Description
Platinum is used extensively in industry, particularly in automotive catalytic converters, as well as in jewelry and investment. That mix of demand gives platinum a price behavior quite different from gold’s, which is why some investors hold a modest platinum allocation to diversify within precious metals.
A one-ounce platinum bar is valued mainly on its metal content. Bars are produced by private refiners and are typically .9995 fine, the purity standard widely used for investment platinum. Each bar is stamped with the refiner’s mark, the weight, the fineness and usually a serial number, and most one-ounce bars arrive sealed in an assay card that documents their authenticity.
Compared with platinum coins such as the Canadian Platinum Maple Leaf or British Platinum Britannia, bars usually carry a lower premium over the spot price, though they lack legal-tender status. Brand recognition affects resale, so Opulent Gold Group confirms the refiner and its published specifications for the bar you will receive before you place an order.
Platinum markets are smaller than gold markets and can move sharply, and dealer spreads on platinum are often wider. Investors typically size platinum holdings with that volatility in mind. Platinum bars that meet the .9995 purity standard and come from a refiner your custodian accepts may be held in a self-directed IRA.
