Swiss gold bars are definitely one of the most popular gold investment options available today.
As you are probably aware, Switzerland holds a special place regarding gold investment.
Long the home to both individual & corporate gold holdings, this country is regarded as historically something of a safe haven.
It is also home to a number of metal refiners, who provide gold bullion to collectors &investors.
There are two main brands of Swiss gold bars in the market: The first is the Credit Suisse bar.
This is backed by the world famous Credit Suisse bank.
These gold ingots are available in a variety of weights (sizes).
The most popular currently seems to be the 1kg size.
To confuse the issue, there are 2 types of Credit Suisse bar: Cast & minted.
The cast bars are relatively plain.
Here the gold has literally been poured into a mould, then the bar was stamped.
The second type is the minted bar.
These have a superior finish and markings but sell for a noticeable premium above the spot price of gold.
The second famous Swiss gold ingot is manufactured by PAMP.
These gold ingots are all minted & are truly works of art.
Beautiful to behold, they are collectors' pieces in their own right.
They feature characters such as "Lady Fortuna" marked into the surface.
The premium on these bars is very high, so it pays to shop around.
Like the Credit Suisse gold bars, the manufacturer' reputation stands full square behind the product.
When you buy these bars, you need to ensure that they come with an assay certificate.
This document shows the serial number of the bar, its weight and purity.
If the serial number on the bar & the serial number of the paperwork don't match- then don't buy the bar! Buying Swiss gold bars online is very easy and by ensuring that the paperwork matches the product you have received, you can buy with great confidence.
Until next time, Happy gold buying, Paul