloy, brass, or bronze, these medals withstand handling and last for generations
- Tactile Quality: Substantial weight provides a satisfying feel and conveys importance
- Visual Appeal: Enamel filling allows for vibrant, glossy colors that don’t fade over time
- Perceived Value: The craftsmanship involved in die-struck medals creates a high-perceived value for recipients
- Weather Resistance: Suitable for outdoor ceremonies and wearable in various conditions
Cons:
- Usually come at Higher Cost: Significant upfront tooling costs for dies and molds, making small runs expensive. However at Medallab.co.uk we can compete with most printed medals costs on a cost per medal basis – check out our prices.
- Longer Production Time: The multi-step process (design, die-making, striking, enameling, plating) requires several weeks
- Design Limitations: Intricate designs with many colors or photorealistic images can be challenging to reproduce
- Minimum Order Quantities: Typically require larger orders (often 100+) to be cost-effective
- Weight Considerations: Heavier medals may be less suitable for children or for wearing during physical activity
Printed Medals
Pros:
- Cost-Effective: Lower per-unit cost, especially for small quantities (as few as 1 medal)
- Quick Production: Digital printing allows for faster turnaround times (often days rather than weeks)
- Design Flexibility: Can reproduce photorealistic images, gradients, and complex artwork without additional cost
- Customization: Easily personalize individual medals without minimum order requirements
- Lightweight: Typically lighter than metal medals, making them more comfortable to wear
- No Tooling Fees: Digital process eliminates die-making costs
Cons:
- Less Prestigious: Often perceived as lower quality than traditional metal medals
- Durability Concerns: Printed surfaces may scratch, fade, or wear over time, especially with frequent handling
- Material Quality: Typically made from cheaper materials like plastic or coated metal rather than solid metal
- Temperature Sensitivity: Some printed medals may be vulnerable to heat damage or direct sunlight
- Limited Texture: Generally flat surface without the dimensional depth of struck medals