Custom Enamel Medals FAQ: Common Questions

When planning medals for a race, school event, club competition, corporate award, or promotional campaign, you may have many questions before placing an order. What is the difference between soft enamel and hard enamel? Which material should you choose? How long does production take? Can the colors match your brand? What size and thickness are suitable for your event?

This enamel medals FAQ answers the most common medal questions we receive from event organizers, promotional gift companies, sports clubs, schools, and corporate buyers. Whether this is your first time ordering custom enamel medals or you are comparing different medal options for a large event, this guide will help you make a better decision.

What Are Custom Enamel Medals?

Custom enamel medals are metal medals filled with colored enamel in recessed areas of the design. The raised metal lines separate different colors and create a clear, premium-looking design.

They are widely used for:

Marathons and running events
School sports days
Club competitions
Corporate awards
Military and police recognition
Commemorative events
Brand promotion campaigns
Tournament medals
Charity runs and fundraising events

Compared with simple printed medals, enamel medals offer a more dimensional and durable appearance. The metal lines, plating finish, and filled colors work together to create a medal that feels more solid, valuable, and memorable.

Are Enamel Medals Good for Sports Events?

Yes. Enamel medals are one of the most popular choices for sports events because they balance appearance, durability, and cost.

For races, tournaments, and large competitions, soft enamel medals are especially common. They allow bright colors, custom shapes, raised metal details, and strong visual contrast. This makes them suitable for event logos, sponsor branding, race distances, mascots, and city landmarks.

For higher-end events or commemorative awards, hard enamel medals may be preferred because they have a smoother, more polished surface and a more premium feel.

What Is the Difference Between Soft Enamel and Hard Enamel Medals?

This is one of the most common medal questions.

Soft enamel medals have recessed color areas and raised metal lines. When you touch the medal surface, you can feel the texture between the metal and the enamel color. This gives the medal a strong 3D effect and makes the design stand out.

Hard enamel medals are filled with enamel and then polished until the surface becomes smooth and level with the metal lines. The final result feels flat, glossy, and more refined.

In simple terms:

Soft enamel medals have more texture and are usually more cost-effective.
Hard enamel medals have a smoother surface and a more premium finish.

Both options can look excellent. The best choice depends on your budget, design style, event type, and desired finish.

Which Is Better: Soft Enamel or Hard Enamel?

There is no single answer. It depends on your project.

Choose soft enamel medals if you want

• A cost-effective option for large events
• Strong raised-and-recessed texture
• Bright color contrast
• A classic custom medal look
• Faster production for most designs

For most race medals, school medals, club medals, and promotional medals, soft enamel is often the most practical option.

Choose hard enamel medals if you want:

• A smooth and polished surface
• A premium jewelry-like finish
• A more refined appearance
• A medal for high-end recognition or commemorative use
• A surface that feels flat to the touch

For premium corporate awards, military-style medals, or collectible medals, hard enamel can be a better fit.

Tips:For bulk event projects, custom soft enamel medals are often the most practical choice because they offer strong visual impact and good cost control.

For a deeper comparison of appearance, cost, durability, and best-use scenarios, read our full guide to soft enamel vs hard enamel medals

What Material Is Commonly Used for Custom Enamel Medals?

Zinc alloy is one of the most common materials for custom enamel medals. It is widely used because it works well for die casting, supports complex shapes, allows detailed 3D designs, and can be finished with different plating colors.

Zinc alloy medals are suitable for:

Custom shapes
3D relief designs
Cut-out medals
Large race medals
Detailed logos
Premium plating finishes
Complex event themes

Zinc Alloy vs Stainless Iron for Custom Enamel Medals

For most custom enamel medal projects, zinc alloy offers a good balance of design flexibility, production efficiency, and cost.

If your project requires a lower price or a simpler medal style, stainless iron can also be considered. Stainless iron medals are usually suitable for simpler shapes and flatter designs. However, compared with zinc alloy, stainless iron has less flexibility for complex customization, weaker 3D depth, and fewer possibilities for highly detailed shapes.

In general:

Choose zinc alloy if you want better customization, stronger 3D effect, and a more premium medal.
Choose stainless iron if you need a simpler, more economical medal with a basic shape and design.

Can Enamel Medals Be Made in Any Shape?

