Jump to: Top Gold Bars for Investors | Why Gold Bars? | Purity and Weight | Pricing Insights | Where to Buy? | Where to Store? | Selling Your Gold Bars | FAQs
Since I started buying gold bars 15 years ago, a lot has changed. Many of the brands that used to be in the market are no longer in business. My knowledge, experience, and the tables I get to set out now have given me a very thorough understanding of the best gold bar brands to buy. That's what I'm going to cover here for you today.
Key Takeaways
- Investing in gold bars from the best brands, such as Argor-Heraeus, Perth Mint, Royal Mint and the Royal Canadian Mint offers quality, security, and a range of sizes to fit different investment needs, along with unique features like divisibility.
- Gold bars typically carry lower premiums than gold coins, ease of storage, and act as a hedge against inflation, making them a solid choice for diversifying investment portfolios. Options include various ounce gold bar sizes, such as 1 oz and 10 oz, to cater to different investment strategies.
- When purchasing gold bars, consider factors like purity, weight, and spot price; larger bars often offer more value with lower premiums over spot price, and choosing a reputable dealer is crucial for a trustworthy investment.
Top Gold Bar Picks for Investors
Investors on the hunt for high-grade gold bars look for two key factors: assured quality and certified purity. The market is rich with options, but a select few gold bar brands distinguish themselves as exemplars of dependability and attractiveness.
Exploring this sector uncovers the top-rated gold bar manufacturers that have won investor favor through their historical reputation, verifiable purity, and distinctive designs that elevate them from mere precious metal to objets d’art. These brands are known for producing some of the world's finest gold bars.
Among these premium producers known for crafting some of the best gold bars available are:
- Argor-Heraeus
- Valcambi Suisse
- Royal Mint
- Perth Mint
- Royal Canadian Mint
- Scottsdale Mint
- Johnson Matthey (renowned specifically for Johnson Matthey gold bars)
These establishments have secured top positions in the marketplace by providing investors with exceptionally desirable gold bars. For those experienced or newcomers in investing alike, considering these reputable names is a solid step when selecting which high-quality gold bars to purchase as an addition to one’s investment collection.
I should know. I've personally visited most of the places and had them on our SD Bullion podcast.
Argor-Heraeus Gold Bars
1 oz Argor-Heraeus Kinebar Gold Bar
Argor-Heraeus is one of the oldest gold bar manufacturers in the world. The company is a private mint and family-owned for nearly 400 years. Originally, the company was based out of Germany, where they still have operations today under the original Heraeus brand. They have merged with the Argor brand in Switzerland; which is where their gold refining and production is done.
I've visited the gold plant before. The quality and craftsmanship that goes into their work is primo. It's why we have also partnered with them to create our own co-branded SD Bullion Argor-Heraeus gold bars. The day I visited, I got to watch them make gold kilo bars. It was an intricate process and one I'll never forget as that was the most gold kilo bars I'd ever seen in one setting.
Perth Mint Gold Bars
Located in Australia, the Perth Mint produces gold bars that encapsulate exceptional craftsmanship and are emblazoned with cultural symbols such as the kangaroo and the Chinese zodiac. These representations not only celebrate Australian traditions but also underscore the mint’s dedication to crafting high-quality precious metals.
1 oz Lunar Dragon Minted Gold Bar In Assay
The security of these investments is a top priority for Perth Mint, so every gold bar comes securely packaged within tamper-proof containers along with a certificate proving authenticity. This ensures both protection for your investment and an artistic appeal. Thus, they truly represent a merger of visual beauty and safety assurances.
Perth has long been a name-brand in the precious metals space. Investors know them for extreme quality and popularity in the marketplace.
Valcambi Suisse Gold Bars
Gold bars from Valcambi Suisse epitomize the finest standards, boasting an impressive.9999 purity level indicative of investment-grade gold. The prestigious reputation of the Valcambi Mint is bolstered by their high-caliber products that allure those in pursuit of both visual beauty and fiscal merit when choosing their suisse gold bars.
Atop its series stands CombiBar, the mint’s ingenious creation designed for divisibility into smaller units, granting investors unprecedented adaptability and convenience in managing their assets.
20 x 1 g Valcambi Gold CombiBar - In Assay
Every bar emerges from Valcambi meticulously encased alongside an assay certification paired with a distinct serial number—indelible signs of dedication towards ensuring genuine provenance and heightened security.
The Royal Mint
The Royal Mint recently released Britannia gold bars into the marketplace. The response has been extremely positive as the bars carry a beautiful design and come in a protective assay card. The Royal Mint is the oldest mint currently in production. This is why they call themselves The Original Maker.
I got to see first hand how they create exquisite, beautiful gold products. They take great pride in delivering a quality product.
We recently partnered with the Royal Mint to create the SD Bullion exclusive Una and the Lion Collection, one of the most beautiful designs in the gold bar market today.
