Valcambi is one of the largest precious-metals refineries in the world, and an essential name in silver bars. The Swiss brand is best known for having popularised the CombiBar, the divisible bar. Here is an overview.
Who is Valcambi
Founded in 1961, Valcambi is based in Balerna, in the canton of Ticino, in Italian-speaking Switzerland — the same region as other major refiners. It is one of the world’s largest precious-metals refiners, producing gold, silver, platinum and palladium.
Valcambi is one of the LBMA-accredited refiners, which guarantees that its bars are accepted without question on the international market. To understand what this involves, see LBMA certificate and seal.
The Valcambi silver bar range
Valcambi covers the full range of formats:
- Cast bars for the larger weights (1 kg, 5 kg, 15 kg, 100 oz), with the lowest premium;
- Minted bars with clean surfaces for the smaller formats;
- The CombiBar, its signature.
The CombiBar, Valcambi’s signature
The CombiBar is a bar pre-cut into small units that detach by hand (for example 100 × 1 g, or 10 × 10 g). It lets you resell or transfer in fractions without liquidating a whole bar — a smart compromise between the low premium of large formats and the flexibility of small ones. We devote a dedicated article to it: the CombiBar explained.
Why a Valcambi bar resells well
- Worldwide reputation: the brand is instantly recognised by dealers.
- LBMA accreditation: smooth international resale.
- Seal and serial number: traceability that avoids the “doubt discount”.
That is why Valcambi regularly features among the most liquid silver bar brands, alongside PAMP and the major German refiners.
Valcambi versus other refiners
At identical purity and weight (999 ‰), the metal value of a Valcambi bar is the same as that of a PAMP or an Argor-Heraeus. The choice comes down to availability, premium and format preference — the CombiBar being Valcambi’s distinguishing argument.
Buying a Valcambi silver bar
Three reflexes:
- Compare the premium as a percentage, not the gross price;
- Factor in the 20% VAT applicable to silver in France;
- Keep the seal and certificate for a resale free of discount.
In summary
- Valcambi is a major Swiss refinery (Balerna, 1961), LBMA-accredited.
- A complete range, from the divisible CombiBar to large cast bars.
- The CombiBar is its signature: resale flexibility in fractions.
- A highly liquid brand; at equal purity, the same metal value as the other major refiners.
Compare formats and prices on each city page, and request a free valuation.
This article is informational and does not constitute investment advice.