Custom Medals Singapore — The Award That Recipients Keep for Life

A corporate gift is used and eventually replaced. A promotional item is received and eventually discarded. A medal is kept. The finisher’s medal from a first half marathon stays in the bedside drawer for years. The gold medal from an inter-school sports competition stays on the bedroom shelf across secondary school and beyond. The participant medal from a company’s 10th anniversary event stays in the desk drawer of the person who was there. Medals occupy a category of gifted objects where the value is not functional but commemorative — the object marks a moment, an achievement or a participation that the recipient experienced and wants to remember.

For event organisers who understand this, ordering custom medals rather than standard trophies or certificates communicates a higher level of investment in the participant’s experience. A custom zinc alloy die cut medal with a 3D relief design is not a commodity item — it is a small manufactured object that was specifically made for this event, with this design, in this year. That specificity is what makes a medal a kept object rather than a stored one.

Zinc alloy: the weight and feel of a real award

The material of a medal determines how it feels in the hand — and how it feels in the hand determines how the recipient perceives the achievement it represents. Zinc alloy (also known as Zamak in die casting) is the standard material for quality custom medals globally because it provides the density and weight of a metal award without the cost of precious metals, accepts fine detail die casting for 3D relief designs, and takes gold, silver and copper electroplating at a consistent, durable finish.

A zinc alloy medal at 5 cm has the satisfying heft of a proper award when placed on the palm — heavy enough to feel substantial, light enough to wear comfortably on the 900mm ribbon throughout a ceremony or celebration. Cheaper medals use ABS plastic or thin stamped steel, which feel hollow and light. The zinc alloy of the AR0003 feels like what a medal should feel like.

Die cut: any shape, any event identity

Die cutting means the medal is manufactured in any shape the event organiser specifies — not just the standard round disc or pentagon shield used in generic medal ranges. For a school’s 50th anniversary sports event, the medal can be die cut in the shape of the school’s crest. For a charity run, it can be cut in the shape of a sneaker or a running figure. For a martial arts competition, it can be cut in the octagonal shape associated with the sport. For a corporate event with a specific theme, it can be cut in any shape that references the event’s visual identity.

This shape customisation is what elevates the AR0003 from a standard event medal to a commemorative object that specifically represents the event it was made for. Recipients who receive a standard round medal know they received a medal at an event. Recipients who receive a die cut medal in a distinctive shape that references their specific event know immediately that this object could only have come from this specific occasion.

3D relief front: sculptural design that reads as premium

The 3D relief front of the AR0003 means that the design elements on the front face of the medal are sculpted in three-dimensional relief — they rise above the medal surface in varying heights to create depth, shadow and visual dimensionality. A 3D relief medal design has the same visual and tactile quality as a cast commemorative coin or a military decoration — the design has substance that a flat-etched or printed design cannot replicate.

For a school competition medal where the school’s crest is the primary design element, 3D relief renders the crest’s fine details in sculptural form — heraldic elements, typography and emblems rendered as raised metal forms rather than incised lines. For a charity run medal where the event mascot or logo is the centrepiece, 3D relief gives the character or logo a physical presence that makes the medal feel like a manufactured object of quality.

The “no enamel” specification means the 3D relief design is expressed entirely through the metal plating without colour fill in the recessed areas — the interplay between the raised metal forms and the recessed background, enhanced by the plating colour, creates the visual contrast rather than coloured enamel. This is a clean, classic medal aesthetic appropriate for most event contexts.

Gold, silver and bronze: the podium hierarchy

The three plating options — gold, silver and bronze (copper) — map directly to the podium hierarchy used in every competitive event globally. This is the language of achievement that every participant at every level of competition already understands. First place receives gold. Second place receives silver. Third place receives bronze. This hierarchy requires no explanation at a medal ceremony — the plating colour communicates the achievement tier immediately.

For events where all participants receive a finisher’s medal (charity runs, school carnivals, participation events) rather than a competitive podium, a single plating colour is typically selected for all medals — gold for a premium finisher experience, silver for a clean standard finish, or bronze for events where a warm, antique tone suits the event aesthetic.

900 x 25mm ribbon: comfortable neck drape for ceremony and photography

The included ribbon at 900mm long and 25mm wide is the standard specification for a medal neck ribbon — 90cm provides comfortable hanging length for an adult or youth to wear the medal around the neck with the medal hanging at chest level, which is the standard position for medal ceremony photography. The ribbon is included with each medal.

Ribbon colour is typically customisable — confirm available ribbon colours and whether custom ribbon printing (with event name, logo or pattern on the ribbon) is available with the Printopia team at enquiry stage.

