Medals hold more than metallic value; they symbolize achievement, perseverance, and lasting memories. Whether you collect custom medals from marathons, preserve military service awards, or store community recognition tokens, the way you keep them matters as much as the design itself. Surprisingly, many medals face irreversible damage not on the racecourse or during the award ceremony, but in the months and years that follow due to improper storage.
In today’s expanding custom medal market, where collectors and event organizers invest in high-quality designs and bespoke finishes, understanding safe storage becomes even more crucial. The wrong environment or packaging can undo the craftsmanship, turning bright plating, smooth enamel, or detailed engravings into faded or corroded pieces. With the rising global demand for personalized awards, from corporate events to international sporting competitions, safeguarding each medal ensures both sentimental and market value remain intact.
In this article, we highlight eight harmful storage methods that often damage medals. For each case, we explain why the method is harmful, outline the typical symptoms collectors may notice, and recommend the correct practices for long-term preservation. Additionally, we will discuss the growing market demand for Custom Medals and why professional preservation should be a priority for both individuals and organizations.
ميداليات مخصصة
ميداليات مخصصة
ميداليات مخصصة
ميداليات مخصصة
ميداليات مخصصة
ميداليات مخصصة
1. Storing Medals in Damp or Directly Sunlit Environments
Why It Is Harmful
Moisture and fluctuating temperatures accelerate metal oxidation, leading to tarnish, dull surfaces, or spotting on metallic medals. Direct sunlight, especially with strong ultraviolet exposure, causes colored ribbons to fade and soft enamel areas to lose vibrancy. Prolonged humidity also triggers mold growth on ribbons or packaging.
Typical Signs of Damage
Collectors may notice silver medals turning dark or bronze pieces forming green patina patches. Ribbons begin to show yellowing or mildew spots, and plastic display cases may fog from condensation.
Proper Storage Practices
Keep medals in a controlled environment, ideally around 18–21°C with relative humidity between 45–55%. For long-term display, choose cases with UV-resistant panels. Small silica gel packets or replaceable desiccants inside display boxes can help maintain stable conditions.
2. Using PVC Sleeves, Poor-Quality Foam, or Acidic Paper
Why It Is Harmful
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) sleeves and low-grade foams release chemicals over time. These substances migrate onto medal surfaces, leaving sticky green residue or causing lacquered areas to deteriorate. Acidic or sulfur-rich paper can accelerate corrosion and etching on delicate finishes.
Typical Signs of Damage
Surfaces feel tacky, medals stick to packaging, or faint outlines of foam or paper remain imprinted. Colors lose brightness, and inscriptions appear blurred or etched.
Proper Storage Practices
Use inert, archival-safe materials such as polyethylene (PE), polyester, or acid-free paper. For wrapping, soft cotton or unbleached linen provides safe separation without chemical risks. Archival storage boxes designed for coins or collectibles also work well for custom-made medals.
3. Direct Contact with Wooden or Ordinary Cardboard Boxes
Why It Is Harmful
Untreated wood and low-grade cardboard release acids that react with medal surfaces, leading to slow but permanent deterioration.
Typical Signs of Damage
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Dark spots forming on edges or back of medals
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Ribbon colors fading unevenly
Proper Storage Practices
Choose acid-free archival boxes or treated wooden cases. A reliable الشركة المصنعة للميداليات المخصصة usually offers packaging options crafted for long-term preservation, ensuring that the medals maintain their brilliance while meeting professional Medal Manufacturing standards.
4. Sealing Medals Without Cleaning Off Sweat or Oils
Why It Is Harmful
After a race, ceremony, or handling, sweat and natural skin oils remain on medal surfaces. These residues contain salts and acids that corrode plating. If medals are sealed in airtight bags while damp, ribbons can develop mold, and metal parts can discolor.
Typical Signs of Damage
Irregular dark spots, rainbow-like discoloration, or pitting appear on the surface. Ribbons stiffen or produce a musty odor, indicating biological growth.