1 oz Una and the Lion Gold Bar
The Royal Canadian Mint
The Royal Canadian Mint is possibly the most popular brand for 1 oz gold bars and also 100 oz silver bars. They have publicly invested in a massive amount of technology to create extremely high-quality products that hold their quality over the long term.
Like all other major brands mentioned here, the RCM ships their 1 oz gold bars serialized with a unique serial number in a protective assay card.
1 oz Royal Canadian Mint Gold Bar in Assay
Investing in Gold: Why Gold Bars?
Investing in gold bars is a strategic move for the astute investor’s portfolio, offering reduced premiums compared to gold coins along with ease of storage. This practical and cost-effective combination renders them highly appealing for sustained investment strategies. Gold bars deliver a level of certainty and dependability that is rare among other assets, thus making the choice to purchase gold bars an intelligent option for numerous investors.
When it comes to protecting against inflation and the devaluation of the US Dollar, gold’s performance has stood the test of time. It has proven its capacity to maintain or appreciate in value during economic turbulence, reinforcing its status as an exceptional physical form of investment.
Investment in a pure gold bar ensures high value and security, making it a prudent choice for safeguarding your wealth. Gold bars lay down a strong foundation whether you’re broadening your assortment of investments or seeking dependable protection—safeguarding your wealth into the future.
The Significance of Purity and Weight in Gold Bars
Investors prioritize two vital aspects when evaluating gold bars: the purity and weight of the bar. These are fundamental determinants of a gold bar’s inherent value. For an investment-grade bar to be considered such, it must possess no less than 99.5% purity.
Most all gold bars minted today, though, include 99.9% purity; with most major brands producing 99.99% pure gold bars to buy.
Understanding these attributes is crucial since they tangibly embody your financial commitment in the form of gold bullion or physical gold investments.
Understanding Fineness
The actual metal content in a gold bar is determined by its fineness, which quantifies the proportion of pure gold in an alloy on a scale of thousandths. The ultimate standard for purity is a pure gold bar of 24 karat gold, marked as 999.99 or five-nines gold—this level of refinement being preferred by those seeking the most unadulterated form of investment-grade gold.
Gold bars boasting a .9999 fineness or equivalent to 24 karats are highly coveted by investors due to their epitomized purity and, thus, intrinsic value. These purest forms of gold not only have unparalleled worth but also possess exceptional color and sheen that enhance their aesthetic appeal.
While silver bars retain their own market value, they do not reach the lofty heights of "sheen" or acclaim attributed to high-caliber golden counterparts. This is one of the main reasons gold has always held its intrigue and beauty for thousands of years.
Choosing the Right Weight
The size or the weight of gold bars can vary drastically. However, this is good as it allows all budgets to participate in the investment process. Here's a list of all sizes we currently sell on our website:
- 1 gram
- 2.5 grams
- 5 grams
- 10 grams
- 20 grams
- 50 grams
- 100 grams
- 1 oz
- 5 oz
- 10 oz
- 1 kilo
While the rest of the world operates on the gram system, American buyers are used to measuring in Troy ounces. Therefore, 1 oz and 10 oz gold bars are the most popular sizes for US buyers, while gram sizes are much more popular overseas.
Do you know how many Troy ounces are in a Kilo bullion bar? Understand the conversion by reading our article.
Pricing Insights: Getting the Most Gold for Your Buck
A gold bar’s price encapsulates a range of crucial elements such as its weight, purity level, and the current market spot price for gold. Knowledgeable investors recognize that purchasing larger bars of gold, such as a 10 oz Johnson Matthey gold bar or a 1 oz Royal Canadian Mint gold bar, often comes with reduced premiums above the price of gold when compared to smaller gram bars, effectively offering more gold per dollar invested—a more favorable scenario in any investment strategy.
Spot Price Influence
The pulse of the gold market is determined by the current gold price, a continuously changing value that reflects what it would cost to buy one troy ounce of pure gold at any given time. The fluctuation in this critical number occurs daily and reacts to changes in global economic conditions as well as strategic decisions made by central banks, making it integral to determining the worth of each gold bar.
When you set out to acquire gold bars, think of the price of gold as the primary figure. Various additional costs like production and distribution are priced into a "premium." The sum of the premium and the gold spot price determine the total cost per ounce of the gold bar you are interested in buying.
Do you know how much a gold bar is worth? Read the full details in our article.
Comparing Premiums
Investing in gold bars entails paying premiums that exceed the price of gold. These premiums are integral to covering production and marketing costs, and they fluctuate based on the dealer and product type. The premium is set by the manufacturer and marked up by each retail bullion dealer.
When aiming to minimize expenditure, it is essential to scrutinize these premiums carefully. Assess not only a bar’s cost but also its authenticity, purity, and weight—factors instrumental in determining the premium you pay.
