What is Credit Suisse Gold Bar?

The first set of Credit Suisse bars was made available in 1979. The bars come in different sizes, starting from a gram (0.032 troy ounce) to up to a kilogram (32.15 t. oz.). Other bar sizes include 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 250, and 500 grams.

All of them are 0.9999 pure gold and bear the text “Essayeur Fondeur” etched, which roughly means “Melting Tester.” Credit Suisse bars are also made in silver (0.999), platinum (0.9995), and palladium (0.9995).

Credit Suisse gold bars come in a tamper-evident package and certification/assay card. The supporting documentation helps identify the coin and validate its authenticity. Since the gold bar is 99.99% gold, sealed plastic encasing helps prevent cosmetic damages. The rear of the cover also has printed information about the bar.

Credit Suisse gold bars are not legal tenders and don’t bear any face value. Gold bars are usually not used as currency. So Suisse bars not being used as one is standard.

The Popularity of the Credit Suisse Gold Bar

As mentioned earlier, gold bars don’t attract investors like gold bullion coins. But Credit Suisse's gold bar is an exception. But why? After all, there’s nothing truly unique about the bar’s design or shape. Every other bar has its purity and minting details engraved on it.

There’s no objective reasoning as such. But the following could be the factors contributing to the bar’s popularity:

It’s Credit Suisse!

Credit Suisse, one of the largest global financial entities, backs the gold bar. The financial establishment has been a critical player in the development of Switzerland’s economy. It helped the nation create its currency system, fund entrepreneurs so that they could invest in several infrastructure projects, such as the Gotthard railway. It issued loans to develop Switzerland’s electrical grid and much more.

Credit Suisse was among those very few banks that weren’t affected much by the 2007-2008 global financial crisis. The bank was one of the first financial institutions to democratize bullion gold bars or make the bars in smaller denominations so that there’s no significant initial investment needed.

Credit Suisse is not completely clean. No company is. During the several decades of being in the business, the company has been mired in controversies multiple times. But that hasn’t affected the pedigree and standing of Credit Suisse gold bars much.

Made in Switzerland

Switzerland is known for its finance sector. The country’s solid banks, reliable legal system, a stable currency, and the image of being a “safe haven” for all things money are world-renowned. A lot of that credibility also rubs on to the Credit Suisse gold bar, or people have more faith in the Suisse bar than perhaps a gold bar made in some other country.

Not to mention, Valcambi SA makes the gold bar. The mint is among the preeminent precious metal refiners in the world, with a significant presence and standing in the precious metals industry.

Understated, Yet Attractive Design

The design, as mentioned earlier, doesn’t stand out. But if you flip the bar to its reverse face, it gets interesting with the Credit Suisse logo emblazoned repeatedly. The repeating imagery lend the bar an attractive look. The shiny rounded edges give the bar a touch of elegance.

Here’s a video showing the gold bar in the metal if you’ve not seen it before:

Spotting Fake Credit Suisse Gold Bars

Since gold bars with the Credit Suisse logo are pretty popular, it’s natural for there to be fake versions of it. Credit Suisse gold bar features are not difficult to emulate. Even the plastic cover and the accompanying certificates can be easily replicated. Proper packaging is no guarantee the gold bar is genuine. But you could do a few things to ensure the gold bar is the real deal.

Cross-Compare

Faux gold bar manufacturers are getting better at their dubious craft, making it extremely difficult to detect a fake gold bar with a mere glance. Even experienced gold dealers might have a tough time. However, things become more manageable with a real Credit Suisse gold bar by the side.

Check for discrepancies in the bars’ font size and style, letter spacing, finish (matte or shiny), the logo pattern on the rear, etc. Regardless of how meticulously done, the fake gold bar could have one attribute that’s off or not real.

Checking the bar’s weight, serial number, physical dimensions, doing a magnet test, etc., are other ways to ascertain the genuineness of the bar.

Take the Bar to the Jeweler

If you cannot discern the differences, take the bar to an expert, like a jeweler or precious metals dealer. With their expertise and the testing tools at their disposal, professionals are in a better position to confirm the genuineness of the piece.

Most fake Credit Suisse gold bars do a good job imitating the real thing. But they cannot afford to make the piece in actual gold or replicate the precious metal content of the original bar. Less than 5% of the bar is likely to be fine gold—i.e. the gold plating. Jewelers have machines that accurately test gold density and purity to the decimal. Proper testing will bring the fakie to light.

Read more: How Much Does a Gold Bar Weigh

Conclusion

Credit Suisse, combined with Valcambi SA, makes some of the most popular gold bars and coins—the Credit Suisse bar being one of them. Add a few to your kitty if you’re looking to buy Credit Suisse bars in gold, silver, or another precious metal. However, beware of fakes and always purchase from authorized dealers.