Frequently Asked Questions

Our MOQ is 100 pieces per design. This applies to all medal types — sports medals, race medals, enamel medals, and more. For very large orders (5,000+ pieces), we offer additional volume discounts.

Design: 24 hours (free). Sample production: 7-10 days. Bulk production: 7-15 days after sample approval. Rush orders may be accommodated depending on our production schedule — please contact us with your deadline.

Yes! Our in-house design team provides free custom medal designs within 24 hours. We offer unlimited revisions until you're completely satisfied with the design. Just share your concept, logo, or reference images and we'll handle the rest.

We work with five primary materials: Zinc Alloy (best for detailed 3D designs, die-cast), Brass (higher density, premium feel), Iron (most economical), Aluminum (lightweight, good for anodizing), and Stainless Steel (maximum corrosion resistance). Zinc alloy is our most popular choice — it offers the best balance of detail, durability, and cost.

Soft Enamel: The paint is slightly recessed below the metal lines, creating a textured, dimensional feel. Minimum fill width: 0.3mm. More affordable. Hard Enamel (Imitation): The paint is filled flush with the metal surface, then polished smooth for a flat, jewelry-like finish. Minimum fill width: 0.5mm. Both are durable; hard enamel has a more premium, polished look.

Yes. We use the Pantone color matching system for enamel colors. Our paint base colors include 10 standard colors (clear red, fluorescent purple-red, green, gold oil, blue, pure white, black, lemon yellow, etc.) that can be mixed to match virtually any Pantone shade.

We manufacture 14 categories: Sports Medals, Race Medals (marathon, 5K, 10K, triathlon), Enamel Medals, Kids Medals, Military Medals & Challenge Coins, LED Light-Up Medals, Bottle Opener Medals, Graduation Medals, Acrylic Medals, Spinning Medals, Event Medals, plus custom Medal Ribbons, Display Hangers, and Packaging.

We offer 20+ finish options: Mirror finishes (gold, silver/nickel, copper, rose gold, chrome, black nickel, platinum), Matte finishes (matte gold, matte nickel, matte copper), Antique finishes (antique gold, antique silver, antique copper, matte black), Rainbow vacuum plating, and Two-tone plating. Antique finishes are achieved through electroplating or barrel plating with a brushing step for contrast.

Yes. We ship to 50+ countries including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Russia, and across Europe and Asia. Shipping is arranged by air, sea, or express courier (DHL, FedEx, UPS) depending on order size and urgency.

For new clients: T/T (bank transfer) with 30% deposit to start production and 70% balance before shipment. For established long-term clients: Net 30 or Net 60 payment terms may be available upon request.

We accept AI (Adobe Illustrator), PSD (Photoshop), CDR (CorelDRAW), PDF, PNG, and JPG files. Vector files (AI, CDR, PDF) are preferred as they produce the cleanest results. If you only have a sketch or photo of an idea, that's fine too — our designers will create a production-ready file.

We perform three-stage QC: (1) Incoming material inspection — verifying zinc alloy ingots, paint, and plating chemicals meet specifications, (2) In-process inspection — checking each production stage from die-casting through packaging, (3) Final pre-shipment inspection — random sampling to ensure 100% qualified delivery rate. Common defects we check for include cracks, water marks, air holes, plating bubbles, and enamel impurities.

Yes, and we strongly recommend it. Sample production takes 7-10 days. You can physically inspect the material, finish, colors, and overall quality before committing to bulk production. Sample fees vary by design complexity and are typically credited toward your bulk order.

Standard medals range from 1.5 inches (38mm) to 5 inches (127mm). Giant medals up to 6+ inches are possible. The minimum thickness for zinc alloy die-cast medals is 2mm. For custom sizes, please contact us with your requirements.

Yes. We produce custom printed ribbons using heat-transfer printing. Standard ribbon size is 860-900mm × 20-30mm for adults, 800mm × 20mm for children. Materials include polyester, nylon, satin, leather cord, and wax cord. Ribbons are attached via ultrasonic welding or sewn joints.

Due to the custom nature of our products, we do not accept returns on custom-manufactured medals. However, if there are quality defects, we will reproduce the affected pieces at no cost. Our 100% QC pass rate ensures this rarely happens.

Yes. Laser engraving is ideal for variable data like sequential bib numbers, participant names, finish times, or age group designations. There is typically a small per-piece surcharge for laser engraving.

We offer: PP/OPP bags (most economical), zip-lock bags, velvet pouches, paper cards with plastic cover, paper boxes, velvet boxes, acrylic display cases, and blister packs. Custom packaging with your event or brand logo is available.

Yes. Our factory is BSCI, ISO 9001, Disney FAMA, TUV Rheinland audited. Our products comply with Reach and RoHS standards for chemical safety. We use lead-free and nickel-safe materials by default. Children's medals use safety breakaway lanyards.

Fill out our contact form with your design idea, estimated quantity, preferred material, and deadline. We'll respond within 24 hours with a detailed quote and free design draft. Or email us directly at info@medalorigin.com.