Investors can benefit from reduced per-ounce production costs by opting for larger bars, which command smaller premiums compared to their counterparts. This makes them an economical option for bulk investments in gold. One note on larger gold bars purchases is they can be hard to sell back in the future.
Where to Buy: Securing Your Gold Investment
If you're ready to start buying gold bars, we always have great gold bar offers. Since 2012, we've become the largest independent gold and silver e-tailer. We are the highest rated online dealer on the Better Business Bureau's website. Our online reputation precedes us.
Buying gold bars online is not much different than buying anything else you currently buy online. You simply add the product to the shopping cart, select your payment option, and finish checkout. When you create an order, the spot price I mentioned above is "locked in." Once we receive payment, we ship the gold bar directly to you in a secure package.
We do not have a website ordering minimum. Therefore, we have customers who order smaller gold bars and customers who order large gold bars. If you are not brand-specific, you can browse our gold bar category and compare prices of popular gold bars. We service more than 400,000 precious metals investors in the bullion market and would be happy to service your next fine gold order.
Storing Your Gold: Safety and Security Tips
If this is your first time purchasing gold bullion, you may have questions about storage. Personally, I'm not a fan of bank safe deposit boxes. They are normally reasonably priced, but I always have a fear of "what happens to my box if something happens to the bank." With bank collapses constantly on the verge of happening, this is not my favorite option.
I personally use a private depository. In fact, I use our own depository. This gives me piece of mind at a great rate. I've had the unfortunate luck of being robbed multiple times. When I do buy gold bars, having them insured and segregated in my name in our private vault gives me the piece of mind I'm looking for.
Most of our customers store at home in a safe or other creative place at home. Storing large amounts of gold investments at home is discouraged due to increased security risks and home insurance will not cover loss of gold bars. Most gold investors do not realize this.
Maximizing Resale Value: Selling Your Gold Bars
Should the time come where divesting your gold bars is in line with your financial plans, it’s vital to sell for the best price possible. As I mentioned above, if you bought larger format gold bars (a lot of serious investors do), these can be harder to liquidate. Not all buyers of gold bars will have the funds or process to buy larger format gold bars.
Therefore, if you are looking for the easiest product to buy and sell, gold investors worldwide are going to typically be buying and selling 1 oz gold bars or "gold ingot" as some folks around the world refer to it.
Regardless, when you're selling, make sure you get the highest bid from a trusted online dealer. If you sell to us, we'll lock in the price at the time of trade and pay you via automatic transfer once we have received the gold bars. Make sure to check our competitive prices when you decide to liquidate your assets.
Read our complete guide on how to sell gold bars.
Summary
Gold bars are a great way to invest in physical gold. Make sure you buy a trusted brand and work with a trusted dealer. Consider selling in the future before you buy. Know your storage options and what works best for your particular situation.
Gold bars do carry a lower premium than gold coins. However, they also sell for a lower premium in the future. So consider checking out our gold bars vs gold coins guide here to learn more.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes gold bars a better investment than gold coins?
If you are buying gold coins or bars from a trusted dealer, then personal preference will make the ultimate determination in your investment choice. Gold bars do carry a lower premium on the front side of the purchase.
Typically, because bars are not seen as collectible (especially cast gold bars), this means gold coins will generally command a higher premium when you want to sell back in the future. There is no real right or wrong answer, it always comes down to personal preference.
How does the weight of a gold bar affect its price?
The weight of a gold bar, like a Valcambi gold bar or credit suisse gold bar, means everything in determining the value of the gold bar. For example, it takes 31.1 grams to equal one troy ounce of gold. Therefore, a 1 gram gold bar is 31.1 times cheaper than a 1 ounce gold bar. Kilo bars contain 32.15 ounces of gold thus making them very expensive compared to a one ounce gold bar.
Why is the fineness or purity of a gold bar important?
Because it signifies the quantity of pure gold present, which impacts its monetary value and can have tax implications, the purity level of a gold bar is significant.
Investing in a pure gold bar is crucial due to its high purity level, often reaching 24-carat 99.99%.
Gold considered to be suitable for investment purposes usually possesses a purity level of 99.5% or more.
Where is the best place to buy gold bars?
You must find a trusted dealer with a solid reputation. Avoid third-party platforms where scammers are allowed to sell anything without recourse from the third-party website. Specifically, there are tons of fake gold products on eBay.
Once you find a trusted dealer, work with them to figure out which gold bars best suit your specific goals.
Online dealers typically offer the best prices as they deal in a high volume of trades. Therefore, they get lower rates that they pass on to the end customer.
How should I store my gold bars to ensure their security?
Our private vault storage starts at just $9.99 per month. Your gold bars will be 100% insured in our state-of-the-art vault. And they'll be 100% segregated in your name. A lot of our customers choose this option for peace of mind. Also, when you sell back in the future, you won't have to deal with shipping, boxing or insuring the metals.
