Valcambi gold bars (incl. CombiBar): prices, sizes and history

Valcambi is less famous by name than PAMP, but for decades it quietly made the bars sold under the Credit Suisse logo. Here is what you get when you buy one today.

Who is Valcambi, and how did Credit Suisse fit in?

According to its own history page, Valcambi began in 1961 as Valori & Cambi, a refinery in Balerna, southern Switzerland, set up by five Swiss investors. Credit Suisse lent the young plant gold, then bought 50% in 1967, another 30% around 18 months later and the remaining 20% in 1980. The bank registered its "CS" brand for gold on COMEX in 1974 and on TOCOM in 1982, which is why so many Credit Suisse bars exist.

Credit Suisse pulled back from bullion in 2001 and sold Valcambi in 2003 to European Gold Refineries, a shareholding of Newmont Mining and Swiss investors. Today Valcambi's corporate structure page names Rajesh Exports Ltd, listed on India's National and Bombay stock exchanges, as its group.

What sizes do Valcambi bars come in?

Valcambi's product list covers cast bars, minted bars, round bars and the CombiBar. Minted bars come in small sizes, sealed in an assay card with a serial number. Cast bars are made for larger weights, up to the professional 400oz Good Delivery bar. For how these weights compare, see our gold bar sizes guide.

What is a Valcambi bar worth today?

These values are the spot price times the gold content and update live. They are melt values, not dealer prices.

Spot-based melt values. Dealers sell above and buy back below these figures.

What premiums did we find on Valcambi bars?

We captured APMEX's check or wire price for one to nine bars on Sunday 11 October 2026 at 12:45 BST, when the gold market was shut. To show how Valcambi sits against other brands, we include comparable 1oz bars from the same page.

Spot from gold-api.com. Premium = price ÷ (fine oz × spot) − 1. Card and PayPal prices at APMEX are higher. Valcambi did not appear in the 1oz listing we captured at Chards in the UK that day.

What this means: a standard Valcambi 1oz bar is priced like other top Swiss brands. The CombiBar costs almost three times as much in premium, so it only makes sense if you value being able to split it. Bars sold under the Credit Suisse name, made by Valcambi, now cost more than Valcambi's own. See the best gold bars to buy for lower-cost options.

Compare Valcambi bars at APMEX

Is a cast or minted Valcambi bar better?

Minted Valcambi bars are stamped, polished and sealed, which suits small purchases and makes checking easier. Cast bars cost less to make, so in 100g and larger sizes they often carry a lower premium, but they are not sealed and may need testing when you sell. Read our explainer on cast vs minted bars.

Who are Valcambi bars best for?

• Buyers who want an LBMA refiner's bar without paying extra for a famous design.
• People who like the idea of dividing gold later (CombiBar), and accept the higher cost.
• Larger buyers comparing 100g, 250g and 1kg cast bars on price per gram.

How do you verify and store a Valcambi bar?

1. Check the stamp: the Valcambi logo, weight, fineness (999.9) and a serial number should be crisp and centred.
2. Match the card: the serial on a minted bar should match its sealed assay card. Read what an assay card is.
3. Weigh and measure against the stated weight; fakes of the right weight are usually the wrong size.
4. Test pre-owned or loose bars with a dealer's XRF or ultrasonic tester. Our guide on telling if gold is real explains the methods.

Store CombiBars flat in their card so segments are not bent. For safes, vaults and insurance, see gold storage. Compare more refiners in all gold bar guides.

Where can you buy Valcambi bars?

Not financial advice. GoldVetted provides general information to help you compare options. It is not personal financial, tax or legal advice. Gold prices go down as well as up, and you may get back less than you pay. Check tax rules with the official source or a qualified adviser before you act.