subject: Gold Ingots Explained [print this page] Gold ingots are pieces of precious metal of a particular size and weight. They can be produced in two ways: the first one is by boiling gold down to a liquid state, then pouring it into a mold, while the second one is by cutting and crafting gold blanks. All gold ingots have specific inscriptions that include the weight, composition and serial number of the piece, as well as information about the manufacturer.
Gold ingots are chunks of metal of a particular size and weight that are made by commercial refiners and can be bought from dealers. The resulting piece is stamped or otherwise marked with data concerning its value, the purity of the metal and the name of the manufacturing company.
Another commonly used type is the kilobar, which weighs 1000 grams and runs up to 20,000 USD a piece. These bars are probably the most profitable for investors, because they have a rather low premium and are easy to handle and store. You can also find smaller pieces, up to 1 ounce or even 1 gram, but buying them is not quite advisable, because the premiums are very high. Still, they make nice gifts or collectible items for hobbyists.
Another very common type of bar is the London Good Delivery, weighing 12.5 kilograms (or 400 troy ounces). Its value ranges from 200,000 to 300,000 USD, which makes it available mostly for banks and other large investors. A relatively new form of gold bar is the Chip Gold, a small ingot that comes in a certified and sealed package the size of a credit card. It can weigh between 1 and 20 grams.
The important thing to keep in mind is that buying them is not an easy job, because there are many things to consider. The market is currently loaded with fake gold and not all dealers are perfectly honest, so make sure you choose your seller well. Always ask to see the certification of the piece you're buying and thoroughly analyze the market before making the purchase. In the end, it all comes down to your profit and the choice you make will have a lot to say in this matter.
