Top 5 Gold Bar Brands

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If you are looking to diversify your investment portfolio, buying the best gold bars is an excellent option. If you've never bought a gold bar, you need to learn a bit about the attributes of high-quality gold bars and why you should consider investing.

Aside from knowing the quality when you see it, you also need to know the best gold bar brand to buy. What makes the best brands stand out from the rest? How can you know you've bought from the best? We plan to answer these questions and many more, so keep reading!

Quick Highlights

The following are some of the key takeaways regarding gold:

What is a Gold Bar?

Gold bars are gold bullion that has been shaped into a bar. Gold bars come in many sizes, ranging from very small to quite large. The largest bar in the world measures 455 mm x 225 mm.

It weighs a whopping 551 pounds and was made by the Mitsubishi Materials Corporation. At the time of this writing, this gigantic gold bar is worth about $15.1 million. This bar is not for sale and sits in the Toi Gold Museum in Izu, Shizuoka, Japan.

Types of Gold Bullion Bars

Smaller gold bars often go through a minting process, while larger bars, called ingots, are poured. Larger bars are often called casts and normally do not have designs like smaller bars.

Aside from the differences in being poured or cast, there are also differences in weights. These are the most common weights of gold bars to buy:

Whether you buy gold-minted bars or casts, the main value comes from the weight and purity of the gold. Many people start off buying small assayed bars because they are easier to obtain than gold ingot, but the markups can often be higher because of the design and rarity.

Why Should Anyone Invest in Gold Bars?

Since it was first discovered, gold has been a symbol of royalty and wealth. Gold is beautiful and rare, making it valuable to investors. Although it's been used since antiquity for ostentatious embellishment, today, we see gold as an essential part of popular bullion investments.

Where Can You Buy Gold Bars?

You can purchase gold bars from different locations, including pawn shops, estate sales, brick-and-mortar dealers, and online dealers.

No matter where you purchase, you must be aware that the gold spot price fluctuates daily and sometimes multiple times a day. What you pay for the best bars today may not be the price tomorrow.

Always know the value before buying. Be careful of high markups, and remember buying online can help save you money.

How to Select the Best Gold Bar Brands

As you search for a gold dealer, it becomes evident quickly that there are many. Online dealers have a much larger inventory than a local coin shop, and you will likely pay much less for gold and silver bullion.

Some gold brands are well-known and popular the world over. These brands typically have a higher retail price because they are sought-after by investors and collectors alike.

You should learn about the history behind the brand before buying gold. Remember that you do not need to purchase intricately designed bullion bars. The most basic gold bar is a sound investment based on its gold fineness.

Read customer reviews and learn about the authentication process of each brand. How do they produce their gold bars? Learn everything you can about the production procedure of gold bars before getting started.

Top 5 Gold Brands in the World

If you search for gold bullion bars, one of the top companies you will discover is Pamp Suisse Gold Bars. These bars are one of the most popular worldwide because of their high quality and attention to detail.

The company has been around since the 1970s. Each bar they produce has a gold fineness level of .9999. Bar sizes range from one gram to a kilogram.

1Pamp Suisse Gold Bars

If you search for gold bullion bars, one of the top companies you will discover is Pamp Suisse Gold Bars. These bars are one of the most popular worldwide because of their high quality and attention to detail.

The company has been around since the 1970s. Each bar they produce has a gold fineness level of .9999. Bar sizes range from one gram to a kilogram.

2Royal Canadian Mint Gold Bars

The Royal Canadian Mint has been in operation since 1908. This mint is one of the most trusted worldwide because it produces Canada's circulation coins. It also produces some of the finest gold bullion bars in the world.

The Royal Canadian Mint also manufactures circulation coins for other countries. If you want a minted bar, this mint is one of the best options.

3Australian Perth Mint Gold Bars

The Australian Perth Mint opened its doors in 1899. They manufacture bars that come wrapped in tamper-evident wrapping to ensure their perfection.

All bars minted by the world-famous Perth Mint are made of 99.99% pure gold. Perth Mint gold is known for its stunning mirror finish.

4Valcambi Gold Bars

Valcambi is another bar company you can trust. This manufacturer produces the most unique bars in the industry.

Valcambi began producing the Combibar in 2011, and it has quickly become one of their most popular bullion investments. Every gold bullion bar they produce has a .9999 gold fineness level.

Valcambi is unique because its gold bars break apart into one-gram pieces. Each 50-gram bar can be broken down into 50 pieces.

5Apmex Gold Bars

Apmex is one of the top companies in the world. They create an array of bar sizes and even silver bars. Their fine-gold bars surpass industry standards, making them a popular choice among investors worldwide.

Apmex not only manufactures gold bullion coins and bars, but they are also a retailer. You can purchase precious metals directly from this manufacturer.

As we have mentioned, you often pay more for popular names in the industry. Apmex bars are more expensive than some other brands, including Credit Suisse gold bars.

Honorable Mention Gold Bar Companies

The following are some additional excellent gold bar companies:

Credit Suisse Gold Bars

Credit Suisse is a company located in Switzerland. The National Bank of Switzerland backs this business, so you can rest assured you will be purchasing the highest quality precious metals.

Engelhard Gold Bars

This American-based company has been around for over 100 years and offers some of the best silver bullion in the US. Each artistic precious metal product is stamped with a unique serial number when they manufacture gold bars.

Ohio Precious Metals Gold Bars

Ohio Precious Metals is the top supplier of LBMA-approved minted gold bar products. This company's most popular gold weight options are one-ounce, ten-ounce, and kilogram.

Johnson Matthey Gold Bars

When surveying the gold market, you will surely hear about Johnson Matthey. This official silver coin producer is well known among investors and has been operating from the UK since 1946. All of their IRA-approved physical gold bullion has a .9999 fineness.

What Determines the Price of Gold Bars?

The competitive prices of gold bars are based on the gold content and the current spot price. Each gold bar produced has a specific weight. Although the retail price is affected by the spot price, you must remember there will always be a markup on any pure gold investment.

Even Perth Mint gold will have a markup. Central banks also have a say in the amount because they are purchasing bar investments rapidly, which can drive up demand for gold stocks.

FAQ About Gold Bars

We know you have a lot of questions about the best gold brand. We have tried to provide as much information as possible in this guide. The following are some of the top questions people have about gold bar investment.

Before buying gold bars, you must know the purity level and the spot price. Research the dealer carefully. What are the best gold bars to buy? Purchasing from our top five ensures you get the best investment gold bars available.

It is a good idea to buy bars because they are affordable and stack well for storage. Can you buy a bar of gold for home storage? The answer is yes if you purchase outside of an IRA.

The IRS has specific rules in place for gold bar investments. If you buy a gold coin or bar for an IRA, you will need to store them in a third-party depository.

The safest way to buy bars is through one of the manufacturers or mints above. These specialize in producing the very best precious metal products, including silver coins, silver round stackers, and bars.

Gold bars come in various sizes, including one-ounce, ten-ounce, 100 grams, one kilogram, and 400 ounces, among others. Be aware of the gold bullion bar's price before purchasing. If you have been asking, “what size do gold bars come in?” now you know.

You can add gold bullion bars to your self-directed IRA. You can also add certain bullion coins. The IRS will allow you to invest in cast gold bar options as long as they match the purity requirements.

Final Thoughts

Although many mints will stop producing gold coins, many still produce gold bars. Investing in precious metals allows you to diversify your portfolio and hedge against inflation and even deflation.

Whether you want to invest in a bar or gold coins, researching your options is paramount. Get started today to help secure your financial future.