Yes. Custom enamel medals can be made in round, square, shield, star, logo-shaped, character-shaped, or fully custom outlines.

Many customers choose custom-shaped medals because they help the event stand out. For example, a marathon medal may include the outline of a city skyline, a bridge, a mountain trail, or a landmark. A school medal may use a mascot shape. A corporate medal may follow the shape of a company logo.

With zinc alloy die casting, it is possible to create complex outlines, cut-out areas, 3D details, and layered effects.

How Are Custom Enamel Medals Made?

The production process usually includes several steps:

First, the design team creates the medal artwork according to your logo, event theme, size, shape, colors, and special requirements.

Next, a mold is made based on the approved design. The mold determines the shape, raised metal areas, recessed color areas, and 3D details of the medal.

Then, the metal medal blank is produced by die casting. After that, the medal is trimmed, deburred, polished, and prepared for surface finishing.

The medal is then plated in the selected metal finish, such as gold, silver, antique gold, antique silver, black nickel, or matte finishes.

After plating, enamel colors are filled into the recessed areas. Depending on the process, the medal may go through baking, polishing, cleaning, or additional finishing.

Finally, the medal is inspected, assembled with a ribbon or attachment, packed, and prepared for shipping.

What Artwork Files Do I Need to Provide?

Vector artwork is preferred because it gives the best production result. Common file formats include:

AI
CDR
PDF
EPS

If you do not have vector artwork, you can also send JPG, PNG, PSD, PPT, or a rough sketch as a reference. A professional design team can help convert your idea into production-ready artwork.

To speed up the quotation and design process, it is helpful to provide:

Your logo or event artwork
Medal size
Quantity
Preferred medal shape
Preferred plating color
Pantone colors if available
Ribbon requirements
Deadline
Shipping country

The more details you provide, the faster and more accurate the quotation will be.

Can You Help Create the Medal Design?

Yes. If you only have a logo, event name, sketch, or design idea, the design team can help create a medal proof for your approval.

For example, you can provide:

Event logo
Race name
Date
Distance
Brand colors
Sponsor logos
City landmark
Reference medal images
Preferred style

The designer will turn these elements into a custom medal layout. Before production begins, you will review and approve the artwork to make sure the medal design matches your expectations.

In many cases, we can provide the artwork proof within 24 hours, depending on the design complexity and communication efficiency.

Can Enamel Medal Colors Match Our Brand Colors?

Yes. Custom enamel medal colors can usually be matched with Pantone colors.

If your company, school, club, or event has specific brand colors, you can provide PMS color numbers. The factory will use them as a reference when preparing the enamel colors.

Please note that slight color differences may occur due to material, lighting, enamel type, plating color, and screen display differences. For important brand projects, it is best to confirm Pantone colors clearly before production.

Can Enamel Medals Include Gradients or Photos?

Traditional enamel medals are best for solid colors. They are not ideal for gradients, shadows, or photo-realistic images.

If your design includes photographs, full-color illustrations, complex gradients, or very detailed artwork, UV printing may be a better option. UV printing can be combined with metal medals to achieve more detailed color effects.

A practical solution is to use enamel for bold logo areas and UV printing for complex artwork. This allows the medal to keep a premium metal feel while also showing detailed images.

Can I Add Glitter, Glow-in-the-Dark, or Transparent Effects?

Yes. Many creative effects can be added to custom enamel medals, including:

Glitter enamel
Glow-in-the-dark enamel
Transparent enamel
Epoxy coating
3D raised details
Spinning parts
Cut-out areas
Custom ribbons
Printed ribbons
Backside engraving

These options can make your medals more memorable, especially for themed races, children’s events, charity runs, music festivals, and brand campaigns.

However, special effects may affect price and production time, so it is best to confirm them early in the design stage.

What Plating Colors Are Available?

Custom enamel medals can be made with many different plating finishes. The plating color affects the overall style of the medal and should match your event theme, logo colors, and ribbon design.

