•
Knight – wears the Medal on the left chest (bow form for women in dress) •
Officer – wears the Medal with
rosette on the left chest (bow form for women in dress) •
Commander – wears the necklet on the neck for men and women (left shoulder in bow form for women in dress) •
Grand Officer – wears the Medal with
rosette on the left chest, plus the Star on the right side of the stomach; •
Grand Cross – wears the Sash on the right shoulder to the left hip and the Star on the left side of the stomach. The medal and the plaque of the Order were designed by the French sculptor
Max Leognany. • The medal of the order is a six-armed
Maltese asterisk in
gilt (silver for chevalier)
enamelled blue, with
laurel leaves between the arms. The obverse central disc features the head of
Marianne, surrounded by the legend ('French Republic'). The reverse central disc has a set of crossed
tricolores, surrounded by the name of the order and its foundation date. The
badge is suspended by a laurel wreath. • The star (plaque) is worn by (in
gilt on the left breast) and (in silver on the right breast) respectively; it is a twelve-armed sunburst, with rays (formerly plain, now in blue enamel) between the arms. The central disc features the head of
Marianne, surrounded by the legend and the name of the Order, and in turn surrounded by a wreath of laurel. • The
ribbon for the medal is a solid blue field. For the grade of and above, a rosette is centered in the field. For the grades of , , and , the rosette is centered bar of silver; silver and gold, and a solid gold respectively.
Buttonhole == Notable recipients ==