100g CombiBar Silver Bar

100 Grams of Silver, Divisible into Individual Grams

The 100g Valcambi CombiBar is a single silver bar scored with precision grooves that divide it into 100 individual 1-gram segments. Each segment can be snapped off by hand, turning one bar into up to 100 separate pieces of silver. It is a patented Valcambi design, produced at the company's refinery in Balerna, Switzerland.

The concept addresses a specific limitation of traditional bars: they are all-or-nothing. A standard 100g silver bar can only be sold as a complete unit. The CombiBar lets the holder sell, trade, or gift in 1-gram increments without cutting or smelting. For silver, each gram is worth approximately $1 at current prices, which makes the individual segments too small for serious investment transactions but potentially useful for micro-denomination exchange or novelty gifting.

Valcambi is the world's largest precious metals refinery by annual capacity (approximately 2,000 metric tonnes across all metals) and holds LBMA Good Delivery accreditation for gold and silver. The CombiBar was first introduced in gold (April 2011, as a 50g bar of 50 x 1g segments) before being extended to silver in October 2011. The silver version comes as a 100g bar (10 x 10 grid of 1g segments) at .999 fine purity.

The practical value of divisibility is more compelling in gold, where each 1-gram segment is worth approximately $100+. In silver, the per-segment value is modest enough that the divisibility feature is more of a design novelty than a financial tool. Buyers of the silver CombiBar are typically attracted to the concept, the Valcambi brand, or the product's suitability as an unusual gift rather than pure premium efficiency.

100g Silver CombiBar Technical Details

Each 1-gram segment is individually stamped with the Valcambi name, "SUISSE" origin mark, weight (1g), and purity (.999). The entire bar is sealed in a tamper-evident PETG blister incorporating a serialised assay certificate that verifies the total weight and purity.

The assay certificate applies to the bar as a whole. Once a segment is broken off, the remaining bar and the separated piece can no longer be verified by the original assay. Individual segments can still be authenticated by their hallmark and weight, but they carry reduced provenance compared to a sealed CombiBar. This is an important distinction from PAMP's Multigram product, where each small bar is individually sealed and assayed.

Valcambi was founded in 1961 as "Valori & Cambi" (literally "exchange of valuables") by five private Swiss investors. The CombiBar is their most distinctive product, combining the economics of bulk bar purchasing with the flexibility of fractional denominations. The patented groove-cutting and segment-stamping process adds manufacturing cost, which is reflected in the bar's premium over a standard solid bar of the same weight.

CombiBar Silver Tax Treatment by Country

The 100g CombiBar is taxed as a silver bar in all jurisdictions. The divisible format does not change its tax classification. At .999 fine purity from an LBMA-accredited refiner, it qualifies for investment-grade silver exemptions where they exist.

• United States: No federal sales tax. Most states exempt bullion. The CombiBar's IRA eligibility is technically met (LBMA-accredited refiner, .999 purity), but some IRA custodians have specific policies about divisible bars and may require bars to remain in original sealed packaging. Confirm with the custodian before purchasing. Capital gains at the collectibles rate of up to 28%.
• United Kingdom: 20% VAT on purchase. Not CGT-exempt (bars are not UK legal tender). The CGT liability applies to the bar's total gain regardless of whether it is sold whole or in segments.
• Canada: GST/HST exempt for silver at 99.9%+ purity.
• Australia: GST-free for investment-grade silver at 99.9%+ purity. Must be in a form commonly traded on commodity markets.
• New Zealand: GST-exempt for silver at 99.9%+ purity. No capital gains tax.
• Singapore: GST-exempt under the Investment Precious Metals scheme for silver bars at 99.9%+ purity from LBMA-accredited refiners. No capital gains tax.
• Hong Kong: No sales tax, no import duty, no capital gains tax.
• South Africa: 15% VAT on silver bullion.
• Switzerland: Valcambi's home market. Silver carries 8.1% VAT (lower than most EU countries). No capital gains tax for individual investors on private assets.
• European Union: Full VAT at national rates (17-27%). Germany's margin scheme (Differenzbesteuerung) may reduce effective VAT on second-hand CombiBars.

CombiBar vs Standard 100g Silver Bars

The CombiBar's defining trade-off is divisibility versus premium. A standard solid 100g silver bar from Argor-Heraeus or Heraeus carries lower premiums because it is simpler to manufacture. The CombiBar's precision groove-cutting and per-segment stamping add production cost. Buyers pay more per gram for the option of breaking the bar apart. In gold, where each 1g segment is worth roughly $100, this premium is easier to justify. In silver, where each 1g segment is worth roughly $1, the practical utility of divisibility is limited.

Against the 100g PAMP Suisse Fortuna, the comparison involves two different premium justifications. PAMP charges for brand prestige, the Lady Fortuna design, and VeriScan authentication. Valcambi charges for physical divisibility. Both carry LBMA accreditation and Swiss manufacturing quality. PAMP's premium is typically recovered better at resale because the Fortuna design has broader name recognition than the CombiBar format.

Compared to buying 100 individual 1-gram silver bars, the CombiBar is significantly cheaper per gram. Individual 1g bars from any refiner carry extremely high premiums due to per-unit packaging, assaying, and handling costs. The CombiBar achieves a similar end result (100 separable 1g pieces) at a fraction of the per-gram cost. The compromise is that separated CombiBar segments have less provenance than individually assayed 1g bars.

The 100g Geiger Original bar occupies a different niche entirely. Its square format, UV-reactive security coating, and ornate castle design target the collector-investor market. The Geiger bar is a showcase piece; the CombiBar is a functional tool. Buyers choosing between them are making a decision about aesthetics and security features versus practical divisibility.