From primary school sports days to corporate fun runs, dragon boat regattas to esports finals, custom medals are one of the most universally loved awards in Singapore. They’re worn proudly around the neck on the day, photographed for social media, and kept for years as a reminder of the achievement.
If you’re organising a competition or event and need to order medals, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know: design choices, materials, ribbon options, customisation, lead times, and how to get the best value for your budget.
Why Custom Medals Beat Generic Ones
You can buy plain stock medals from anywhere. But generic medals miss the whole point of an award — they don’t commemorate anything specific. A custom medal:
- Names the event — “Singapore Inter-School Athletics 2026” hits harder than “1st Place”
- Carries your logo or crest — schools, clubs, sponsors, and corporates all benefit from brand visibility
- Becomes a keepsake — recipients display custom medals for years, generic ones get drawered
- Reflects effort — a thoughtfully designed medal signals that the event itself was thoughtful
Browse our custom medals collection for ideas, or read on for design guidance.
Choosing the Right Medal Style
Shape
The classic round medal is timeless, but you have options:
- Round — the standard; works for almost any event
- Star, shield, or hexagon — for a more distinctive look
- Custom-shaped — laser-cut to match your event logo or sport (a football, swimmer, runner, etc.)
Size
Common medal diameters in Singapore:
- 50mm — economical, good for participation medals at large events
- 60–70mm — the most popular size for school and corporate events
- 80mm+ — premium feel, often used for championship podiums
Finish
Gold, silver, and bronze remain the gold standard for podium recognition. Other premium finishes include:
- Antique gold/silver/bronze — slightly weathered look, very popular for sports
- Brushed metal — modern, minimalist
- Full-colour UV-printed — for vibrant, photographic designs
Materials: What Are Custom Medals Made From?
Most custom medals in Singapore are made from zinc alloy — it’s the industry standard because it casts beautifully into intricate designs and accepts plating well. Other options include:
- Iron stamped medals — budget-friendly, best for simpler 2D designs
- Brass medals — heavier and more premium, often used for prestige events
- Acrylic medals — lightweight, full-colour, eco-friendlier; popular for fun runs and family events
- Wooden medals — increasingly popular for sustainable events; bamboo medals look fantastic with laser engraving
If sustainability matters to your event, consider acrylic or wooden medals — they pair well with our wood awards range.
Ribbons: The Detail Most People Overlook
The ribbon is the first thing the recipient touches and the part that holds the medal around their neck for hours. Don’t treat it as an afterthought.
Ribbon Options
- Stock colour ribbons — solid colours like red, blue, black, white; fastest and cheapest
- Striped or patterned ribbons — national colours, school colours, or sponsor branding
- Custom-printed ribbons — your event name and logo printed along the length; highly recommended for branded events
- Sublimated ribbons — full-colour, photo-quality printing
Ribbon Width
Standard widths range from 15mm to 25mm. Wider ribbons (22mm+) carry printed text more legibly and feel more premium.
Customisation Techniques
At Core Modus we offer several ways to bring your medal to life:
- Die-casting — for fully custom 3D designs (a one-off mould is created from your artwork)
- Laser engraving — for names, dates, and event details on stock or custom medal blanks
- UV printing — for full-colour logos and artwork on metal, acrylic, or wood
- Soft enamel — recessed colour fills for a textured, premium look
- Hard enamel — polished smooth, jewelry-quality finish
Common Use Cases in Singapore
Schools
Sports day, swim galas, inter-house competitions, music exams, academic prize-givings, CCA awards. Schools often order in three tiers (gold/silver/bronze) plus participation medals. We also produce custom plush mascots and school merchandise if you want to coordinate the full event experience.
Corporate Events
Company sports days, team-building tournaments, sales challenges, wellness programs, anniversary fun runs. Corporate medals often combine the company logo with the event theme.
Sports Clubs & Associations
Tournaments, league finals, charity races, dragon boat regattas, cycling events, marathons. Custom-printed ribbons with sponsor logos are particularly popular here.
Esports & Gaming
A fast-growing category. Esports medals tend to lean modern — brushed metal or full-colour UV-printed designs with edgy graphics.
How Many Medals Should You Order?
A simple framework:
- Podium-only events: 3 medals per category (gold, silver, bronze)
- Top-finisher events: 10 medals per category (top 10 finishers)
- Participation events: 1 medal per registered participant, plus a 5–10% buffer
Always order a small buffer (around 5–10%) to cover late registrations, damaged pieces, or VIP gifts.
Lead Times and Pricing
Realistic timelines for custom medals in Singapore:
- Stock medal blanks with laser engraving: 5–10 working days
- UV-printed custom designs on stock blanks: 2–3 weeks
- Fully custom die-cast medals (with new mould): 4–6 weeks
- Custom-printed ribbons: add 1–2 weeks if not ordered together
Pricing scales with quantity — the per-unit cost drops sharply as you cross 100, 250, and 500 units. For accurate pricing, share your design, quantity, and deadline and we’ll quote within 1–2 working days.
Avoiding Common Mistakes
- Don’t leave it to the last minute. Custom dies take time. Aim to confirm your order at least 6 weeks before event day.
- Provide vector artwork. JPGs and screenshots don’t scale well. AI, EPS, SVG, or high-res PDF files give the best results.
- Proofread engraved text twice. Year, event name, and category names should all be checked by two people before sign-off.
- Don’t skimp on the ribbon. A premium medal on a flimsy ribbon undersells the whole award.
Combine Medals with Trophies for Bigger Events
For larger competitions, the strongest setup combines trophies for top podium finishers and category winners with medals for all top-3 placings and participants. This gives a full visual hierarchy on the podium and ensures every participant takes something home.
If you’re planning a multi-award event, our step-by-step guide to planning a corporate award ceremony covers the full logistics.
Ready to Design Your Custom Medals?
Core Modus is a Singapore-based manufacturer of custom medals, trophies, awards, plaques, and plush toys. We design and produce in-house, which means faster turnaround, full quality control, and the ability to handle everything from 50-piece school orders to 5,000-piece marathon events.
👉 Contact Core Modus for a free medal quote — share your event details, quantity, and artwork, and we’ll recommend the best material, finish, and ribbon to fit your budget and deadline.
Or browse our custom medals collection to see what’s possible.