250g Valcambi Suisse Cast Gold Bullion Bar

History

The Swiss-made Valcambi 250 gram gold bar.

Switzerland's reputation for producing high-quality, luxurious products is not limited to the watch industry but applies equally to investment gold. Switzerland is to gold what France is to wine, a statement supported by hard facts which show that most of the world's gold is refined in this prosperous alpine country. Information from the London Good Delivery List shows that six refineries hold 90% of the gold market. Four of those, including Valcambi, are based in Switzerland. On average, Switzerland refines between 65-75% of the world's annual supply of gold, making it the number one country globally to refine gold and manufacturing bullion bars. Switzerland commands this position because of the country's high level of security, efficient logistics, and strong financial system that accommodates some of the world's leading international banks. Still, most importantly, stringent laws set high standards regarding the quality and purity of finished bullion products. For example, every Valcambi gold bar contains an assayer's stamp, seen on the obverse as "ESSAYEUR FONDEUR", which guarantees the bar's purity. Valcambi needs to comply with strict Swiss federal laws (Precious Metals Control Act) and employ an affirmed assayer who has acquired the needed federal assayer's licences to put this marking on its bars. Affirmed assayers must keep proper account of the determination of fineness that they perform and at any given time must make their books available to the authorities for inspection. In other words, every Valcambi gold bar has its purity accredited by government and industry bodies; its quality complies with the highest industry standards. Furthermore, it is perfected by the best Swiss engineers, resulting in a product with golden integrity that surpasses all standards of excellence. After all, the gold bar is Swiss made.

Cast 

Valcambi Suisse

Valcambi is a Swiss-based precious metals refiner that was established in 1961 and is world renowned  as  one  of  the  largest  producers and suppliers  of  cast  and  minted  bullion  bars. Valcambi’s bullion bars are hailed throughout the world for their outstanding quality and are a hallmark of Swiss craftsmanship, making them sought after by precious  metal connoisseurs. The company manufactures its products in Balerna, Switzerland, where it operates one of the world’s largest precious metal facilities capable of refining an impressive 2,000 metric tonnes of precious metals per year. To put this number into perspective, the annual gold mine supply in 2013 reached 3,000 tonnes. The total value annually processed in this plant is impressive to say  the  least,  and  the  fact  that  Newmont  Mining,  one  of  the  world’s  biggest gold  mining companies, holds a majority stake in the company is an indication of Valcambi’s importance as  one  of  the  world’s  topmost precious  metal  foundries.  Accredited  by  all  major  precious metal  exchanges,  Switzerland’s  central  bank  and  the  LBMA  (London Bullion  Market Association), Valcambi’s gold and silver bullion bars are recognised worldwide, with clients ranging  from  retail  investors  to some  of  the  largest  international  financial  institutions, governments and central banks.

Valcambi a member of the London Bullion Market Association 

The  LBMA,  or  London  Bullion  Market  Association,  was  established  as  an  independent oversight body by Britain’s Central Bank in 1987. The roots of the LBMA can be traced back several centuries to the 1700s when London started to emerge as the world’s leading trading hub for precious  metals. Referred to as the “London Gold Market”, it was self-regulated by the London’s foremost bullion traders and fabricators who oversaw the market by accrediting precious  metal refiners to the  London Good  Delivery  List. Only those refiners that  met the quality and  purity  criteria  set  down  by  the  “LGD”  list  were  allowed  to  enter  the  London bullion market. Today, more than 135 companies, which include some of the largest precious metal  refiners,  storage  providers,  manufacturers  and  bullion  traders,  are  members  of the London  Bullion  Market  Association.  They  all  form  part  of  the  LBMA,  the  world’s  most respected and trusted international authority that monitors the production and refining process of gold and silver bullion. LBMA’s primary role is to manage the Good Delivery List which is today the international standard for the quality and assaying of gold and silver bars.