Common plating colors include:

Plating Color	Refer to real item color	Remarks
Gold		Visual Style: Bright, classic, prestigious Best For: First-place medals, championship awards, premium event medals, corporate recognition Buyer’s Tip: A safe and popular choice when you want the medal to look valuable, traditional, and easy to recognize.
Silver		Visual Style: Clean, modern, bright Best For: Second-place medals, school medals, sports medals, corporate awards Buyer’s Tip: Works well with almost any enamel color and gives the medal a clean, professional appearance.
Copper		Visual Style: Warm, reddish metallic tone Best For: Third-place medals, vintage-style medals, commemorative medals Buyer’s Tip: A good option for warm-color designs or bronze-style award medals, but it may look less formal than gold or silver.
Brass		Visual Style: Yellowish metal tone, slightly vintage Best For: Retro medals, military-style awards, classic event medals Buyer’s Tip: Choose brass when you want a warmer look than silver but a softer and less bright finish than gold.
Black Nickel		Visual Style: Dark, glossy, metallic Best For: Premium medals, modern sports events, bold brand designs Buyer’s Tip: Best for strong contrast. It works especially well with bright enamel colors and modern medal designs.
Chrome		Visual Style: Bright, mirror-like silver tone Best For: Modern medals, clean brand designs, technology events, corporate awards Buyer’s Tip: Choose chrome if you want a polished, reflective, and high-contrast finish.
Matte Gold		Visual Style: Soft gold, elegant, less reflective Best For: Premium but understated medals, elegant awards, corporate gifts Buyer’s Tip: A good choice when shiny gold feels too bright or too traditional.
Matte Silver		Visual Style: Soft silver, modern, clean Best For: Minimalist medals, corporate awards, school awards, modern event medals Buyer’s Tip: More subtle than shiny silver and suitable for clean, simple, and modern design styles.
Matte Copper		Visual Style: Soft reddish copper tone Best For: Vintage events, outdoor races, heritage themes, commemorative medals Buyer’s Tip: Creates a warm and mature look without strong shine.
Matte Brass		Visual Style: Soft yellow-brass tone, classic, understated Best For: Retro medals, military-inspired medals, antique-style event medals Buyer’s Tip: A good option for designs that need a classic look without a bright reflective surface.
Matte Black Nickel		Visual Style: Dark gray-black metallic tone, softer than black nickel Best For: Modern race medals, premium dark designs, contrast-heavy artwork Buyer’s Tip: Lighter and softer than black nickel. Choose it when you want a dark metallic finish but not too glossy.
Matte Black		Visual Style: Solid black, non-metallic, non-reflective Best For: Minimalist medals, bold brand events, fashion-style awards, modern races Buyer’s Tip: Best for a strong black appearance without metallic shine. It creates a clean, bold, and modern look.
Antique Gold		Visual Style: Aged gold with reddish warmth Best For: Marathon medals, commemorative medals, vintage awards, premium race medals Buyer’s Tip: Very popular for custom race medals because it highlights raised and recessed details clearly.
Antique Silver		Visual Style: Aged silver, classic, textured Best For: Sports medals, historical themes, school awards, tournament medals Buyer’s Tip: A versatile antique finish that works well with detailed 3D designs and most enamel colors.
Antique Brass		Visual Style: Aged brass with a greener tone Best For: Military-style medals, heritage events, classic awards, outdoor events Buyer’s Tip: Choose antique brass for a more traditional, vintage, or military-inspired appearance.
Antique Copper		Visual Style: Aged copper with a stronger red tone Best For: Retro medals, challenge medals, commemorative medals, rustic event designs Buyer’s Tip: Redder than antique gold and ideal for warm, old-style, or rustic medal designs.

*Note:The colors listed in the first column on the left above are only 6-digit hex codes displayed on electronic screens, not the actual electroplating colors. Please refer to the real products.

Gold and silver are classic choices for sports medals, school awards, and corporate recognition. Antique finishes are popular for race medals and commemorative medals because they highlight raised and recessed details. Black nickel and matte black finishes are often used for modern, bold, or premium designs.

There are also some important differences between similar finishes.

For black finishes, black nickel has a shinier metallic surface. Matte black nickel is lighter than black nickel and has a softer look. Matte black has no bright metallic shine and gives the medal a more solid, non-reflective black appearance.

For antique finishes, antique gold has a warmer reddish tone. Antique brass looks slightly greener. Antique copper is redder than antique gold and gives a stronger vintage copper effect.

If you are not sure which plating finish is best for your design, you can ask for plating color references before confirming the order.