Proper Storage Practices
Always wipe medals gently with a microfiber cloth before storage. If necessary, use a diluted neutral cleaner with distilled water to remove sweat traces. Ensure both metal and ribbon are completely dry before sealing. For custom medals with soft enamel or epoxy coating, avoid abrasive cloths that could scratch finishes.
5. Cleaning Medals with Acidic or Abrasive Chemicals
Why It Is Harmful
Harsh cleaners strip protective coatings and damage fine engravings or enamel surfaces.
Typical Signs of Damage
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Dull, matte finish instead of a polished look
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Permanent scratches or peeling on coated medals
Proper Storage Practices
Clean medals gently using microfiber cloths and pH-neutral solutions. For high-value Custom Medals, consult the manufacturer for recommended cleaning products tailored to the specific Medal Design and finish.
6. Storing Medals with Incompatible Materials Like Rubber or Chemicals
Why It Is Harmful
Rubber mats, sulfur-rich products, or nearby chemicals release gases that tarnish or corrode metallic medals.
Typical Signs of Damage
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Black spots or streaks across medal surfaces
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Unpleasant odor on ribbons or packaging
Proper Storage Practices
Keep medals separate from reactive materials. Use dedicated archival boxes or professional Medal Manufacturing packaging solutions to ensure complete safety.
7. Stacking, Crushing, or Allowing Direct Contact With Hard Objects
Why It Is Harmful
While stacking may save space, the weight of medals pressing against one another scratches delicate finishes and chips enamel. Movable parts, common in innovative custom medal designs, can bend or jam under pressure. Ribbons tangle and fray when crushed against sharp edges.
Typical Signs of Damage
Scratches run across polished surfaces, plating flakes from edges, and functional features like spinning centers no longer turn. Ribbons lose shape or detach from loops.
Proper Storage Practices
Store medals flat in single layers or with soft separators. Acid-free paper or felt inserts between pieces prevent abrasion. For medals with rotating or movable components, individual compartments in a storage box provide the best protection.
8. Displaying Medals in Poorly Designed Frames or Boxes
Why It Is Harmful
Many collectors proudly showcase medals in transparent frames or boxes. Yet without UV protection, light exposure quickly fades ribbons and painted details. Boxes without airflow trap moisture inside, creating a microclimate that accelerates tarnish. Storing medals in basements or attics further compounds damage due to temperature swings.
Typical Signs of Damage
Faded ribbons, hazy or foggy surfaces inside cases, or rust on small fittings such as screws or hooks. Medals begin to look older than their actual age.
Proper Storage Practices
Choose display frames or shadow boxes with UV-filtering glass. Ensure ventilation or include desiccants to control humidity. Avoid extreme storage locations; instead, keep displays in stable indoor environments away from windows or heating vents.
9. Direct Contact with Wooden or Ordinary Cardboard Boxes
Why It Is Harmful
Untreated wood and low-grade cardboard release acids that react with medal surfaces, leading to slow but permanent deterioration.
Typical Signs of Damage
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Dark spots forming on edges or back of medals
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Ribbon colors fading unevenly
Proper Storage Practices
Choose acid-free archival boxes or treated wooden cases. A reliable Custom Medal Manufacturer usually offers packaging options crafted for long-term preservation, ensuring that the medals maintain their brilliance while meeting professional Medal Manufacturing standards.
Practical Checklist for Medal Storage
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Before storage: Clean medals gently and ensure complete dryness.
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التعبئة والتغليف: Use inert, acid-free materials only. Avoid PVC or recycled foams.
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Environment: Maintain stable temperature and humidity; avoid basements and attics.
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Display: Choose UV-protected frames or boxes with ventilation.
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Inspection: Periodically check for early signs of tarnish, mold, or abrasion.
الخاتمة
Medals, whether personal keepsakes or large-scale Custom Medals produced for international events, deserve careful storage to protect their appearance and meaning. By avoiding harmful storage methods such as damp environments, acid-releasing boxes, or abrasive cleaners, you can preserve both the emotional and market value of your awards.
As the Custom Medal industry continues to expand, proper preservation becomes an essential practice for individuals, institutions, and manufacturers alike. With thoughtful storage, every medal—whether from a local marathon or a global competition—can shine for generations to come.
