Metallic Slate Medals: A Premium Alternative to Traditional Metal Medals

When event organisers think about sustainable medals, there can still be an assumption that they have to be light, basic or less premium than traditional metal awards.

Metallic slate medals challenge that idea completely.

They are thick, substantial and heavy in the hand, but can also be finished in metallic gold, silver and bronze before being precision engraved with your event artwork.

During 2026, this has become one of the most popular medal styles we produce, particularly for organisers who want something unusual without losing that premium podium feel.

Watch Michael demonstrate our metallic slate medals, engraving finishes, shapes and trophy options.

Why Metallic Slate Has Become So Popular

Standard engraved slate already has some qualities that work brilliantly for medals.

It has weight. It has thickness. It feels substantial in the hand, and because slate is a natural material, every piece has some individual character.

Adding a metallic sprayed finish changes the appearance without removing those qualities.

Instead of the familiar dark grey surface of natural slate, organisers can choose a gold, silver or bronze finish that reflects the light and creates a much stronger contrast when engraved.

Gold, Silver and Bronze Without a Traditional Metal Medal

One of the most obvious uses for metallic slate is podium awards.

Gold, silver and bronze finishes make first, second and third place immediately recognisable, which makes them particularly suitable for tournaments, martial arts competitions, surf lifesaving events, strongman competitions and other competitive sports.

The bronze has a warm copper-style appearance, while the silver and gold finishes have a brighter metallic sheen that catches the light particularly well.

They can also be combined with standard engraved slate.

For example, an organiser could use natural engraved slate medals for all finishers and reserve metallic gold, silver and bronze versions for category winners.

The Engraving Is Where the Finish Really Changes

Metallic slate isn't simply about spraying stone gold or silver.

The engraving creates the contrast that makes the finished medal work.

We use a finer-detail engraving lens that allows us to reproduce considerably smaller features than older wide-focus engraving setups.

That means medal artwork can include:

• Small event text.
• Fine outlines.
• Stars and decorative details.
• Competition positions.
• Detailed event logos.
• More intricate sporting artwork.

On metallic slate, engraving removes the upper surface carefully enough to reveal a contrasting darker layer beneath.

The result is a clean engraved design against the reflective metallic finish without completely flattening the natural texture of the slate.

Premium Doesn't Have to Mean Overcomplicated

One of the reasons these medals work is that the material does a lot of the visual work for you.

You don't necessarily need complicated colour printing, multiple layers or an overly detailed medal shape.

A strong engraved design against metallic slate can already create enough contrast to feel special.

Metallic Slate Trophies

The same sprayed finishes can also be applied to slate trophies.

This gives organisers the opportunity to create a complete award system rather than sourcing medals and trophies separately.

A competition could, for example, use engraved slate medals for participants and larger metallic slate trophies for category winners.

Because both awards use the same material and engraving process, they look like they belong to the same event.

Slate Doesn't Have to Be Circular

One of the biggest misconceptions about slate medals is that they all need to look like traditional round coasters.

In reality, we produce slate medals in several different shapes depending on the design and event.

• Traditional circular slate medals.
• Hexagonal slate medals.
• Heart-shaped slate medals.
• Square slate medals.
• Smaller bauble-style slate medals.

Shape can be used as another part of the event story rather than simply being decoration.

Using Medal Shape to Tell a Bigger Story

Yateley 10K is a good example of how organisers can think beyond an individual medal.

Their hexagonal medals can be positioned together across the series, allowing the artwork to create a larger connected design.

We've also produced heart-shaped slate medals for the Heartbreaker Half Marathon and square designs for strength competitions.

The lesson for organisers is simple: you don't always have to begin your medal design by drawing a circle.

Which Events Suit Slate Medals?

Slate tends to work particularly well when the material has some connection to the personality or environment of the event.

Outdoor and coastal events are obvious examples because stone naturally fits the setting.

But we've also found it works exceptionally well for strength and combat sports because the weight and solidity of the material reinforce the nature of the competition.

Don't Forget the Ribbon

The ribbon can completely change how the finished medal looks.

Metallic slate can be paired with simple satin ribbon, recycled polyester ribbon or fully printed custom ribbon depending on the event.

We've also paired metallic medals with metallic-style ribbons, allowing the finish of the medal to carry through into the complete award.

When you're planning your medal, think of the ribbon and medal together rather than treating the ribbon as an afterthought.

What Other Event Organisers Can Learn

The growth in metallic slate medals during 2026 highlights something important about medal design.

Sustainable materials don't have to mean compromising on perceived quality.

Before automatically ordering another traditional metal medal, consider:

• Does the material fit the personality of your event?
• Could natural slate reinforce the location or sport?
• Would gold, silver and bronze versions work for podium positions?
• Could standard slate and metallic slate be combined across different award levels?
• Would a custom shape make the medal more relevant?
• Could your medals and trophies be designed as one matching award system?

Sometimes changing the material creates more impact than adding more detail to the artwork.

Metallic Slate Medal Options

The Finished Effect

Metallic slate sits somewhere between two very different styles of award.

You retain the natural texture, thickness and individuality of stone, but the gold, silver or bronze finish gives it the contemporary appearance organisers often associate with premium metal medals.

Add detailed engraving and a well-matched ribbon, and the result can feel completely different from the medals participants are used to receiving.

And when you've put months into creating a great event experience, the award handed over at the finish should feel like it belongs to the same standard.

Planning Medals for Your Next Event?

Whether you're organising a running race, martial arts tournament, surf competition, strongman event or something completely different, we can help you work out whether slate is the right material.

Tell us about the event, your quantity and the type of finish you're considering and we'll suggest a practical medal concept.