Race medals all look the same in a supplier’s photograph, which is exactly the problem. Five things decide whether one is any good.

Ask for the gauge with the diameter

Diameter is what shows in a picture; thickness is what makes it feel like a medal and stops a large one bowing in a mailing bag.

A supplier quoting size without thickness is quoting you half a specification.

Design for a metre, not for a screen

The medal is read at arm’s length by somebody who has just run for hours. The event name, the distance and the year need depth and space around them.

Fine line work that looks impressive zoomed in on a monitor disappears entirely at actual size.

Pick the finish for the photographs

A bright mirror polish flares under a finish gantry and in direct sun, which is where every photograph of your medal will be taken.

Antique and satin finishes read better in those pictures, and are usually cheaper.

Specify the ribbon properly

Match the bar width to the opening in the medal or it hangs skewed. Choose the drop length rather than accepting a default.

Sublimated for photographic artwork, woven for bold type that has to stay crisp.

Get a ship date, not a range

The event cannot move. Ask for a written ship date, the artwork cut-off that protects it, and the date after which sea freight is no longer an option.