100g Valcambi Platinum Bar

A Substantial Platinum Holding from the World's Largest Refinery

The 100g Valcambi Platinum Bar contains 100 grams (3.2151 troy ounces) of .9995 fine platinum, produced by Valcambi SA in Balerna, Switzerland. Valcambi is the world's largest precious metals refinery by volume, processing over 2,000 metric tonnes annually, and holds LBMA and LPPM accreditation. This bar represents a significant commitment to platinum, sitting at a price point roughly equivalent to a kilo of silver or several ounces of gold.

At 100 grams, this bar sits in the premium-efficient zone of the platinum bar range. Premiums on 100g bars are substantially lower than on 1 oz platinum bars, and the per-gram cost approaches that of larger bars without requiring the capital outlay of a half-kilo or kilo purchase. For European investors buying in euros or Swiss francs, the 100g metric weight is a natural denomination that avoids the conversion friction of troy ounce pricing.

Valcambi bars are consistently among the most cost-effective branded platinum products available. Compared to PAMP Suisse Fortuna platinum bars, Valcambi bars typically carry lower premiums while sharing the same Swiss provenance and LPPM accreditation. The trade-off is brand recognition: PAMP's Lady Fortuna design commands higher collector premiums on the secondary market, so PAMP bars may retain a larger fraction of their premium at resale. For buyers focused on maximising platinum content per dollar spent, Valcambi is the more efficient choice.

The platinum bar market is far smaller than the gold market, and 100g platinum bars occupy a niche within that niche. Dealer inventory is not always available, especially outside major markets. Buyers should expect a thinner secondary market and wider buy-sell spreads than equivalent gold products.

100g Valcambi Platinum Bar Specifications

Valcambi is the world's largest precious metals refinery by annual throughput. Established in 1961 in the Italian-speaking Swiss canton of Ticino, the facility has been owned by India's Rajesh Exports since 2015. It produces bars for multiple brands, including Valcambi's own range and bars branded for other institutions. The .9995 purity meets the LPPM Good Delivery minimum and the IRA eligibility threshold in the United States.

Platinum Bar Tax Treatment by Country

Platinum bars face a more varied tax landscape than gold bars. Gold benefits from broad investment exemptions worldwide, but platinum's tax treatment differs by country and is less favourable in several major markets.

Purchase Tax

• United Kingdom: 20% VAT applies on purchase. Platinum bars do not receive the investment gold VAT exemption. This is a substantial cost that makes UK platinum purchases expensive. VAT-free vault storage (where the bar remains in a bonded facility and is not delivered) is the main workaround.
• European Union: Standard VAT applies at each country's rate (17-27% depending on the member state). No investment exemption for platinum.
• United States: State-dependent. Most states exempt investment-grade precious metals, including platinum, from sales tax. Approximately 35 states provide full exemption.
• Canada: GST/HST-exempt for platinum at 99.5%+ purity. The .9995 Valcambi bar exceeds this threshold.
• Australia: GST-free for investment-grade platinum at 99%+ purity from accredited refiners. The purity threshold for platinum is lower than for gold (99.5%) or silver (99.9%).
• New Zealand: GST-exempt for platinum at 99%+ purity. No capital gains tax in New Zealand.
• Singapore: GST-exempt under the IPM scheme for platinum bars at 99%+ purity from LPPM-accredited refiners. Valcambi qualifies on both counts.
• Hong Kong: No sales tax, no import duty, no capital gains tax. Fully tax-free.
• South Africa: 15% VAT applies to platinum bullion. South Africa does not mint a platinum Krugerrand, so there is no legal tender coin exemption comparable to the gold Krugerrand's zero-rating.

Capital Gains Tax

• United Kingdom: Platinum bars are subject to CGT at 18-24% (after the £3,000 annual allowance). Unlike UK legal tender coins, bars have no CGT exemption.
• United States: Classified as a collectible. Maximum 28% long-term capital gains rate.
• Canada: 50% inclusion rate.
• Australia: CGT applies with a 50% discount for holdings longer than 12 months.

Retirement Accounts

Platinum bars at .9995 purity from LPPM-accredited refiners are IRA-eligible in the United States. The bar must be held by an approved custodian, not personally. This makes the Valcambi 100g platinum bar suitable for a self-directed precious metals IRA.

Valcambi vs PAMP and Credit Suisse at 100g

At the 100g weight, the main competition comes from other Swiss refiners, particularly PAMP Suisse. Credit Suisse platinum bars also circulate on the secondary market, though new production status is uncertain following the 2023 UBS acquisition.

vs PAMP Suisse Platinum Bar

Both are Swiss, LPPM-accredited, and .9995 fine. PAMP bars carry the Lady Fortuna design and VeriScan digital authentication, features that Valcambi does not match. PAMP bars command higher premiums at purchase and tend to retain more of that premium at resale. Valcambi bars offer lower acquisition cost for the same platinum content. For pure investment purposes where minimising the buy-in cost matters most, Valcambi is more efficient. For resale premium retention and authentication convenience, PAMP has the advantage.

vs 1 oz Platinum Coins

Sovereign-mint platinum coins such as the Platinum Britannia, American Platinum Eagle, and Canadian Platinum Maple Leaf offer different trade-offs. The coins provide sovereign mint branding, potentially better liquidity, and (in the case of the Britannia) UK CGT exemption. The 100g Valcambi bar provides 3.22 ounces of platinum for a lower per-gram premium than buying three separate 1 oz coins. For buyers in the UK, the Platinum Britannia's CGT exemption may offset the coin's higher premium, depending on expected gains. For buyers in tax-neutral jurisdictions, the bar's lower premium makes it more cost-effective.

Authentication

Platinum's very high density (21.45 g/cm3) is a natural anti-counterfeiting feature. No common inexpensive metal is dense enough to convincingly substitute for platinum; the closest candidates (iridium, osmium) are rarer and more expensive. Counterfeit platinum bars are far less common than counterfeit gold bars. Valcambi's LPPM-branded assay card with unique serial number provides strong provenance.