Valcambi Suisse

minting institution icon Switzerland flag icon Producer of the innovative precious metal CombiBars

The Valcambi Suisse Mint is a private mint that is especially well known for its gold and silver bars that are available in a multitude of different sizes. However, Valcambi Suisse refines and mints platinum and palladium as well. The CombiBar is the company's most popular product. CombiBars are single thin bars of precious metal with 99.99% purity that can be divided up into smaller bars. Valcambi Suisse Gold CombiBars are produced in sizes of 50 gram (50 x 1 gram), 100 gram (100 x 1 gram), 1 oz (10 x 1/10 oz), 20 gram (20 x 1 gram) and even 5 gram (5 x 1 gram). The latter 5 gram Gold CombiBar is shaped like a star and more like a gift product (that few shops sell) than a real investment product. Valcambi Suisse also produces collectible ingots, coins, medals and metal grains (for example for the fine watch industry).

gold bullion bars produced by the Valcambi Suisse Mint
Valcambi Suisse gold bullion bars
the headquarter of the Valcambi Suisse Mint in Switzerland
aerial view of the headquarter of the Valcambi Suisse Mint
company logo of Valcambi Suisse

Minting Facilities

The Valcambi Suisse Mint is located in Balerna (Swiss canton of Ticino). Since 2015, Valcambi Suisse is a subsidiary of Global Gold Refineries Ltd after previously having belonged to European Gold Refineries Holding SA (EGR).

History

Valcambi SA was founded in 1961 as Valori & Cambi SA. Credit Suisse took over full ownership of Valcambi in 1980 after already having acquired 80% of its stock in 1967. Most precious metal bars that Valcambi produced between 1967 and 2003 were stamped with the Credit Suisse logo. In 2003, Credit Suisse sold Valcambi to the newly founded European Gold Refineries Holding SA (EGR). EGR was based in Balerna as well. The American Newmont Mining Corporation (NYSE: NEM) then owned 60.6% of EGR's stock.

In 2015, the European Gold Refineries Holding SA was sold to Global Gold Refineries Ltd., a company that is owned to 95% by REL Singapore PTE Ltd (Singapore). The remaining 5% belong to Rajesh Exports Limited (REL) that is based in Bangalore (India). REL manufactures gold jewelry in India and as such is one of the major gold consumers worldwide. REL had bought its refined gold from Valcambi Suisse for many years already.

The Newmont Mining Corporation sold its stock for a total of US $ 119 million. However, Newmont will continue to work together with Valcambi Suisse regarding the refining of its mined precious metals.

What makes it special?

Valcambi was the first manufacturer worldwide of 1000 g and 1 oz minted bars (1967). The mint is known worldwide for its innovative CombiBarâ„¢ system that debuted in 2011 with 50 detachable 1 g gold bars making up one joined CombiBar. The range of CombiBar products was expanded in 2013/2014 to include 20 x 1 g and 10 x 1/10 oz detachable bars. Nowadays, 100 x 1 g as well as star-shaped 5 x 1 g CombiBars exist as well. Valcambi also was the first refiner that introduced frosting on rectangular and round minted bars (in 2003 and 2005).

"Green Gold" bars were introduced in 2009 that are meant to allow customers to trace the minted gold's origin. Valcambi creates its own designs in-house and manufactures its own production tools.

Accreditation

Valcambi Suisse is accredited from the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA), the Dubai Multi Commodities Center (DMCC), the New York Commodities Exchange (COMEX), the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX), the Tokyo Commodity Exchange (TOCOM), the Central Office for Precious Metal Control in Switzerland and the Swiss Association of Manufacturers and Traders in Precious Metals.

The Valcambi Suisse refinery is certified according to the ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 standards.

