Buying platinum bars can diversify your investments and protect against economic ups and downs. These physical assets give you direct ownership of a rare metal with strong industrial uses.
Start by understanding what makes a good platinum bar. Look for bars stamped with 999 purity, meaning they are 99.9 percent pure platinum with just a tiny bit of alloy. This high purity ensures better value over time. Reputable makers like PAMP Suisse and Valcambi add security features such as holograms, serial numbers, and certificates of authenticity that match the bar’s weight and details. These act like a passport for your bar, making it easier to sell later. Always demand these documents from sellers to avoid fakes, which are common in the market.
Next, decide where to buy. Local coin shops let you inspect bars in person before paying. You can check weight and feel the metal yourself, but prices run 3 to 5 percent higher than online, and stock is limited. Use cash to skip credit card fees of 3 to 4 percent. Visit a few shops with good Better Business Bureau ratings and compare deals.
Online dealers often beat local prices with wider choices. Sites like https://online.kitco.com/buy/gold-silver.html, APMEX, JM Bullion, and Provident Metals have thousands of reviews and ship free on orders over $199. They stock bars from top mints like Royal Canadian Mint and Perth Mint. JM Bullion offers AutoInvest for regular buys to average costs over time, and their premiums sit 1 to 2 percent below shops. Trusted spots like the https://www.usgoldbureau.com/news/post/how-to-test-platinum-at-home sell certified bars with secure delivery. Banks like TD Precious Metals also sell online, though quantities limit fast. For bulk, call dealers like Orion Metal Exchange, but note their $10,000 minimum.
Check prices before buying. Platinum trades around $1,758 to $1,990 per ounce depending on the dealer and quantity. Larger orders get discounts, like from Kitco’s pools or volume pricing at JM Bullion. Pay with checks, wires, or eChecks for the lowest rates; cards and PayPal add fees. Track live spot prices to know fair premiums over the base metal cost.
Verify your bar at home for peace of mind. Use a $20 to $50 test kit for basic checks, or measure density with a digital scale and water displacement. Platinum’s density is 21.45 grams per cubic centimeter, so real bars match this closely. For big buys, get a professional assay.
Store safely to protect value. Home safes work for small amounts, but banks or depositories charge for insured vaults. This keeps bars secure and ready for resale.
Know resale facts. Pure 999 bars hold value better than jewelry, which loses on trade-in. Dealers like JM Bullion buy back over $1,000 lots.
Sources
https://naturalresourcestocks.net/how-to-buy-precious-metal-bars-for-investment/
https://www.usgoldbureau.com/news/post/how-to-test-platinum-at-home
https://online.kitco.com/buy/gold-silver.html
https://preciousmetals.td.com/shop/en/tdmetals
https://money.com/best-online-gold-dealers/
https://www.gabrielny.com/blog/platinum-jewelry-composition-price-popularity/
https://www.jmbullion.com/investing-guide/
https://www.goldcore.com/platinum-price/platinum-price-per-gram