Custom Amex Metal Card: How to Upgrade Your American Express to Metal

A custom Amex metal card does not require a new account, an invitation, or a higher annual fee. You take the American Express card already in your wallet, any tier, and convert it into solid stainless steel or brass through a patented EMV chip transplant. Your account number, chip, and relationship with Amex stay the same. Only the material changes.

Most people searching for an Amex metal card assume they need a premium Amex tier. You do not. Convert the card you already carry, choose your finish, and get back a card that weighs 28 grams instead of six. Here is the full process, the Amex card designs available, and what to know before you order.

Amex Already Has Metal Cards, Here Is the Catch

American Express offers metal on two products. The Platinum carries an $895 annual fee. The Gold sits at $325. Both are metal, and both come with a fixed design you cannot change.

If you hold anything else- a Blue Cash, an EveryDay, a Green, or a Delta co-brand- your Amex arrives in plastic with no upgrade path to metal. Even Platinum and Gold holders cannot customize the finish or choose a different material.

That is the gap a custom metal card conversion fills.

Convert the Amex You Already Have

Lion Card takes any American Express card and rebuilds it in solid metal using U.S. Patent No. 11,562,194. The process transplants your EMV chip and magnetic stripe data into a 0.8mm, 28-gram stainless steel or brass body. No new application. No credit check. No change to your Amex membership, points balance, or billing.

What Stays the Same

Your account number, chip, Membership Rewards, cashback program, and airline miles all continue as before. The underlying account is untouched. The only difference is 28 grams of real metal in your hand and a finish you chose yourself.

Amex Card Designs and Finishes

Two customization paths, each starting at $99.

Optional add-ons include a custom border (+10)andbrandingremoval(+10).

Black Amex Metal Card Without the Invite

A black Amex metal card is one of the most searched finishes, and you do not need an invitation. Choose from five distinct black options:

• Brushed Black - Matte grain, hides fingerprints, understated
• Mirror Black - High gloss, reflective, turns heads
• Brass Black - Warm gold edge contrast against a black face
• Textured Black - Subtle tactile pattern, quiet presence
• Carbon Fiber - Woven, technical, sporty

See each finish on real cards in the video samples gallery.

How the Conversion Works, Step by Step

You approve a mockup before anything is made, and both cards come back together.

Order Online

Pick engraved or UV color as your base, select a finish, and add your name, logo, or border. The customizer walks you through every choice and shows the price as you build. Submit when you are happy with the design.

Receive Your Prepaid Label

Lion Card emails a tracked shipping label after you order. Domestic labels use USPS First Class. International shipments go via FedEx for a flat $65.

Ship Your Amex Card

Freeze the card or bring it to a zero balance before mailing. Place it in the prepaid mailer and drop it off. Lion Card never asks for your PIN, SSN, or passwords.

Approve the Mockup

A digital preview of your finished card is emailed before production starts. Review the finish, placement, and details. Nothing is made until you sign off.

Chip Transplant and Production

Your EMV chip and magnetic stripe data transfer into the new metal body. Production takes 1 to 2 business days after your card arrives. A pre-shipment photo is emailed so you see the result before it ships.

Both Cards Ship Back

The original card and the new metal card return together, fully tracked. Domestic delivery takes 5 to 7 business days. International orders arrive in 10 to 14.

Your data is used only during the transfer and permanently deleted once complete. No card information is stored, shared, or sold.

The Bottom Line

Any American Express card can become a custom Amex metal card, from a Blue Cash to a Platinum. Same chip, same account, same rewards, with 28 grams of real metal and a finish you chose. No application, no approval, no waiting list.

Ready to build yours? Start in the design your own studio and choose your finish.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does converting my Amex void my rewards or membership?

No. The conversion changes only the physical card material, not your account. Your chip and account number stay the same, so your Membership Rewards, billing, and membership continue as before.

Can I convert an Amex Platinum I already have?

Yes. Any American Express card is compatible, including Platinum, Gold, Green, Blue Cash, Delta, and business cards. Even if your Amex is already metal, you can convert it into a custom finish with your own engraving or full-color design.

Will terminals still read my converted Amex card?

Chip insert and magnetic stripe swipe work wherever your original did, because the same data lives inside the metal body. For contactless payments, add the card to Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay. Avoid ATMs that pull the card fully inside, since the rigid metal can stick in pull-in readers.

How much does a custom Amex metal card cost?

Engraved and UV color cards both start at $99. Optional add-ons like a border or branding removal are $10 each. The full price is shown as you build your design, with no hidden fees after checkout.

How long does the conversion take?

Chip transplant and production take 1 to 2 business days after your card arrives. Total turnaround is 5 to 7 business days domestically, 10 to 14 for international orders, including shipping both ways.

Is it safe to mail my Amex card for conversion?

Lion Card has served over 50,000 customers since 2015, holds a BBB A+ rating, and is PCI compliant. Data is never stored, shared, or sold, and is permanently deleted after the order is complete. You can freeze your card before shipping, and Lion Card never asks for your PIN, SSN, or passwords.