Bullion patches
Custom bullion patches are hand-embroidered crests made with coiled gold and silver metal wire. They are the patches on blazer pockets, regimental and police insignia, yacht club and school crests — raised, glinting and made entirely by hand, one piece at a time.
| Price | From $13.18 per piece — full grid on patch pricing |
| Minimum order | 12 pieces per design (hand-made) |
| Production | Hand-sewn; production time confirmed with your proof |
| Shipping | Free and tracked worldwide, usually 3–7 business days in transit |
| Proof | Free digital proof — nothing is made until you approve it |
| Payment | 50% deposit once the proof is approved, 50% before dispatch |
What a bullion patch is
Instead of machine thread, a bullion patch is built from bullion wire: fine metallic wire wound into tight springs, cut to length and sewn down by hand so each coil stands proud of the base. The wire is combined with embroidery thread, silk, felt, twill or velvet to build up the design. Because every piece is hand-made, bullion carries a depth and shine that machine embroidery cannot copy.
| Part of the patch | Materials |
|---|---|
| Background | Felt, twill or velvet |
| Main design | Gold or silver bullion wire; coloured wire for accents |
| Lettering | Bullion wire or embroidery thread |
| Border | Merrowed, die-cut, or a bullion-wire border |
Bullion patch pricing
Price per patch, by the average of height and width and by quantity:
| Size | 12 pcs | 24 pcs | 48 pcs | 95 pcs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 inch | $18.74 | $16.93 | $14.82 | $13.18 |
| 2 inch | $20.52 | $18.33 | $16.25 | $14.82 |
| 3 inch | $21.77 | $19.67 | $18.33 | $16.73 |
| 4 inch | $23.95 | $21.62 | $19.92 | $18.14 |
Bullion is hand-made, so it has its own lower minimum of 12 pieces per design. Larger sizes and quantities above 95 are quoted individually. Shipping is free and tracked worldwide.
What bullion patches are used for
- Blazer crests for schools, colleges, clubs and societies.
- Military, police and fire insignia — ceremonial and dress uniforms.
- Yacht, golf and sports club emblems.
- Masonic and fraternal regalia.
- Corporate gifts and awards where the patch itself is the prestige item.
Options
| Option | Choices |
|---|---|
| Wire colour | Gold, silver, and coloured wire accents |
| Background | Felt, twill, velvet |
| Border | Merrowed, die-cut, or bullion wire |
| Backing | Sew-on (standard), felt backing, butterfly-clutch pin backs, or hook-and-loop |
Caring for a bullion patch
- Do not machine wash. Metal wire bends and the coils can crush. Dry-clean the garment or remove the patch first.
- Never iron directly on it. Press the garment around the patch, or from the back with a cloth.
- Store it dry. Metallic wire can dull or tarnish over time in damp conditions.
How ordering works
Send your artwork — a crest, a logo or even a photo of an old badge. We send a digital proof with size, wire colours and materials marked, and nothing is made until you approve it. Because every bullion patch is sewn by hand, the production time is confirmed with your proof.
What we guarantee on every order
These are the terms every order is made under — the same ones written in our order terms, not a sales promise.
- Free proof, usually the same working day. It shows size, thread colours, border and backing.
- Unlimited free changes. Ask for as many proof revisions as you need.
- Nothing is made until you approve it in writing. You can cancel free of charge at any point before approval.
- Remade at our cost if it does not match the proof. Tell us within 14 days of delivery with photos and we cover the remake and the return shipping on our errors.
- No setup or digitizing fees. Redrawing and digitizing your artwork is part of the price.
- Free tracked shipping worldwide.
Honest limits: thread is matched as closely as thread allows, so a small shift against a printed Pantone chip is normal, and very fine detail is flagged on the proof before you approve it.
Common questions
What is a bullion patch?
A hand-embroidered patch made with coiled metallic wire, usually gold or silver, sewn onto felt, twill or velvet. It is the traditional material for blazer crests and ceremonial insignia.
How much do custom bullion patches cost?
From $13.18 each for a 1 inch patch at 95 pieces, up to $23.95 each for a 4 inch patch at 12 pieces. See the price table above.
What is the minimum order for bullion patches?
12 pieces per design — lower than our 50-piece minimum on machine-made patches, because each bullion patch is made individually.
Can bullion patches be washed?
Not in a machine. Dry-clean the garment or remove the patch. Washing crushes the wire coils.
How are bullion patches attached?
Most are sewn onto a blazer pocket or uniform. Butterfly-clutch pin backs let a crest move between jackets, and hook-and-loop suits uniforms that change.
Related reading
- Patch types compared — where bullion sits against the other six
- Custom embroidered patches — the machine-made alternative, from $0.75
- Insignia and what it means — the tradition behind crests and badges
- How to sew on a patch — stitching a crest onto a blazer