C. Hafner
Also: C. Hafner GmbH + Co. KG, Hafner precious metals
C. Hafner is a German precious-metal refinery and semi-finished products manufacturer founded in Pforzheim in 1850, which refines gold, silver and platinum-group metals and produces certified bars and semi-finished products for industry and the jewellery trade.
C. Hafner is one of Germany's most tradition-rich precious-metal companies. The family business was founded in 1850 in Pforzheim — Germany's "Gold City" at the time — and now has its headquarters in Wimsheim (Enzkreis district, Baden-Württemberg). C. Hafner combines two core areas under one roof: the refinery (refining and purchasing of scrap metals, alloys and industrial residues) and the manufacture of semi-finished precious-metal products such as sheets, wires, tubes and profiles for the jewellery, dental and electronics industries.
Quality and certifications
C. Hafner is a member of the LBMA Good Delivery List for gold and silver — the globally recognised standard for tradable bars in international wholesale (see LBMA fixing). Bars from the House of Hafner meet the strict requirements regarding fineness, weight tolerance, surface quality and marking. Each bar bears the company stamp, serial number and fineness as a hallmark.
In addition, the company is certified to ISO 9001 (quality management) and ISO 14001 (environmental management) and is a member of the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC). The supply chain complies with the LBMA Responsible Gold standard, which means: no financing of conflicts, no human-rights violations and traceability of the raw-metal sources.
Product portfolio at a glance
| Area | Example products | Fineness (typical) |
|---|---|---|
| Gold bars | 1 g – 1 kg, various denominations | 999.9 ‰ |
| Silver bars | 1 oz – 1 kg | 999.0 ‰ |
| Platinum bars | 1 oz – 500 g | 999.5 ‰ |
| Semi-finished | Sheets, wires, tubes, granules for industry & jewellery | alloy-dependent |
| Recycling / affinage | Purchase & refining of scrap gold, broken gold, industrial residues | – |
| Dental alloys | Special alloys for dental technology | alloy-dependent |
Recognising and checking bars
Genuine C. Hafner bars carry a stamped or laser-engraved serial number and are often packaged in a sealed blister (assay card). Anyone who knows the current gold price and checks the weight of a bar can quickly determine the material value via the melt value calculator. For coins and smaller bars, the coin authenticity check is additionally recommended.
Tax treatment (United Kingdom)
Gold bars from C. Hafner with a fineness of at least 995.0 ‰ qualify as investment gold under HMRC rules and are exempt from VAT on purchase in the UK (Directive 2006/112/EC framework). Silver and platinum bars, by contrast, are subject to the standard VAT rate of 20% (silver: margin scheme possible, depending on the dealer). On resale, gains from gold bars may be subject to Capital Gains Tax above the annual exempt amount, since bars — unlike UK legal-tender coins from The Royal Mint — do not benefit from the CGT exemption. There is no German-style one-year speculation period.
Note: the tax treatment depends on the individual case; when in doubt, it is advisable to consult a tax adviser.
In brief
C. Hafner stands for over 170 years of precious-metal expertise, LBMA-certified bars (gold 999.9 ‰, silver 999.0 ‰) and sustainable raw-material chains. The company's gold bars qualify as investment gold and are VAT-free, and are traded internationally without a liquidity discount — the LBMA listing being the decisive quality feature.