1 oz Armillary Platinum Bar | Valcambi

1 oz Armillary Platinum Bar Valcambi

1 oz Armillary Platinum Bar Valcambi is a fully valuable platinum bullion bar weighing 1 oz (31.103 g), manufactured by the renowned refinery Valcambi (Switzerland) from 999.5/1000 fine platinum - the highest bullion-grade platinum purity standard compliant with London Platinum & Palladium Market (LPPM) Good Delivery requirements. Each bar is individually packaged in a certified CertiPAMP/CertiCard blister with a serial number stamped directly on the bar that matches the number on the accompanying assay certificate confirming fineness and weight.

Valcambi is a Swiss refinery founded in 1961 in Balerna (Ticino canton), one of the world's largest producers of precious metal bars. The company is London Platinum & Palladium Market (LPPM) Good Delivery accredited for platinum and palladium - the highest quality standard in the trading of these metals. Valcambi is the only manufacturer worldwide producing the innovative CombiBar® also in platinum. See also the full range of platinum bullion and palladium available at GoldInvest24.

Armillary Bar - limited Valcambi design inspired by the armillary sphere

The Armillary Bar is an exclusive, limited design project from the Valcambi refinery aesthetically referencing the armillary sphere - an ancient astronomical instrument known since Hellenic antiquity and the Renaissance, used to model the motion of celestial bodies. The bar consists of four precisely interconnected segments of 999.5/1000 platinum, together forming a full troy ounce (31.103 g) of pure metal. The modular form distinguishes the product from classical rectangular bullion bars and gives it a distinctly collectable character.

Unlike the CombiBar®, the segments of the Armillary Bar are not intended to be broken - they form an integral design composition enclosed in a single certified assay card with a Valcambi serial number. The product therefore combines the metal value of a full 1-ounce LPPM Good Delivery platinum bar with a collector premium resulting from the limited mintage and distinctive design. An ideal position for collectors who want to combine a platinum bullion with the aesthetic value of an object.

Key product features

• highest 999.5/1000 platinum fineness - LPPM Good Delivery standard, required for professional precious metal trading;
• manufacturer Valcambi (Switzerland, since 1961) - one of the most reputable precious metals refineries;
• mass: 1 oz (31.103 g);
• platinum density 21.45 g/cm³ - significantly higher than gold (19.32) and almost twice as high as silver (10.49);
• platinum is about 30 times rarer than gold - annual mine output ~190 t vs ~3,100 t for gold (data: WPIC, World Gold Council);
• assay certificate with serial number included with every bar, number stamped directly on the reverse;
• VAT: standard rate applies — unlike gold bullion (exempt under Council Directive 2006/112/EC), platinum bullion is subject to standard VAT in the EU (e.g. 23% in Poland, 19% in Germany; differential taxation under § 25a UStG may apply for certain imports);
• high recognition and liquidity on the secondary market - bars from LPPM-accredited manufacturers are easily tradable across Europe;
• diversification of a precious metals portfolio - platinum has a different price profile from gold and silver (strong correlation with industrial demand, particularly the automotive sector - catalytic converters);
• discreet and secure storage - compact form, traceability via serial number, non-magnetic (simple authenticity test).

Authenticity certificate and traceability

Each bar is delivered in an original protective blister with assay certificate, which guarantees the metal's origin and confirms compliance of fineness and weight with the LPPM Good Delivery standard. The serial number stamped directly on the bar matches the number on the Valcambi assay card and allows unambiguous product identification on the secondary market. Opening the blister does not invalidate the certificate, but we recommend keeping the bar in its original packaging for the maximum price on potential resale.

Why buy platinum?

Platinum is one of the rarest precious metals in the world and at the same time a critical industrial commodity used in automotive catalytic converters (Diesel engines, hydrogen fuel cells), electronics and jewellery. Annual global mine output is approximately 190 tonnes, making platinum about 30 times rarer than gold (data: World Platinum Investment Council, World Gold Council). This natural scarcity, combined with growing demand from hydrogen technologies, creates a unique market profile - distinct from classical monetary metals such as gold or silver.

Buyers building a diversified precious metals portfolio often add platinum as a complement to their gold and silver positions. See also gold bullion bars, silver bullion bars and current precious metals prices.

Technical specification

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Is 1 oz Armillary Platinum Bar Valcambi an original LPPM bullion bar?

