What is cerakote?

Cerakote is a thin film ceramic based coating that is sprayed onto a surface and then cured to create an extremely durable, wear resistant, and finely finished layer available in a vast range of colours and textures. Originally developed for demanding industrial and firearm applications, it brings exceptional toughness and a sophisticated matte or satin look to premium awards.

When a recognition piece needs to combine a distinctive colour with genuine durability, ordinary paint often falls short. It chips, scratches, and dulls with handling. Cerakote answers that need with a ceramic reinforced coating that is remarkably thin yet exceptionally hard, giving awards a modern, refined finish that lasts.

How cerakote works

Cerakote is a liquid coating that contains ceramic particles suspended in a carrier. The part is thoroughly cleaned and usually lightly abraded to give the coating a good grip. The cerakote is then applied in a very thin, even layer using spray equipment, and the piece is cured, often with heat, so the coating hardens and bonds tightly to the surface. The cured result is a dense ceramic film that adds minimal thickness while dramatically improving surface hardness and resistance to wear, corrosion, and chemicals.

Because the film is so thin, it preserves fine detail beneath it, which matters for engraved or textured award surfaces.

Why it matters for premium awards

Colour and durability rarely coexist as well as they do with cerakote. An award can be finished in a deep matte black, a rich brand colour, a metallic tone, or a subtle satin, and that finish will survive years of handling, display, and transport without the chipping that plagues conventional paint. For programmes where awards travel or are handled frequently, that resilience protects the client’s investment.

Aesthetically, cerakote delivers a contemporary, understated look. Its matte and satin finishes read as premium and modern, sidestepping the glossy plastic appearance that can cheapen an object.

Which materials suit cerakote

Metals are natural candidates and take cerakote beautifully, which is why it is so popular for metal award bodies and components. Suitably prepared plastics and printed parts can also be coated, expanding its usefulness across hybrid designs. Because surface preparation is specific to the substrate, we plan the material and coating together from the start, drawing on the options in our materials overview.

Cerakote versus anodising and paint

Anodising colours aluminium by growing an oxide layer into the metal itself, giving superb durability but a limited palette and a look tied to the metal. Conventional paint offers unlimited colour but modest durability. Cerakote sits between them, offering a very wide colour and texture range together with toughness that far exceeds ordinary paint. For coloured metal awards that must endure, it is frequently the best balance of appearance and resilience.

What the finish looks and feels like

Cerakote most often presents as a smooth matte or satin surface with a fine, even texture. It feels solid and slightly warm to the touch, without the slick plasticky feel of gloss paint. Colours are consistent and deep, and because the film is thin, any engraving or surface relief beneath it stays crisp. The overall impression is engineered, modern, and quietly premium.

Design considerations before you commit

Colour and texture: a wide palette is available, so specify the exact tone and whether matte or satin is wanted.
Engraving sequence: decide whether engraving goes under or through the coating for the contrast you want.
Masking: areas that should stay bare, such as polished accents, are masked before coating.
Surface prep: the substrate governs preparation, so material is confirmed early.
Combination finishes: cerakote pairs well with polished or hydrographic zones for contrast.

How Fabit approaches it

Cerakote demands disciplined preparation, spraying, and curing, and doing it in house lets us hold every one of those stages to a single standard alongside engraving and assembly. That integration is how we combine a tough coloured body with precise engraved detail and know the two will align perfectly. You can see how coated finishes fit within our full range on the custom trophies service page.

We respond to every enquiry within twenty four hours and deliver finished awards worldwide, so a durable, beautifully coated piece reaches you wherever you are.

Frequently asked questions

Is cerakote just expensive paint?
No. It is a ceramic reinforced coating that is far harder and more wear resistant than conventional paint, while remaining very thin so it preserves detail.

What colours are available?
A very broad palette, including deep solids, metallics, and custom matched brand colours, in matte or satin textures.

Can I engrave over a cerakote finish?
Yes. Engraving can cut through the coating to reveal the material beneath, creating sharp contrast, or be applied before coating. We plan the effect you want.

How well does it hold up over time?
Exceptionally. Cerakote resists chipping, scratching, and corrosion far better than paint, keeping awards looking new for years.

Colour matching and brand consistency

For corporate clients, one of cerakote’s quieter strengths is how faithfully it can hold a specific brand colour. Because the coating is applied as a controlled spray, tones can be matched closely and reproduced consistently across a batch, so every award in a programme carries the same considered shade rather than drifting from piece to piece. This matters more than it might first appear, because inconsistent colour is one of the fastest ways an award set can look cheap. Pairing a precisely matched brand colour with a matte or satin texture also sidesteps the glossy, generic look that undermines so many coloured trophies. When a recipient sees the award, the colour reads as a deliberate extension of the brand, reinforcing the sense that real thought went into honouring them. In practice this consistency also makes reordering straightforward, since a repeat batch commissioned months later can be matched to the original, keeping an ongoing recognition programme visually coherent from one year to the next.

Cerakote is the finish for awards that must look refined and stay that way. It marries a modern, premium appearance with genuine industrial toughness, protecting both the object and the recognition it represents. Begin your coated design in our online design studio.