Medal Mounting: The Complete Guide to Mounting Medals on a Brooch Bar
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Military medals recognise service across specific operations, conflicts, and periods of military duty. Whether awarded to a veteran or worn by a family member in honour of a relative's service, they should be mounted and presented correctly.
Proper medal mounting helps keep medals secure, correctly aligned, and protected from damage. It also ensures they are ready to be worn at commemorative services, parades, and other ceremonial occasions.
Understanding medal mounting can be confusing, particularly when it comes to brooch bars, mounting styles, and the correct order of wear. Whether you're considering professional medal mounting or mounting medals yourself, understanding the process is important.
This guide explains how medal mounting works, how to mount medals on a brooch bar, the difference between court mounting and swing mounting, and common mistakes to avoid when preparing medals for wear.
What is Medal Mounting?
Medal mounting is the process of arranging and securing military medals onto a brooch bar so they can be worn as a single medal group.
The purpose of medal mounting is to:
Protect medals from unnecessary movement and damage
Keep medal groups neat and correctly aligned
Ensure medals are displayed in the proper order of wear
Make medals easier and more practical to wear
While medals can be worn individually, mounting multiple medals onto a brooch bar provides greater stability and creates a more uniform appearance.
For Australian military medals, mounting should always follow recognised honours and awards conventions to ensure the medals are worn correctly and in accordance with the official order of wear.
What is a Brooch Bar?
A brooch bar is the metal bar attached to the back of a medal group that allows the medals to be worn on a uniform, jacket, or other ceremonial dress.
During the medal mounting process, the ribbon of each medal is folded over the brooch bar and secured to a backing. This creates a single medal group that can be attached and removed as required.
Medal ribbon brooch bars are available in a range of widths to accommodate different medal groups. The size of the bar should provide enough space for the medals to sit evenly and remain correctly aligned.
Although largely hidden once the medals are worn, the brooch bar is a key component of any mounted medal group. A bar that is incorrectly sized or fitted can affect the alignment, stability, and long-term condition of the medals.
Understanding Medal Mounting Styles
Before learning how to mount medals on a brooch bar, it is important to understand the two mounting styles most commonly used in Australia: court mounting and swing mounting.
Court Mounting
Court mounting secures the medals against a rigid backing, limiting movement when worn. The ribbons are mounted over a backing board and the medals are fixed in place, creating a neat and uniform appearance.
Court mounting is often preferred because it:
Reduces movement between medals
Helps minimise scratching and wear
Provides a tidy, uniform presentation
Offers additional support for larger medal groups
Swing Mounting
Swing mounting allows medals to hang freely from the ribbons, enabling them to move independently when worn.
This traditional mounting style remains popular among veterans and collectors who prefer the appearance of naturally hanging medals.
Compared to court mounting, swing-mounted medals allow greater movement when worn and may be more susceptible to contact between medals.
How to Mount Medals on a Brooch Bar
Once you've chosen a mounting style, the medals can be arranged and secured to a brooch bar.
Determine the Correct Order of Wear
Before any mounting begins, confirm the official order of wear for the medals being mounted.
Australian honours and awards are worn according to an established order of precedence. Medals should never be arranged according to personal preference, date received, or sentimental importance.
If multiple medals are being mounted, the highest-ranking award is positioned first, followed by the remaining medals in their correct order.
Select an Appropriate Brooch Bar
The brooch bar should be wide enough to support the medal group without overcrowding.
Factors that influence brooch bar selection include:
Number of medals
Medal size
Ribbon width
Mounting style
A properly sized bar helps maintain even spacing and improves the overall appearance of the finished medal group.
Arrange and Fold the Ribbons
The ribbon of each medal is folded over the brooch bar and secured to a backing.
Consistency is important at this stage. Uneven folds can affect the alignment of the entire medal group and become more noticeable when the medals are worn.
Position the Medals
Once the ribbons have been attached, the medals are positioned according to the chosen mounting style.
For court-mounted groups, medals are typically overlapped slightly and secured against a backing board. For swing-mounted groups, the medals hang freely from the ribbons.
The finished arrangement should appear balanced, evenly spaced, and aligned across the bottom edge.
Secure the Medal Group
The final step involves securing the mounted group to the brooch bar and checking that all components are firmly attached.
The completed medal group should sit comfortably against the garment, remain stable when worn, and maintain its alignment during movement.
Common Medal Mounting Mistakes
Even a well-presented medal group can have mounting issues that affect its appearance, durability, or compliance with medal-wearing conventions. Avoid these common mistakes when mounting medals on a brooch bar.
Mounting Medals in the Wrong Order
One of the most common mistakes is arranging medals according to when they were received rather than the official order of wear.
Australian military medals should always follow the recognised order of precedence to ensure they are worn correctly at commemorative and ceremonial events.
Using the Wrong Brooch Bar Size
A brooch bar that is too small can overcrowd the medal group and affect alignment. A bar that is too large may create unnecessary movement and reduce stability.
Selecting the correct width helps maintain an even and professional presentation.
Mixing Original and Damaged Components
Worn ribbons, bent suspension rings, and damaged mounting hardware can affect both appearance and durability.
Inspect all components before mounting and replace any items that are no longer serviceable.
Poor Alignment
Uneven ribbon lengths, inconsistent overlap, and medals sitting at different heights can make a medal group appear untidy.
Careful measuring and positioning are essential to achieving a uniform finish.
FAQs
How should medals be mounted?
Medals should be mounted in the correct order of wear using a suitable brooch bar and mounting style. The medals must be evenly aligned, securely attached, and arranged according to the Australian honours and awards order of precedence. Proper mounting helps protect the medals while ensuring they are presented correctly for commemorative and ceremonial occasions.
How much does medal mounting cost?
The cost of medal mounting varies depending on the number of medals, the mounting style, and whether additional work such as ribbon replacement, cleaning, or restoration is required. Simple medal groups typically cost less to mount than larger groups requiring custom brooch bars or court mounting. For an accurate price, it is best to obtain a quote based on the specific medals being mounted.
What are the different types of medal mounting?
The two most common types of medal mounting are court mounting and swing mounting.
Court mounting secures the medals against a backing, creating a neat and stable presentation with minimal movement.
Swing mounting allows the medals to hang freely from the ribbons, giving them a more traditional appearance. Both styles are acceptable, with the choice often depending on personal preference and how the medals will be worn.
How do you mount your own medal?
To mount your own medal, first confirm the correct order of wear and select an appropriately sized brooch bar. The ribbon is then folded over the bar and secured to a backing before the medal is attached and aligned. If mounting multiple medals, ensure they are evenly spaced and sit at a consistent height. Careful measuring and secure fastening are essential to achieve a professional result.
