
EngelhardĮngelhard was an American refiner and mint that is now defunct. Additionally, PAMP Suisse has a divisible platinum product comparable to Valcambi’s CombiBar, which allows for quickly and easily breaking off smaller pieces from a larger bar. PAMP Suisse platinum bars come in various sizes, from as little as 1 g and 5 g to 1 oz or 10 oz. PAMP Suisse, like Valcambi, is another top Swiss refiner. Valcambi effectively solved the problem of “making change” in a barter transaction! PAMP Suisse Valcambi’s 1 oz platinum bar is always an excellent choice, as is the versatile CombiBar, which is a 25 g platinum bar that’s easily divisible into 1 g pieces – like a platinum Kit Kat bar. Valcambi is consistently one of the most highly-regarded refiners in the world. Here are some of the most popular options: Valcambi There are hundreds – if not thousands – of platinum bars to choose from. 1 oz platinum bars are generally the most available and easiest to find on the market. The most popular platinum bars can sell out quickly, so it’s important to check the availability of the platinum bars you’re interested in purchasing. To find out more about precious metal IRAs, click here. Regardless of size, only platinum bars with a minimum purity of 99.95% are IRA eligible if they are manufactured by an NYMEX or COMEX-approved assayer/refiner or a sovereign mint, according to IRS guidelines. With a self-directed IRA, you can hold precious metals in your retirement portfolio. Platinum bars are usually 0.9995 fine or 99.95% pure, as required by Good Delivery guidelines. (The LOCO London market uses platinum bars of 1-6 kilos or 32-193 troy oz for physical settlement, though bars of this size are very rarely commercially available.) Finenessįineness refers to the purity of the precious metal. As with other precious metals, the “standard” weight for platinum bars is 1 oz. Generally, you can purchase platinum bars ranging from as small as 1 gram up to 10 oz (or more). Smaller platinum bars may come at a higher cost per ounce but may be easier to barter with or sell. However, you can’t easily split a 10 oz platinum bar into 10 even 1 oz pieces. As with all precious metals, generally speaking, platinum bars that are larger offer lower premiums over spot price. Note also that the London Platinum & Palladium Market maintains a Good Delivery list – it’s never a bad idea to consult that list to ensure a particular refiner remains in good standing with such an important industry association. If you can, try and buy products from the most reputable refiners and assayers, like Valcambi, PAMP Suisse, Argor Heraeus, Johnson Matthey, or Engelhard. The top names in the industry have rigorous standards of quality and are easily recognized, which can facilitate quick sales. The mint or refiner is the equivalent of a brand when it comes to platinum bars. We’ll walk you through the primary considerations step by step. How do you choose?Ĭhoosing platinum bars comes down to evaluating a few critical factors. Platinum is uniquely useful for a variety of manufacturing purposes, including automotive catalytic converters, media storage, biomedical devices, and electric vehicles.įinally, platinum is often priced more modestly than gold per ounce, which gives platinum buyers an opportunity to add more ounces to their collection with the hope of future price appreciation. Due to its density and durability, platinum preserves highly detailed engravings and designs far longer than either gold or silver. All of the finest engagement rings and wedding bands were exclusively platinum. Before World War II, platinum was considered the best precious metal for jewelry-making. In addition, it’s also more durable, making it ideal for jewelry. Compared with gold and silver, platinum is a significantly rarer metal – on average, 17 times more gold than platinum is mined yearly.

Platinum also stacks up well against gold and silver for a couple of reasons.

Compared with platinum coins, platinum bars carry a lower premium over spot pricing, taking your investment further. Platinum bullion bars offer a few advantages over their precious metals counterparts. Let’s walk through what factors you should take into account, some popular options to consider, and how you can actually purchase platinum bars. If you’re considering adding platinum bars to your precious metals collection, we’re here to help you choose which platinum bars are best to buy.