The 3–4 week lead time: plan your order before your event

The AR0003 requires 3–4 weeks of production time from artwork confirmation — significantly longer than most Printopia products due to the die cutting and plating process required for a custom zinc alloy medal. The die cutting process requires a physical mould to be manufactured for the custom shape, which adds production steps not present in standard printing processes.

For all event organisers considering the AR0003, the event date must be confirmed at least 5–6 weeks before the event to allow for artwork finalisation, a production period of 3–4 weeks and delivery time. Medal orders placed 2 weeks before the event cannot be fulfilled on time. This lead time planning is the most critical operational requirement for successfully ordering the AR0003.

Who orders custom medals in Singapore and when

School athletics coordinators and PE departments order medals for inter-class sports days, inter-school track and field events, cross-country competitions and CCA competition finals. The Singapore Schools Sports Council’s school sports calendar creates recurring annual medal requirements for many Singapore schools.

Charity run and community event organisers order finisher medals for race participants — the finisher’s medal is increasingly a standard expected deliverable for Singapore’s charity run market, and a custom die cut medal rather than a generic round medal with a sticker insert communicates that the event organisation has invested in the participant experience.

Corporate sports day organisers order gold/silver/bronze medals for department competition finals, inter-departmental tournaments and company sports events where recognising specific placement drives participation motivation.

Uniformed group and martial arts programme coordinators order medals for grading ceremonies, competition placements and performance recognitions across Singapore’s National Cadet Corps, Boys’ Brigade, Scouts, martial arts schools and sports academies.

Community club and association coordinators order medals for annual competition events, community games and interclub competitions across Singapore’s constituency and community organisation network.

Suitable use cases

• School inter-class and inter-school sports day and track events
• Singapore Schools Sports Council and National School Games competitions
• Charity runs and fun run finisher medals
• Corporate sports day and inter-departmental competition medals
• Uniformed group grading and competition medals (NCC, BB, Scouts, St John)
• Martial arts, swimming, gymnastics and individual sport competition medals
• Community games and interclub association competition medals
• Corporate anniversary and milestone recognition awards
• Academic and performance competition medals
• Running club and sports association member event medals

Ordering information

• Do reach out to us to enquire about the minimum quantity needed for this product.
• Standard lead time is about 7 to 10 working days from artwork approval.
• Rush orders are available for tight deadlines, get in touch and we will do our best to make it work.

Every order includes a free digital mockup so you can see how your branding looks before we go into production.

Frequently asked questions

Can the medal be any shape or is it limited to round or standard shapes?
The AR0003 uses a die cut process which allows any custom shape — the medal can be any shape you design, including custom outlines based on your logo, event theme, school crest, sport-specific imagery or any other shape brief. A new die is manufactured for each unique shape, which is included in the production process. Contact the Printopia team to confirm the shape design requirements and the minimum dimensions for reliable die cutting quality.

Can enamel colour be added to the medal design?
The AR0003 is specified as “3D without enamel” — the front design uses 3D relief without colour enamel fill. If enamel colour fill in the recessed areas of the design is required, contact the Printopia team at enquiry stage to confirm whether an enamel version is available or can be produced.

Can the ribbon be customised — printed with the event name or in a specific colour?
The standard ribbon included is 900 x 25mm. Custom ribbon colours and ribbon printing (event name, logo or pattern printed along the ribbon length) may be available. Confirm custom ribbon options with the Printopia team at enquiry stage.

What information should be on the front versus the back of the medal?
Typically: the event name, year and primary visual element (crest, logo or illustration) on the 3D relief front face. Additional text — category name, placement text, organisation name — on the gritty textured back face via engraving or text moulding. The Printopia team will advise on the front-back content distribution for your specific brief when reviewing your artwork.

How do I start the design process for a custom die cut medal?
Contact the Printopia team via the form above or WhatsApp with your event details, required quantity, preferred plating and any existing design materials. The team will guide you through the die cut shape specification, artwork requirements, technical constraints and timeline confirmation. Given the 3–4 week lead time, initiate contact at least 5–6 weeks before your event date.

What is the minimum order quantity for custom medals?
Minimum order quantities for custom die cut zinc alloy medals vary. Contact the Printopia team for current MOQ requirements and bulk pricing.

How far in advance should I order?
Order at least 5–6 weeks before your event date. The production lead time is 3–4 weeks — additional time is needed for artwork finalisation, approvals and delivery. For major annual events (National School Games, large charity runs, company anniversary events), initiating the medal order 6–8 weeks in advance is strongly recommended.

Past Projects

Some past projects done by Printopia.