Is This Metal Medal Durable for Long-Term Use?

Yes. This swimming medal is made from zinc alloy (or solid brass for higher-end versions), a material long used in the awards and trophy industry for its weight, durability, and ability to hold fine detail. The 3D swimmer relief and "SWIMMING" text are created through die-striking — high-pressure stamping that yields sharp, lasting detail. The rainbow enamel in the wave section is a two-part epoxy that cures hard, resisting scratches and chips from normal handling. The gold electroplating is sealed with a clear protective lacquer to prevent tarnishing.

Physical Properties

Durability Highlights

Die-struck detail won't wear off — Unlike printed or glued-on labels, the swimmer relief and SWIMMING text are physically pressed into the medal surface. They will not fade or peel.

Enamel colors are embedded, not painted — The colored rainbow waves are filled with liquid epoxy that hardens into a smooth, recessed surface. No paint to chip or scratch off.

Gold finish is sealed — Electroplated gold + clear lacquer prevents tarnishing for years under normal indoor storage. Medal-grade finish is designed for handling, display, and storage.

Bail is soldered, not glued — The metal loop attaching the medal to the ribbon is soldered onto the medallion body. It can support the full medal weight plus the tug of a child's neck.

Ribbon is colorfast polyester grosgrain — The bright yellow-green ribbon is dyed through, not surface-coated. It resists fading from sunlight and doesn't fray easily.

How Can I Customize This Swimming Medal?

We can customize every aspect of this swimming medal to match your event, brand, or competition theme. From the metal finish to the ribbon color, the rainbow enamel palette, and the reverse-side engraving — everything is fully adjustable. Below are the main customization dimensions available.

1. Metal Finish & Color

Choose any electroplated finish for the medal body. The standard is bright gold, but we can produce in: antique gold (matte vintage look), bright silver (nickel), antique silver, bronze/copper, gunmetal, rose gold, or two-tone combinations. The finish affects the overall aesthetic and perceived value.

2. Enamel / Rainbow Wave Customization

The rainbow wave section below the swimmer can be customized to any color combination. Choose matching Pantone colors for each stripe. Options include:

Standard rainbow: Red → Orange → Yellow → Green → Blue → Indigo → Violet (as shown in the product image)

Brand colors: Replace rainbow with your brand's 2-4 signature colors in wave pattern

Single color wave: One consistent enamel color across the entire wave section

Ombré gradient wave: Gradual transition from one color to another, stripe by stripe

No enamel (all metal): Leave wave section as raised bare metal for a clean monochrome look

Custom pattern: Add stars, stripes, or event logo elements into the wave section

3. Text & Logo Customization

The medal offers multiple areas for custom text and logos:

Top text: Replace "SWIMMING" with any event name, e.g. "CHAMPIONSHIP", "RACE DAY", your brand name, or a sponsor name

Reverse engraving: The smooth back surface is perfect for laser or mechanical engraving — event name, date, participant name, sponsor logo, or custom artwork

Rim text: Emboss or deboss text along the medal perimeter (circular arc), ideal for "1ST PLACE", "GOLD", event year, or organizer name

Custom die design: Replace the swimmer relief with a different sport icon (runner, cyclist, soccer player) or a custom mascot/log

4. Ribbon Customization

The medal ribbon can be fully customized to match your event or brand identity:

Colors: Any Pantone color combination, solid or split (two-tone vertical like the yellow-green shown)

Pattern: Striped, checkered, diagonal, or custom woven patterns on grosgrain polyester

Printed ribbon: Add event name, year, logo directly printed on the ribbon surface (screen print or heat transfer)

Ribbon width: Adjustable from 3/8" (10 mm) to 2" (50 mm) wide

Ribbon length: Standard 28" – 31" (70 – 80 cm). Extend to 36" for adult neck circumference

Attachment: Metal bail (standard), snap-hook, or sewn ribbon loop at top

5. Design Specifications & Artwork Requirements

Packaging Options

Shipping Options & Delivery Estimates

Lead Time Summary

Sample order: 7 – 10 working days (die/mold creation 5 – 7 days + sample production 2 – 3 days)

Bulk order (100 – 1,000 pieces): 10 – 15 working days after sample confirmation

Bulk order (1,000 – 5,000 pieces): 15 – 20 working days

Bulk order (5,000+ pieces): 20 – 25 working days (production line scheduling)

What is the minimum order quantity for a custom swimming medal?

For a brand-new custom medal design (your own swimmer figure, logo, or layout), the MOQ is 100 – 300 pieces per design. If you want to use our existing medal shape (with the freestyle swimmer relief) but change the rainbow enamel colors or ribbon color, the MOQ is 200 – 500 pieces. For adding custom engraving on the reverse of our stock medal, the MOQ is 50 pieces only.

How long does a sample take to arrive?

Once artwork is approved, we create the sample die in 5 – 7 working days, produce a sample medal, then ship via DHL/FedEx. International delivery takes 3 – 7 working days. Total from artwork approval to sample in hand: roughly 10 – 14 working days.

Can I get this medal in different sizes?

Yes. The standard swimming medal is about 1.6" – 2.0" (40 – 50 mm) in diameter. We can produce sizes from 1.0" (25 mm) up to 3.0" (75 mm). Larger medals use more metal and require larger dies, which increases both die cost and unit price. For custom sizes, add 2 – 3 working days to the die-making process.

Can the rainbow wave section be changed to my brand colors?

Absolutely. The epoxy enamel in the rainbow wave section can be filled in any Pantone colors. You can choose 2, 3, 4, or 7 different colors for the wave stripes. We recommend providing Pantone codes for each stripe. There is no upcharge for color changes within the same die.

How does the engraving on the reverse side work?

We offer two types: (1) Mechanical engraving (diamond drag or rotary) — deeper, tactile feel, good for fine text and logos. (2) Laser engraving — high precision, ideal for small text, QR codes, or detailed artwork. Both methods are scratch-resistant and permanent. Maximum engraving area is the full medal back (typically 1.2" – 1.8" diameter depending on medal size).

Is this medal suitable for outdoor events?

Yes. The gold electroplating is sealed with clear lacquer, and the epoxy enamel is UV-stabilized. The medal can be worn outdoors during award ceremonies and kept on display without significant fading or tarnishing for 12 – 18 months. For extended outdoor display, we can apply an enhanced UV-resistant clear coat as an upgrade.

What payment methods do you accept?

We accept T/T bank transfer (30% deposit + 70% balance before shipment), L/C at sight for orders above $3,000, Western Union for samples, and PayPal for orders under $2,000. Net 30-day terms are available for established customers with order history.

Can I mix different medal designs in one order?

Yes. You can order multiple different medal designs (e.g., 1st, 2nd, 3rd place) in the same production batch, as long as each unique design meets its MOQ. This is common for medal sets — we can produce gold, silver, and bronze versions simultaneously and pack them as sets.

What quality assurance do you provide?

Every medal batch goes through a 3-step QC process: (1) In-process inspection during die-striking and electroplating. (2) Final inspection before packaging — checking for surface defects, enamel fill completeness, ribbon attachment strength. (3) Pre-shipment random sampling (AQL 2.5 standard). We offer a 12-month quality guarantee against material and manufacturing defects.

Do you offer custom packaging for retail display?

Yes. We can provide custom gift boxes (velvet-lined or cardboard), header cards with your branding, acrylic display stands, and even custom medal display boards for retail or event use. Custom packaging typically adds 5 – 7 working days to the lead time. Minimum for custom packaging is 1,000 sets.