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), known for the highest purity standards and the Kinebar hologram.
Argor-Heraeus is a Swiss refinery based in Mendrisio in the canton of Ticino which, since 1951, has been among the world's most respected processors of precious metals. The company emerged from Argor SA, founded in 1951, and is today majority-owned by the German Heraeus Group. Argor-Heraeus processes several thousand tonnes of gold, silver, platinum and palladium each year and supplies central banks, commercial banks, precious-metal dealers as well as the jewellery and industrial sectors.
LBMA Good Delivery and international certifications
Probably the most important quality feature of Argor-Heraeus is its listing on the LBMA Good Delivery List for gold and silver. Only refineries that meet the strictest purity, dimensional and documentation requirements of the London Bullion Market Association receive this status. Good Delivery bars from Argor-Heraeus are therefore tradable worldwide at all major precious-metal exchanges and among institutional buyers without further verification.
In addition, the company holds the following certifications:
- ISO 9001 (quality management system)
- ISO 14001 (environmental management system)
- Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) - proof 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 unique selling point is the Kinebar hologram, which Argor-Heraeus applies exclusively to part of its gold bars (especially 1 g to 100 g). This laser-engraved hologram is integrated directly into the bar surface, not stuck on, and serves as anti-counterfeiting protection. It is visible under normal light as a shimmering motif and can be verified with simple means. In addition, many bars are supplied in sealed blister cards (certified bars) with an individual serial number.
To check unknown bars, the Authenticity Test as well as verification of weight and dimensions is recommended.
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 call up the current gold price on this site at any time; determine the calculated material value of a bar with the Melt Value Calculator.
Supply chain and origin responsibility
Since Argor-Heraeus processes, among other things, doré bars directly from mines, the traceability of the raw gold is a central theme. The company maintains an internal Conflict Minerals Management System and publishes regular transparency reports. Membership of the LBMA Responsible Gold Guidance obliges due diligence along the entire supply chain - from the mine to the finished bar.
Investors to whom origin and ethics are important should look for the corresponding certificates and the enclosed assay certificate when buying.
Premium and tradability
Bars from Argor-Heraeus generally achieve good buy-back prices owing to their worldwide recognition and LBMA certification. The premium (agio) over the pure spot price varies by size and dealer: small weight units (1-10 g) show, as expected, higher percentage premiums than large bars from 250 g upwards.
You can estimate the current buying price for a bar with the Purchase Price Calculator. Note: Not tax or investment advice; please check tax specifics (e.g. Capital Gains Tax above the annual exempt amount) individually.
In brief
Argor-Heraeus stands for the highest Swiss refinery quality with LBMA Good Delivery status, the exclusive Kinebar hologram and seamless origin documentation - features that make this producer's bars among the most liquid and counterfeit-proof investment products in the fine gold segment worldwide.