Yes. The bar comes directly from manufacturer Valcambi SA (Switzerland, since 1961), accredited by the London Platinum & Palladium Market (LPPM) Good Delivery for platinum. Fineness 999.5/1000, mass 1 oz (31.103 g) and serial number are confirmed by an assay certificate included with every bar in a certified blister. GoldInvest24 sources its products exclusively from the authorised distribution channels of the manufacturers.

Why is platinum bullion 999.5 fineness and not 999.9 like gold or silver?

The LPPM Good Delivery standard for platinum bullion (Pt 1 grade) sets the minimum fineness at 999.5/1000 (i.e. 99.95% pure metal). This results from platinum's metallurgical specifics - achieving higher fineness while maintaining the plasticity required for rolling and minting bars is costly and not justified from a practical standpoint. All major platinum coins worldwide (Maple Leaf, American Eagle, Philharmonic, Kangaroo) also have 999.5 fineness, making it the de facto global standard for the platinum bullion market.

Is platinum bullion subject to VAT?

Yes. Unlike gold bullion (which is VAT-exempt under Council Directive 2006/112/EC), platinum bullion is subject to standard VAT throughout the European Union — typically 23% in Poland and 19% in Germany. The Council Directive 2006/112/EC exemption applies exclusively to gold; platinum and silver are subject to the full VAT rate. For certain imports or under specific dealer schemes, the German differential taxation under § 25a UStG may apply, taxing only the dealer margin. The displayed price already includes VAT and is the final retail price; a VAT invoice is issued with each order.

How does platinum differ from gold and silver as bullion?

Platinum has a fundamentally different market profile from gold or silver. First, it is about 30 times rarer than gold (annual mine output ~190 tonnes vs ~3,100 tonnes for gold). Second, around 40% of annual demand comes from the automotive sector (Diesel engine catalytic converters and hydrogen fuel cells) - which is why platinum prices respond strongly to industrial cycles and emission regulations. Third, platinum has historically traded both at a premium to gold (until 2014) and at a significant discount (after 2015, in connection with the Dieselgate scandal). This different profile makes platinum a valued component of precious metals portfolio diversification.

How does Valcambi differ from other platinum manufacturers?

Valcambi is the only refinery in the world producing a segmented CombiBar® in platinum as well, allowing buyers to liquidate the metal in smaller 1 g denominations without affecting the value of the whole bar. In addition, Valcambi is one of the world's largest producers of bullion bars (since 1961, Balerna in Ticino canton), LPPM Good Delivery accredited for platinum and palladium, as well as LBMA for gold and silver. Valcambi bars are particularly valued on the European market for their precise workmanship, classic design and high secondary market liquidity.

Can the segments of the Armillary Bar be separated?

No. Unlike the CombiBar®, the Armillary Bar forms an integral design composition inspired by the armillary sphere. Four interconnected platinum segments of 999.5 fineness make up a fully valuable 1 oz bar (31.103 g) enclosed in a shared CertiCard blister with a Valcambi serial number. Attempting to break it would compromise the product's certified character and reduce its market value. The product is designed as a permanent bullion and collector object.

What is an armillary sphere and why does it inspire this design?

The armillary sphere (armilla) is an ancient astronomical instrument consisting of metal rings representing the main circles of the celestial sphere (equator, tropics, ecliptic). It was used from Hellenic antiquity (Eratosthenes, Hipparchus) through the Arab-Islamic era (9th-11th centuries) up to the Renaissance instruments of Tycho Brahe and European observatories. Valcambi references this with a bar design of four interconnected segments - a modular form combining the precision of Swiss metallurgy with an aesthetic reference to scientific heritage, making the product a distinctive bullion and design object.

Can I sell the bar back to GoldInvest24?

Yes. GoldInvest24 operates an platinum bullion buyback at prices linked to the current London Platinum Fix (LPPM quotation, twice daily). The buyback price is influenced by fineness (999.5), weight, packaging condition (original blister with assay certificate), serial number matching the assay card, as well as the current market spread. Bars in undamaged blisters with legible assay cards achieve the highest resale prices - therefore we recommend keeping the product in its intact original form.

Order 1 oz Armillary Platinum Bar Valcambi online with delivery in 1-3 business days - discreet packaging, insured courier shipment, personal collection possible by prior arrangement. GoldInvest24 is an authorised dealer of platinum bullion from LPPM Good Delivery accredited manufacturers, including Valcambi SA. The price on the website is updated in line with the current London Platinum Fix.