Badge Finishes

BadgeFinish

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

Finish
Defects

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

Finish
Defects

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

Finish
Defects

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

Finish
Defects

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.

NON-STANDARD

​​Lacquered for durability

No

Yes

Finish

Electroplate/Base Materials

Hardness

Life-time warranty

Finish
Defects

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