When you bring your medals to be professionally mounted, one of the first decisions to make is whether you want court mounting or swing mounting. Both are smart, polished presentations — but they serve different purposes and suit different people. Here's everything you need to know.
What Is Court Mounting?
Court mounting — also called hard mounting or ridged mounting — involves stitching the medal ribbons firmly and flat onto a backing board, so the medals hang in a fixed, uniform row. The result is a crisp, immaculate presentation with every medal perfectly aligned and spaced.
Court mounting is the standard for most British Army regiments and is the style you'll see at the vast majority of formal parades, Remembrance Sunday services, and investitures. It gives the most polished, authoritative appearance and is the choice recommended by most regimental associations.
Court mounting is typically chosen by:
- Army veterans and serving Army personnel
- RAF veterans
- Those attending Remembrance parades or formal regimental events
- Anyone who wants a permanent, pristine display
What Is Swing Mounting?
Swing mounting — also called loose mounting — allows each medal to hang freely from its ribbon, swinging naturally as the wearer moves. The ribbons are stitched together at the top but the medals themselves are not fixed to a backing board, so they drape and move in the traditional manner.
Swing mounting is the traditional choice for some serving Royal Navy and Royal Marines units, where the movement of medals at sea was considered natural and appropriate. It is also sometimes preferred at less formal occasions or by those who wish to maintain the original, individually hung appearance of their medals.
Swing mounting is typically chosen by:
- Serving or veteran Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel
- Those who prefer the traditional, individual hanging style
- Occasions where a less rigid presentation is acceptable
Which Should You Choose?
If you're unsure, the safest default is court mounting — it's accepted and respected across all three services and at virtually every formal occasion. If you're Royal Navy or Royal Marines and your unit or association has a specific preference, swing mounting may be more appropriate.
If you're mounting a deceased relative's medals for display in the home or for Remembrance wear, court mounting is generally the preferred option as it protects the medals and ribbons over time.
Not sure which to choose? We're veterans ourselves and happy to advise based on your regiment, service, and the occasion. Just get in touch before placing your order.
Our Mounting Services
We offer both court and swing mounting as part of our Full Size Medal Mounting service. Whether you have a single medal or a full rack, we'll mount them to the correct standard with the right spacing and fittings.
Browse our Full Size Medal Mounting collection, or explore our complete range of medal mounting services to find the right option for you.