One of the key decisions our customers face is: “What do I want my medal, medallion, award, or challenge coin to be made of?” Every material used by T&S’ skilled craftspeople offers unique advantages. For instance, gold exudes prestige and adds value to your design, while brass, though less striking, is more affordable and highly durable.
In The Raw: GOLD
Welcome to the first edition of In The Raw, our newsletter series highlighting some of our most commonly used materials. This month, we’re celebrating the timeless beauty of GOLD.
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and atomic number 79, but its appeal goes far beyond chemistry. Gold is beautiful, rare, and enduring, which has made it a symbol of wealth and power for thousands of years. Its unique combination of properties—softness, malleability, natural luster, and resistance to tarnish—has ensured its prominence in cultures across the globe.
Gold’s history is intertwined with human civilization. Ancient cultures like the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans revered gold, using it to create stunning jewelry, ornaments, and sacred artifacts. The legendary Tutankhamun’s death mask, crafted from solid gold, remains an iconic example of the material’s place in history. Beyond aesthetics, gold became a cornerstone of early economies, used in coinage as a universal symbol of value.
Even today, gold remains one of the most coveted materials in the world, underpinning currencies, shaping jewellery, and inspiring achievements. Its chemical stability ensures that gold items—whether ancient coins or modern medals—can last for millennia without tarnishing or degrading.
Choosing the Right Gold
When incorporating gold into a design, selecting the right caratage is an important step. Pure gold, or 24 carat (24ct), is exceptionally soft and contains no other metals. To enhance durability, lower caratages like 18ct (75% gold) or 9ct (37.5% gold) blend gold with other metals like copper or silver, offering varied aesthetics and strengths.
Gold in T&S Designs
At T&S Medals, we incorporate gold in numerous commissions. For example, the Cufflinks for St Patrick’s College Strathfield and the Mayoral Chain for the City of Canterbury Bankstown were plated in 23ct gold, achieving a balance of luxury and affordability.
A Timeless Choice
Gold’s versatility and prestige make it an ideal material for medals and insignia that honor life’s greatest achievements. Whether you envision gold as a focal point or part of a broader design, we’d love to help you bring your vision to life with our expertise and passion for craftsmanship.
Let’s have a conversation
Every T&S commission begins with a conversation. Through a friendly, straightforward chat, we’ll introduce you to who we are, what we do, and how we bring ideas to life. At the same time, we’ll learn about you – your school, club, company, or organisation – your history, culture, needs, budget, and vision. This collaboration is the foundation for creating something truly meaningful.
We’d love to start a conversation with you today.