100g Metalor Gold Bar

The 100g Metalor Gold Bar

Metalor Technologies is one of the four major Swiss gold refineries, alongside PAMP, Valcambi, and Argor-Heraeus. Its origins date to 1852 in Le Locle, the heart of Switzerland's watchmaking region, where it initially supplied gold components to the watch industry before pivoting to banking bullion in 1864. The refinery was the first Swiss operation added to the London Good Delivery List, achieving that distinction in 1934. Today, all five of Metalor's global refineries hold LBMA Good Delivery accreditation.

The 100g Metalor bar is a minted bar of 999.9 fine gold, individually serialised and sealed in a tamper-evident blister pack with an integrated certificate of authenticity. At this weight, the premium structure sits in the 2-4% range over spot, making it one of the more cost-efficient ways to acquire gold in metric bar form. Only kilo bars consistently offer lower percentage premiums.

Metalor bars are widely available across European dealers and have strong distribution in the UK, Switzerland, and increasingly in Asian markets through the company's Singapore facility (opened in 2013). The brand is less prominent at US dealers than PAMP or Valcambi, but its LBMA accreditation ensures universal acceptance at buyback. Since 2016, Metalor has been owned by Tanaka Kikinzoku Kogyo, Japan's largest precious metals group, giving it deep institutional backing and combined refining capacity of approximately 800 tonnes of gold per year.

For buyers who want a Swiss LBMA-accredited bar at a competitive price without the design-driven premium of PAMP's Fortuna series, Metalor represents a practical, well-credentialed choice.

100g Metalor Gold Bar Specifications

Security and Authentication

The 100g Metalor bar incorporates several security features that distinguish it from simpler refiner bars. Bars of 20g and above carry a laser-engraved DataMatrix code and individual serial number. These link to Metalor's BullionProtect system, developed jointly with SICPA, a Swiss security ink company. BullionProtect applies a high-security ink seal directly to the bar surface (adding less than 20mg of weight). The seal contains a unique QR code scannable by any smartphone, and the ink is designed to burn away cleanly upon melting without contaminating the gold.

Metalor also offers the Metalor Check mobile app (available on iOS and Android), which allows owners of minted bars from 20g upwards to authenticate their bar and retrieve detailed specifications including the production location and purity data. This digital verification layer, combined with the physical BullionProtect seal, positions Metalor's security offering alongside PAMP's VeriScan and Argor-Heraeus's Kinegram technology.

Tax Treatment of the 100g Metalor Gold Bar

As an LBMA-accredited gold bar at 999.9 purity, the 100g Metalor qualifies for the most favourable tax treatment available to gold bullion in virtually every major market.

• United Kingdom: VAT-exempt as investment gold. Not CGT-exempt, as bars are not UK legal tender. Gains above the annual CGT allowance (£3,000) are taxable at 18-24%. For UK buyers seeking CGT exemption, Britannia or Sovereign coins are the tax-efficient alternative, though they carry higher premiums per gram. Gold bars are SIPP-eligible.
• United States: State sales tax varies (roughly 35 states exempt bullion). Gains taxed at the collectibles rate (28% maximum for long-term). IRA-eligible: Metalor's LBMA accreditation and 999.9 purity exceed the IRS minimums. Metalor's US refinery in North Attleboro, Massachusetts also produces COMEX-deliverable bars.
• European Union: VAT-exempt under the EU Investment Gold Directive. In Germany, gains are completely tax-free after a 12-month holding period, making gold bars the most efficient investment vehicle for German residents.
• Canada: GST/HST-exempt for gold at 99.5%+ purity.
• Australia: GST-free as investment-grade gold (99.5%+ purity).
• New Zealand: GST-exempt for gold bars at 99.5%+ purity.
• Singapore: GST-exempt under the Investment Precious Metals (IPM) scheme. Metalor has a local refinery facility in Singapore, strengthening product availability in the region.
• Hong Kong: No sales tax, no import duty, no capital gains tax.

100g Metalor vs Valcambi, PAMP, and Heraeus

Metalor competes directly with the other three major Swiss refiners (PAMP, Valcambi, Argor-Heraeus) and with Germany's Heraeus at the 100g weight class. All produce 999.9 fine minted bars with LBMA accreditation, individual serial numbers, and sealed assay packaging. The differences are in brand premium, security technology, and regional distribution.

On pricing, Metalor typically sits alongside Heraeus and Valcambi, below PAMP's premium. The 100g PAMP Fortuna commands the highest brand premium in this category, driven by the Lady Fortuna design and VeriScan authentication. Metalor's pricing advantage is most relevant for cost-conscious investors accumulating gold at scale.

On security, Metalor's BullionProtect ink system and mobile verification app put it in the same tier as PAMP's VeriScan and Argor-Heraeus's Kinebar holographic technology. Valcambi and Heraeus rely primarily on their assay cards and serial numbers without an equivalent digital verification system. The BullionProtect ink's ability to burn away cleanly upon melting is a notable feature for industrial recycling chains, though this matters more to institutional buyers than retail investors.

On distribution, Metalor's five global refineries (Switzerland, USA, Hong Kong, Singapore, China) give it broad geographic reach. In the UK market, Metalor is well represented at major dealers including BullionByPost and Sharps Pixley. In North America, its Massachusetts refinery produces COMEX-deliverable bars, though retail availability lags behind PAMP and Valcambi. In Asia-Pacific, the Singapore and Hong Kong facilities make Metalor one of the more locally available Swiss brands.

For buyers prioritising cost efficiency with Swiss LBMA provenance and modern digital authentication, Metalor is competitive with any refiner at this weight class. The 100g Perth Mint bar offers an alternative for those who prefer government-backed provenance over private Swiss refiner credentials.