Designing, ordering, and receiving custom medals is a streamlined process when working with an experienced medal vendor. However, there are crucial details to consider regarding the timeline and turnaround of your medal order.
Recognition through awards feels incredible. As an event director, ensuring participants receive high-quality, unique custom medals on time is paramount. While the process may seem simple, it involves numerous details that need attention.
Let’s dive into what you need to know about the custom medallion ordering timeline:
Ensuring On-Time Delivery of Custom Medals
As an event manager, start by asking yourself these questions when ordering custom medals:
1. What are the steps to complete a custom medallion order, including:
- Determining the type of medal
- Artwork design and approval
- Order details and approval
- Produzione
- Logistics and shipping
2. What information can you gather or plan ahead to streamline the ordering process and meet your timeline?
3. When is the order-by-date to ensure timely delivery of custom medals?

Stages of a Custom Award Order
Selecting Your Custom Award Type
The type of custom award chosen affects your order timeline. Key steps—artwork design and approval, production, and logistics and shipping—apply to all medal types.
Custom awards come in various materials, including:
- Die Cast Medals
- Spin Cast Medals
- Die Struck Medals
- Insert Medals
- ColorMax Medals
- Medaglie di legno
- Acrylic Medals
- Glass Medals
- PVC Medals
Custom Medallion Artwork Design and Approval
Artwork design and approval are critical steps. Design time varies with complexity. If you lack a design, don’t worry—most top medal vendors offer in-house design services. Provide direction and necessary elements, such as logos. Typically, art is produced in about a week, with additional time for revisions.
Delays in this step often arise from multiple revision rounds due to low-resolution logos, incorrect or missing fonts, and slow committee communication. Discuss artwork requirements with your team beforehand to shorten turnaround time.
Order Details and Approval for Custom Medallions
Confirming order details is essential before production. Your vendor needs information such as medal size, quantity, finishes, contact details, shipping and billing information, event date, and in-hand date. Specify any additional items, like neck ribbons, awards, and promotional items, and any special packaging or delivery options at this stage.
Carefully review all details before giving final approval for production.
The Custom Medal Production Phase
Once artwork and order details are approved, production begins. Production time varies by medal type:
- Die Cast Medals: 2-3 weeks
- Spin Cast Medals: 2-3 weeks
- Die Struck Medals: 2-3 weeks
- Insert Medals: 1-2 weeks
- ColorMax Medals: 3-4 weeks
- Wood Medals: 1-3 weeks
- Acrylic Medals: 1-3 weeks
- Glass Medals: 1-3 weeks
- PVC Medals: 3-4 weeks
Production times can fluctuate due to factors like material availability and capacity constraints. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain disruptions extended lead times by up to eight weeks.
Logistics and Shipping of Custom Medallions
Once produced, medals are shipped. Shipping time depends on origin, destination, and transport method. Domestic shipments usually take 1-5 business days. Medals made overseas (Die Cast, Die Struck, PVC) need additional transit time, typically one week by air freight and 4-6 weeks by ocean freight.
Delays can result from address corrections, mechanical failures, customs, weather, and human error. Expedited shipping options are available at a higher cost to reduce delivery time.

Planning Ahead for Custom Medal Orders
The entire process is quicker if you prepare before contacting your medal vendor. Discuss and finalize details such as design requirements, quantity, budget, and order specifics with your team. Assign a liaison to avoid contradictory information and delays.
Allow ample time for key details before starting the process to ensure your custom medals arrive on time.
Comprehensive Custom Medal Timelines
Here’s an estimated timeline from start to finish, including choosing the medal type, artwork design and approval, order details and approval, production, and logistics and shipping:
- Die Cast Medals: 5-8 weeks (via air freight), 10-14 weeks (via ocean freight)
- Spin Cast Medals: 5-8 weeks
- Die Struck Medals: 5-8 weeks (via air freight), 10-14 weeks (via ocean freight)
- Insert Medals: 2-3 weeks
- ColorMax Medals: 2-3 weeks
- Wood Medals: 3-4 weeks
- Acrylic Medals: 3-4 weeks
- Glass Medals: 3-4 weeks
PVC Medals: 5-8 weeks (via air freight), 10-14 weeks (via ocean freight)
Timelines can vary based on factors like committee communication delays, incomplete design requirements, and multiple revision rounds.
Expert Advice for Smooth Personalized Medal Ordering
Working with an experienced medal vendor simplifies the process. They provide realistic expectations on the order timeline based on your specific needs, ensuring your custom medals arrive on time and meet your quality expectations.

Conclusione
Understanding the timeline for Personalized medal orders is crucial for event managers. By selecting the appropriate medal type, efficiently handling artwork design and approval, meticulously reviewing order details, and planning for production and logistics, you can ensure timely delivery of high-quality personalized medals. Partnering with a reliable award vendor further enhances the process, allowing you to focus on celebrating your participants’ achievements. With proper planning and attention to detail, you can successfully navigate the personalized medal ordering process and create memorable awards for your event.