Argor-Heraeus
Also: Argor-Heraeus SA, Argor
Argor-Heraeus is one of the world's leading refineries and precious-metal processors, based in Mendrisio, Switzerland, renowned for the highest purity standards and its Kinebar hologram.
Argor-Heraeus is a Swiss refinery headquartered in Mendrisio, in the canton of Ticino, and since 1951 it has ranked among the most respected precious-metal processors in the world. The company grew out of Argor SA, founded that same year, and today sits under the majority ownership of Germany's Heraeus Group. Argor-Heraeus processes several thousand tonnes of gold, silver, platinum and palladium each year, supplying central banks, commercial banks, bullion dealers and the jewellery and industrial sectors.
LBMA Good Delivery and international certifications
Argor-Heraeus's single most important quality credential is its listing on the LBMA Good Delivery List for gold and silver. Only refineries that satisfy the London Bullion Market Association's exacting purity, dimensional and documentation requirements earn that status. Good Delivery bars from Argor-Heraeus are consequently tradeable at every major bullion exchange and with institutional buyers worldwide, without any further verification.
Beyond that, the company holds the following certifications:
- ISO 9001 (quality management system)
- ISO 14001 (environmental management system)
- Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) — evidence of ethical supply chains
- LBMA Responsible Gold Guidance — due diligence against conflict-gold risks
- Swiss Better Gold Association — partnership for sustainable gold production
The Kinebar hologram
A particularly visible distinguishing mark is the Kinebar hologram, which Argor-Heraeus applies exclusively to part of its gold-bar range (chiefly 1 g to 100 g). This laser-engraved hologram is set directly into the surface of the bar rather than glued on, and serves as an anti-counterfeiting device. It appears as a shimmering motif under ordinary light and can be verified with simple means. Many bars are additionally supplied in sealed blister cards (assay-card bars) bearing an individual serial number.
To check unfamiliar bars, the coin authenticity check is recommended, along with verification of weight and dimensions.
Product range at a glance
| Product | Typical denominations | Fineness |
|---|---|---|
| Gold bars (cast) | 100 g, 250 g, 500 g, 1 kg | 999.9 ‰ |
| Gold bars (minted/Kinebar) | 1 g, 2 g, 5 g, 10 g, 20 g, 50 g, 100 g | 999.9 ‰ |
| Silver bars | 100 g, 250 g, 500 g, 1 kg, 5 kg | 999.9 ‰ |
| Platinum bars | 1 oz, 50 g, 100 g | 999.5 ‰ |
| Palladium bars | 1 oz, 100 g | 999.5 ‰ |
You can pull up the current gold price on this site at any time; to work out the material value of a bar, use the melt-value calculator.
Supply chain and provenance responsibility
Because Argor-Heraeus processes, among other things, doré bars sourced directly from mines, the traceability of the raw gold is a central concern. The company operates an internal conflict-minerals management system and publishes regular transparency reports. Membership of the LBMA Responsible Gold Guidance obliges it to conduct due diligence along the entire supply chain — from the mine to the finished bar.
Investors to whom provenance and ethics matter should look, when buying, for the relevant certificates and the accompanying assay certificate.
Premium and tradeability
Bars from Argor-Heraeus, thanks to their worldwide recognition and LBMA certification, generally command strong buy-back prices. The premium (agio) over the pure spot price varies by size and dealer: small weight units (1–10 g) carry higher percentage premiums, as expected, than large bars from 250 g upwards.
You can estimate the current buying price for a bar with the buying-price calculator. Note: this is not tax or investment advice; check any tax specifics for your own circumstances.
In brief
Argor-Heraeus stands for the highest Swiss refinery quality, backed by LBMA Good Delivery status, the exclusive Kinebar hologram and unbroken provenance documentation — features that place this producer's bars among the most liquid and forgery-proof investment products in the fine gold segment.