Gold Education
Gold Basics
Bar, Coin, Jewellery or Digital: Which Form to Own
The same metal costs very different amounts depending on the shape it arrives in — and sells back for very different amounts too.
Deciding to own gold is the easy part. The expensive mistake is buying the wrong form of it — paying a jewellery premium for something you intended as savings, or buying a form you cannot sell quickly when you need to.
The four forms side by side
| Form | Premium over spot | Resale | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24K bar | Lowest | Easy, near spot | Storing value |
| 22K coin | Low to moderate | Very easy, widely recognised | Value plus flexibility |
| Jewellery | Highest — making charge | Metal value only | Wearing it |
| Allocated digital | Low | Instant, if the provider is sound | Small, regular buying |
The trade-offs that actually decide it
- Premium — Everything above the metal value is money you will not see again on resale. Jewellery carries the most.
- Divisibility — One large bar cannot be half-sold. Several small pieces cost more per gram but let you sell part.
- Recognition — A well-known coin or a hallmarked bar sells anywhere. An unbranded piece has to be tested first, and you pay for that in the price.
- Custody — Physical means storage and risk. Digital means trusting a provider — which is only acceptable if the metal is specifically allocated to you.
The one rule for digital gold
It must be allocated and fully backed — specific metal held in your name, paid for in full at the moment of purchase. An unallocated balance that is merely a claim on a pool is a different product, and it fails the settlement requirement that governs gold.
See both forms priced against the live rate
Bars and coins in our store are listed with purity, weight and price.