Custom Award Terms You Should Know (Glossary With Definitions)

Ordering awards is easy with this one-stop guide!

Have you ever tried to order a custom award only to get stuck on strange and obscure terms? Whether you are a seasoned pro or just dipping your toes into the awards world, understanding award terms is the key to dodging headaches and making smart choices.

Enter Badges And Medals – your trusted terminology wing-mate. With a whopping 50 years of experience in the custom awards game, we have mastered the nuances of these terms and are here to share our expert knowledge with you.

In this article, you will find some of the most confusing award terms along with their easy-to-understand definitions. This list will equip you with the knowledge to ask the right questions and understand the answers that your supplier writes back.

If you want more in-depth information on the terms, click the provided hyperlinks for more comprehensive articles.

• Challenge coin: 

A challenge coin is an award that looks like a coin, only bigger and thicker. These have a long history with the military, dating back to ancient Rome, when soldiers were given minted coins for significant achievements. 

Since then, challenge coins have taken over the business world to become symbols of achievements and camaraderie. Both sides of the challenge coin feature artwork specific to a group or business. Here's where it gets interesting – the "challenge" part of its name! If a coin holder challenges another holder to produce their coin and they can't, tradition says they owe them a small favour. The friendly game adds a fun element to these custom awards.

• Clutch pin: 

A clutch pin is a small but significant component often found on the back of lapel pins or badges. The pin is a convenient and reliable way to fasten an award to your clothing without damaging the fabric. The term "clutch" comes from the mechanism used – a spring-loaded device that, when squeezed, releases the pin for attachment or removal. These are also sometimes called "butterfly clutch pins" because the release looks like tiny wings.

Challenge coins have long been a symbol of success and camaraderie.

• Die-cast: 

Die-casting is a manufacturing process to create detailed metal objects by forcing molten metal into a mould under high pressure. This method produces complex shapes with a lot of accuracy and detail. Think of it like pressing a detailed cutter into cookie dough. Die-casting is used to create custom awards and trophies to achieve finely crafted, durable, and visually appealing designs. These are called die-cast awards. For example: “die-cast medals”.

• Enamel: 

Enamel adds colours and a glossy finish to metal surfaces. It works by melting powdered glass onto metal at high temperatures. In the awards world, enamel is used on die-cast medals, lapel badges, crests, and challenge coins. It cannot be added to areas smaller than 0.5mm (or a 1/64 inch) in width - the same size as the average tip of a rollerball pen.

• Insert medal: 

An insert medal is a medal that features a sticker or an "insert" fixed to one side. Your design is printed on the sticker, which is then covered with a plastic dome (see "resin" below) for protection. The sticker is then attached to a die-cast medal, which has been designed to accommodate it. The medals often feature tasteful designs to backdrop the sticker.

• Lanyard: 

A lanyard is a practical accessory made of a durable ribbon or cord worn around the neck or wrist. It features an attachment such as a clip or hook. Lanyards give their wearers a hands-free way to carry and display custom awards, badges, or identification. They can be customised with logos, slogans, or event colours.

• Medal tabs: 

These are small custom tabs engraved with a participant's finish time, name, or other details and sent out post-event. The tabs attach to the back of a medal, turning it into a special keepsake to celebrate and remember their achievements.

Enamel adds colour and dimension to medals. It can come in any colour!

• MOQ (Minimum Quantity Order): 

The minimum quantity order - also called an "MOQ" - is the smallest number of items a customer must buy in one order. Think of MOQs like buying tickets for a group event. If the event organiser sets an MOQ of ten tickets, you must purchase ten or more tickets to attend. Similarly, if your award supplier sets the MOQ at a certain number, you will need to order that minimum quantity or more to go ahead with the purchase. MOQs help businesses streamline their operations, saving them time and money.

• Plating: 

Plating is when you put a thin layer of metal on the surface of another metal. Plating serves multiple purposes. Firstly, it allows you to pick an award colour that matches your events theme or goals, such as awarding gold medals for first place. Secondly, it can add texture to your awards, like an antique look. It also protects awards from rust and wear. To plate a metal, artisans cover it in another metal, dip it into a special bath, and then run an electric current.

• PO (Purchase Order): 

A purchase order, or "PO" for short, is a document you give to an awards manufacturer to start getting items or services. It's a contract that spells out what you want: how many items, agreed prices, and when you want them. Purchase orders provide a record of your order, ensuring the correct products are delivered. For the manufacturer of the award, the order serves as permission to start marking your awards. Purchase orders are considered legally binding.

• Resin: 

Resin is a versatile material used to make trophies and protect badges, lapel pins, and insert medals. It can come from plants or a lab and has been used to help make things for thousands of years. Way back in the Stone Age, people even used it as glue! Resin is a popular trophy material because it's easy to shape into intricate designs. It also has a smooth and polished finish, which adds a professional look.

To make a trophy, liquid resin (called “casting resin”) is mixed with a hardening agent and poured into a mould. The trophy is then engraved. The type of resin used to protect badges, lapel pins, and insert medals is called “doming resin” because the resin, when dried, forms a strong dome over the protects. The goal is to make the product last longer. Think of it like laminating a piece of paper.

The difference between a medal plated with antique gold (left) and antique silver (right).

• Ribbon bar: 

A ribbon bar is a horizontal bar that connects a ribbon to its medal.

• SO (Sales Order): 

A sales order is a document you receive from your awards manufacturer. It shows they have acknowledged and committed to your order request (which you may have made using a purchase order). It confirms the terms of your order, such as how many items, agreed prices, and when to deliver them. Once accepted, it is legally binding.

• Sublimated ribbon: 

A sublimated ribbon is a ribbon which has had ink infused into its fabric, creating a durable and long-lasting design. It's different from traditional ribbons, which only get their surface printed on. Sublimated ribbons stand out for their vivid colours, intricate details, and resistance to fading.

• Vectorization: 

Vectorization is the process of converting images or designs into vector graphics. This process is necessary because file formats such as JPEGs or PNGs are made of pixels, or tiny dots of colour. When you resize them, you either add or remove pixels, resulting in a loss of image quality. (You probably clocked this problem the last time you tried to blow up an image!) Vector graphics, meanwhile, use mathematical equations to define the shape of an image. This allows designers to resize the design without losing its details. In short, vector images allow your designs to look crisp, no matter the size of the award.

• Zinc alloy: 

Zinc alloy is a metal made up of zinc and other metals. Most metal medals are made from zinc alloy, plus brass or copper for strength. These medals are recyclable.

Flex your award know-how!

Gone are the days when you get lost in the award terminology maze. Instead, armed with your in-depth glossary of award terms from Badges And Medals, you can now navigate the world of awards with newfound confidence and make informed decisions that will benefit your event in the long run.

If you would like to learn more about any of the terms mentioned or don't see the term you were looking for, then have a chat with the Badges And Medals team today using our contact form.