Preparing a Police Crest for Glass Engraving

A Personal Commission Honouring Service

Occasionally a customer approaches us with a design that carries deep personal meaning. One such commission came from a customer who wished to honour her partner’s grandfather, who had served in the police force.

The request was to engrave the badge associated with the force he had served with. The original reference material was a photograph of the crest, which contained several detailed elements including a crown, shield and surrounding inscription.

Before any engraving can begin, designs like this must be carefully redrawn and simplified so they translate correctly into glass engraving. Fine lines that appear clearly in printed artwork can behave very differently when engraved into glass, so each element needs to be interpreted in a way that preserves the character of the crest while ensuring clarity in the finished piece.

Working from the supplied reference image, we prepared engraving artwork that retained the recognisable structure of the badge while adjusting line weights and spacing for sandblasting. Once the artwork was approved, the design was engraved into the chosen glass piece, creating a permanent tribute to the grandfather’s service.

Commissions like this remind us that crests and insignia are often more than decorative designs. They represent history, identity and personal connection, which makes careful preparation and craftsmanship all the more important.