What Size Should I Choose for Custom Enamel Medals?

The best medal size depends on your event type, design complexity, budget, and the feeling you want participants to have when they receive the medal.

Based on common event medal production experience, here are practical size recommendations:

ecommended Custom Enamel Medal Sizes by Event Type

If your medal design includes detailed text, sponsor logos, city landmarks, mascots, cut-out areas, or 3D relief, choosing a larger size will help the final design look clearer and more balanced.

For most custom enamel medal projects, 60–80mm is a practical size range. For premium race medals or commemorative medals, 85mm or larger can create a stronger visual impact.

What Thickness Is Recommended?

Medal thickness affects weight, durability, cost, and perceived value.

Recommended Custom Enamel Medal Thickness by Use Case

For zinc alloy die-cast medals, the practical minimum thickness is usually around 2mm. However, if your medal is large, custom-shaped, double-sided, 3D, or includes cut-out details, choosing a thicker design is usually better for strength, appearance, and overall quality.

For most custom enamel medal projects, 3mm is a safe standard thickness. For marathon medals, premium awards, or detailed 3D designs, 3.5–5mm is often a better choice.

Can the Ribbon Be Customized?

Yes. Custom ribbons are a very important part of the medal design.

Common ribbon options include:

Heat-transfer printed ribbon
Nylon ribbon
Satin ribbon
Solid color ribbon
Full-color logo ribbon
Custom woven ribbon

A full-color printed ribbon is popular for marathons and events because it can include the event name, logo, sponsor logos, date, and brand colors.

You can also choose different ribbon widths and lengths depending on the medal size and target users.

What Packaging Options Are Available?

Packaging can be simple or premium depending on your budget and sales channel.

Common options include:

Individual poly bag
OPP bag
Velvet pouch
Paper card
Blister box
Paper gift box
Velvet box
Acrylic box

For large race events, individual poly bags are often used because they are practical and cost-effective. For corporate awards or commemorative medals, gift boxes or velvet boxes can make the medal look more premium.

Good packaging also helps protect medals during international shipping.

What Is the MOQ for Custom Enamel Medals?

The usual minimum order quantity for custom enamel medals is around 100 pieces per design.

Lower quantities may be possible, but the unit price will be higher because custom medals require artwork preparation, mold making, production setup, plating, coloring, inspection, and packing.

For better pricing, larger quantities are recommended. The mold and setup costs can be spread across more pieces, which reduces the unit price.

What Affects the Price of Custom Enamel Medals?

Several factors affect the final price:

Medal size
Medal thickness
Order quantity
Material
Soft enamel or hard enamel
Number of colors
Plating finish
Single-sided or double-sided design
3D design complexity
Cut-out areas
Special effects
Ribbon type
Packaging method
Production deadline
Shipping destination

If you want a faster and more accurate quote, provide as many details as possible when sending your inquiry.

How Long Does Production Take?

Production time depends on the medal type, order quantity, design complexity, approval speed, and shipping method.

As a practical reference, the timeline for custom enamel medals is usually:

Artwork proof: within 24 hours at the fastest
Sample after artwork approval: about 7 to 10 days
Bulk production: about 15 to 18 days
Air freight: as fast as 3 to 5 days
Sea freight: at least 30 days or more should be reserved

Before bulk production, we usually confirm the sample by photos or videos. This is more efficient and helps save time, especially for international buyers. If you require a physical sample to be shipped for approval, the total timeline will be longer because additional shipping time is needed.

If your event has a fixed date, we strongly recommend starting the medal project early. This allows enough time for design confirmation, sample approval, mass production, quality inspection, packing, and international shipping.

Can I Place a Rush Order?

Rush orders may be possible, but they need to be evaluated case by case.

If your event date is very close, please provide your deadline, quantity, medal size, design idea, and shipping country as early as possible. The factory can then check whether the timeline is realistic and suggest the fastest available solution.

If you have not placed the order yet and need a faster option, you may consider:

Blank medals
UV printed medals
Simple medal shapes
Fewer colors
Standard plating
Standard ribbons
Simple packaging
Simplified medal design and process

For some urgent projects, a simple medal solution can be produced and delivered in as fast as around 7 days, depending on the actual design, quantity, and shipping method.

