This process is our personal preference. Even though the engraved texture comes close to this look, it just doesn't look the same. You don't get the softer look that sandblasting delivers. You'll find that this finish costs a bit more as it's labour intensive. First each medal is sandblasted so that the entire surface is dull. Then each piece is hand buffed with a special wheel that removes the sandblast from the top layer of the design. In our experience, this enhancement can add around $1 of cost to the unit price. But it's worth it in our opinion.