Valcambi Suisse Bullion Bars

frontal view of 1 oz Valcambi gold bars
backside view of 1 oz Valcambi Suisse gold bars

Valcambi Suisse Gold Bars

Valcambi Suisse produces both cast and minted gold bars. CombiBars that can be divided up into smaller segments are perhaps the most popular kind of Valcambi gold bars. Minted gold bars of 99.99% purity are currently produced in 11 different sizes ranging from 1 gram bars up to 1 kg bars. The minted Gold CombiBars are also 99.99% pure and currently available in the five configurations of 20 x 1 gram, 50 x 1 gram, 100 x 1 gram, 10 x 1/10 oz and the unusual star-shaped 5 x 1 gram. Valcambi's cast gold bars are currently offered in ten different sizes ranging from 20 gram bars up to Good Delivery 400 oz bars. The cast bars are mostly 99.99% pure as well but cast gold bars with 99.9% and 99.5% purity are produced as well. Valcambi Suisse gold bars are eligible for inclusion in a Precious Metals IRA.

The Valcambi Suisse Gold Bar page gives more information about the gold bars that Valcambi Suisse produces and allows you to compare current prices.

frontal view of 100 gram Valcambi silver bullion bars
backside view of 100 gram Valcambi silver bars

Valcambi Suisse Silver Bars

Valcambi produces both cast and minted silver bars of 99.9% purity. Minted silver bars exist in five different sizes ranging from 1 oz bars up to 1 kg bars. CombiBars are probably the mint's most popular type of silver bullion bars. These divisible bars are available in the configurations of 100 x 1 gram and 10 x 10 gram. Valcambi's cast silver bars are offered in the sizes of 1 kg, 5 kg and 1,000 oz. The Good Delivery 1,000 oz bars are generally not available for purchase online though. Valcambi doesn't produce silver bars with artistic designs/images unlike other bullion producers. The front of minted Valcambi silver bars displays the company's stylized logo followed by the bar weight, silver purity, assayer's stamp and serial number. The reverse just shows the Valcambi Suisse name amidst a line pattern. Valcambi silver bullion bars are eligible for inclusion in a Precious Metals IRA.

The Valcambi Suisse Silver Bar page gives more information about the silver bars that Valcambi Suisse produces and allows you to compare current prices.

frontal view of the minted 1 oz Valcambi Suisse platinum bars
backside view of the minted 1 oz Valcambi platinum bars

Valcambi Platinum Bars

Valcambi produces both cast and minted platinum bullion bars of 99.95% purity. The only cast platinum bar is a 4914.5 gram Good Delivery bar that is generally not sold online. Minted platinum bars are produced in the five sizes of 1 oz, 50 gram, 100 gram, 500 gram and 1 kg. Valcambi Suisse's popular CombiBars are not only available out of gold and silver but also out of platinum. The Platinum CombiBars are offered in the single configuration of 50 x 1 gram. Unlike other producers of platinum bullion, Valcambi doesn't place artistic designs or images on its bars. The front of minted Valcambi platinum bars displays the company's stylized logo followed by the bar weight, platinum purity, assayer's stamp and serial number. The reverse just shows the Valcambi Suisse name amidst a line pattern. Valcambi Suisse platinum bars are eligible for inclusion in a Precious Metals IRA.

The Valcambi Platinum Bar page gives more information about the platinum bars that Valcambi Suisse produces and allows you to compare current prices.

frontal view of the 1 oz Valcambi palladium bars
backside view of the 1 oz Valcambi Suisse palladium bars

Valcambi Palladium Bars

Valcambi produces both cast and minted palladium bullion bars of 99.95% purity. The only cast palladium bar is a 4550.5 gram Good Delivery bar that is generally not sold online. Minted palladium bars are produced in the five sizes of 1 oz, 50 gram, 100 gram, 500 gram and 1 kg. Valcambi Suisse's popular CombiBars are not only available out of gold and silver but also out of palladium. The Palladium CombiBars are offered in the single configuration of 50 x 1 gram. Unlike other producers of palladium bullion, Valcambi doesn't place artistic designs or images on its bars. The front of minted Valcambi palladium bars displays the company's stylized logo followed by the bar weight, palladium purity, assayer's stamp and serial number. The reverse just shows the Valcambi Suisse name amidst a line pattern. Valcambi Suisse palladium bars are eligible for inclusion in a Precious Metals IRA.

The Valcambi Suisse Palladium Bar page gives more information about the palladium bars that Valcambi Suisse produces and allows you to compare current prices.