However, for most custom enamel medal orders, it is better to plan early, confirm the artwork in advance, and leave enough time for production and delivery. This helps reduce risk and makes your purchasing schedule more predictable.

Can I See a Proof Before Production?

Yes. A digital proof should be confirmed before production begins.

The proof usually shows:

Medal shape
Size
Front design
Back design if needed
Colors
Plating finish
Ribbon design
Text placement
Logo placement
Special notes

Carefully check all spelling, dates, logos, colors, and design details before approval. Once the mold is made or production begins, changes may cause extra cost and delays.

Can I Order a Sample Before Mass Production?

Yes. For many projects, a pre-production sample can be made before mass production.

In most cases, sample confirmation is done by photos or videos before bulk production. This is faster and more efficient for international orders. It allows the buyer to check the medal appearance, plating finish, enamel colors, ribbon, and overall quality without waiting for international sample delivery.

If you need a physical sample shipped to you before mass production, this can also be arranged. However, it will take longer because of sample shipping and delivery time.

A sample is especially useful when:

The order quantity is large
The design is complex
The event is high-profile
Color accuracy is important
The buyer needs internal approval
The medal will be sold as merchandise

Sample approval helps reduce risk and ensures the mass production follows the confirmed standard.

Can I Reorder the Same Medal Later?

Yes. If the original mold is still available and the medal structure does not need to be changed, the mold can usually be reused for repeat orders.

For example, if you only need to change enamel colors, adjust plating color, remove a small part of the design, or make a simple update that does not affect the mold structure, the existing mold may still be used.

However, if the medal shape, raised metal lines, 3D structure, cut-out areas, or main design elements need to be changed, a new mold may be required.

For large orders, if the order quantity reaches 10,000 pieces, the mold fee can be waived directly.

When reordering, it is helpful to provide the previous order number, artwork file, product photos, size, quantity, and any updated details.

How Do You Control Medal Quality?

Strict Quality Control for Reliable Medal Delivery

Our factory follows strict inspection procedures to ensure responsible production management, stable quality, and reliable delivery for global buyers.

100%

Good-Quality Delivery Goal

Quality control is important at every production stage.

Our factory follows strict inspection procedures and complies with international audit and certification standards, including TÜV Rheinland, Disney, BSCI, Sedex, and USJ standards. These standards help ensure responsible production management, stable quality control, and reliable delivery for global buyers.

During production, we check:

Mold details
Die-cast medal blanks
Surface smoothness
Burrs and sharp edges
Polishing quality
Plating color
Enamel filling
Color accuracy
Logo and text clarity
Ribbon assembly
Packaging condition
Final appearance before shipping

For custom enamel medals, common quality issues to avoid include color overflow, bubbles, scratches, uneven plating, rough edges, wrong ribbon assembly, and packaging damage.

Our goal is to ensure 100% good-quality products are delivered to customers. Before shipment, medals are inspected carefully so that the final products match the approved design and quality requirements.

What Information Should I Prepare Before Ordering?

Before requesting a quote, prepare the following details:

Medal quantity
Medal size
Medal thickness
Soft enamel or hard enamel preference
Medal shape
Front design
Back design if needed
Pantone colors
Plating finish
Ribbon design
Packaging option
Event deadline
Shipping address or destination country

If you are unsure about any of these details, you can send your logo and event information first. The supplier can recommend suitable options based on your budget and timeline.

Quick Checklist for Ordering Custom Enamel Medals

Before approving your medal order, check the following:

This simple checklist can help prevent mistakes before production begins.

Final Thoughts

Custom enamel medals are a great choice for events that need colorful, durable, and memorable awards. They can be made in custom shapes, matched with brand colors, finished with different plating options, and paired with personalized ribbons and packaging.

For most event medals, zinc alloy is the preferred material because it allows better customization, stronger 3D effects, and more design flexibility. If your project requires a lower price and a simpler design, stainless iron can also be considered.

For large events, soft enamel medals are often the most practical choice because they offer strong visual impact and good value. For premium awards, hard enamel medals provide a smoother and more refined finish. For designs with gradients or photo-like details, UV printing can be considered as an alternative or combined process.

Still have medal questions? Send us your design, quantity, size, and event deadline. Our team will help you choose the right custom enamel medal solution for your project.