Badge Finishes
Understanding Custom Badge Finishes
Ever wonder what a custom metal badge finish is, specifically a plated badge? Electroplating is a very complex plating technique used to apply precious metals. To understand watch our short video, it’s a pretty amazing process.
Otherwise, scroll down and take a look at all our available custom metal badge finishes. Our STANDARD finishes can be applied to most badge styles, and our NON-STANDARD finishes can be applied to a sub-set of styles. The insignia line is available in a limited set of finishes.
*Please be aware all computer screens render color differently, therefore the actual color of the finish on a badge may vary from the pictures you see below.
View Our Badge Finishes
Finish
Electroplate/Base Materials
Hardness
Life-time warranty
Nickel
Nickel Solution applied by electroplating to base material, silver in color. Most cost effective finish.
*Regular enamel and plain seal is standard.
STANDARD
Fair strength, may loose luster with age
No
Yes
Rhodium
Platinum precious metal group applied by electroplating over bright nickel base. Brilliant white color. Very popular finish.
*Regular enamel and plain seal is standard.
STANDARD
Tarnish resistant will not discolor or peel
No
Yes
Rho-Glo®
Base material with solid silver color throughout, requires no surface plating. Brilliant luster. Highly polished silver color.
*Hard enamel and a full color seal are standard.
STANDARD
Very durable
Yes
Yes
Silver Oxide
Any base material heavy plated silver, oxidized then hand rubbed off leaving the appearance of natural oxidation from age.
* Regular enamel and plain seal is standard.
NON-STANDARD
Lacquered for durability
No
Yes
Nickel Oxide
Any base material plated nickel, oxidized, and then rubbed off leaving the appearance of natural oxidation from age.
* Regular enamel and plain seal is standard.
NON-STANDARD
Lacquered for durability
No
Yes
Finish
Electroplate/Base Materials
Hardness
Life-time warranty
Gold Plate
22K+ fine gold electroplate applied on base material. Bright gold color. Very popular gold finish.
* Regular enamel and plain seal is standard.
STANDARD
Tarnish resistant will not discolor or peel
No
Yes
Hi-Glo®
Base material golden color throughout, requires no surface plating. Brilliant luster. Highly polished gold color.
*Hard enamel and a full color seal are standard.
STANDARD
Very Durable
Yes
Yes
VHB KK®
Heavy gold electroplate (HGE) is the ultimate in 24K+ fine gold plate. This process applies a uniformly thick coating of tarnish proof high karat gold, purer and more durable than gold plate.
*Hard enamel and a full color seal are standard.
STANDARD
Tarnish proof and purer and more durable then gold plate
Yes
Yes
Finish
Electroplate/Base Materials
Hardness
Life-time warranty
VHB Bronze
A base material, blackened and hand rubbed leaving the appearance of natural oxidation from age. A popular finish for commemorative badges.
* Regular enamel and plain seal is standard.
NON-STANDARD
Lacquered for durability
No
Yes
Rose Gold®
A darkened gold electroplated base material which is hand rubbed to create the appearance of an antique gold finish. Another popular commemorative badge finish.
*Regular enamel and plain seal is standard.
NON-STANDARD
Tarnish resistant will not discolor or peel
No
Yes
Chocolate Bronze
A base material, hand rubbed to create the appearance of a chocolate antique finish.
*Regular enamel and plain seal is standard.
NON-STANDARD
Lacquered for durability
No
Yes
Green Bronze
CDA 260 brass oxidized, and rubbed off to create the appearance of a natural oxidation from age in a green tinted bronze finish.
*Regular enamel and plain seal is standard.
NON-STANDARD
Lacquered for durability
No
Yes
Finish
Electroplate/Base Materials
Hardness
Life-time warranty
VHB Black
Subdued black finish over a base material minimal reflection. Mainly used by undercover detectives, SWAT, etc.
*Regular enamel and plain seal is standard.
STANDARD
Lacquered for durability
No
Yes
Gunmetal
Our newest charcoal finish features a hint of blue, and unlike the matte finish of VHB Black, Gunmetal has a slight sheen. A great finish for commemorative or anniversary badges, as well as undercover detectives.
*Regular enamel and plain seal is standard.
STANDARD
Lacquered for durability
No
Yes
Unlimited Coloring
One of our most versatile finishes, it’s a first of its kind. A proprietary technology that enables us to incorporate color and design without disrupting the detail in the metal. An economical coloring solution.
*Consult with sales regarding your design. Each design/style will have its own set of specs.
NON-STANDARD
Lacquered for durability
No
Yes
Pink
One of our newer finishes created for our Breast Cancer Awareness Line of badges. A bold pink finish is over a base material, and lacquered for durability.
*Regular enamel and plain seal is standard. We can not use hard enamel on this finish.
NON-STANDARD
Lacquered for durability
No
Yes
Kelly Green
One of our newest finishes created for Emerald Societies, Pipe & Drums, and Irish public safety professionals, etc. A bold green finish is applied over a base material, and lacquered for durability.
*Regular enamel is standard. We can not use hard enamel on this finish.
NON-STANDARD
Lacquered for durability
No
Yes
Violet
Our new Domestic Violence Violet is a vibrant purple. The violet finish is applied over a base material, and lacquered for durability.
*Regular enamel is standard. We can not use hard enamel on this finish.
NON-STANDARD
Lacquered for durability
No
Yes
Blue
Our new blue finish was created for Autism awareness month. This blue finish is applied over a base material, and lacquered for durability.
*Regular enamel is standard. We can not use hard enamel on this finish.
Lacquered for durability
No
Yes
Finish
Electroplate/Base Materials
Hardness
Life-time warranty
Two-Tone
Combination of gold and silver colors. Badges with applied panels will consist of Hi-Glo® & Rho-Glo®. One piece badges will consist of Hi-Glo® panels and rhodium background or Rho-Glo® panels and gold plate background.
*Hard enamel and a full color seal are standard.
STANDARD
Very Durable
Yes
Yes
Two-Tone Gunmetal
Combination of gunmetal and either silver or gold panels. Badges will consist of Hi-Glo® or Rho-Glo® panels and gunmetal plated background.
*Hard enamel and a full color seal are standard.
STANDARD
Very Durable
Yes
Yes
Tri-Tone
Combination of three finishes. Generally a silver, gold, and bronze finish. A very complex badge to manufacture. Tri-Tone badges must be custom quoted. Tri-tone is a great finish for a special anniversary badge. *Hard enamel and a full color seal are standard.
NON-STANDARD
Very durable
Yes
Yes