Awards and Plaques Knowledge Center

Welcome to Award Plaque Store.

Plaques are a common and effective way to award, recognize or appreciate many different accomplishments.  Because there are so many different reasons that a plaque can be given, we have divided our plaque selection into 5 distinct plaque materials.  Each of these materials offers the presenter and recipient a different feel to the plaque.  The materials discussed in this site are: wood plaques, black plaques, rosewood plaques, acrylic plaques, and glass and crystal plaques.

Wood plaques are the most widely recognized and given award plaques in the marketplace.  They consist of a rectangular wood piece with an engraved metal piece attached to it.

Black plaques are similar to wood plaques, but are black in color.  They can be made out of wood or acrylic.  Black plaques offer a more modern and contemporary style and more often than not have a shiny, lacquer coating.  The same is true with rosewood plaques.

Rosewood plaques can (and usually are) made out of a wood material.  Sometimes rosewood plaques are made out of actual rosewood, but they are commonly made out of a solid (non-pressboard) wood and stained to yield a deep red color.  Rosewood plaques also can have a lacquer or piano finished coating.

Acrylic plaques are becoming more mainstream as they offer many benefits.  Acrylic plaques are able to be fabricated in different colors and shapes.  They can cost around the same as a wood, black, or rosewood plaque, but offer a new and contemporary look that is desirable to many awards purchasers.  Finally, there are glass and crystal plaques.

Glass plaques and crystal plaques can be comprised of that material alone, or can be combined with other materials to create a very unique and classy plaque.  Some glass plaques and crystal plaques are molded, beveled and cut to create a specific award.  These may include a bent glass crescent award, glass block, or crystal star.  Lately, one of the most popular plaque styles consists of a glass, acrylic or crystal rectangle that is attached to a black or rosewood wall plaque.  Spacers are used so that the glass, acrylic or crystal is not placed directly on the wood.  The space between the engraved material and the plaque board is about 1 inch and provides a perfect amount of space to provide texture and depth to the award.

This site provides additional information on each of the plaque materials as well as examples of each and links to actually purchase these awards.  If you have any questions, please feel free to visit the awardsguru blog found at http://awardsguru.wordpress.com.