J. Rotbart & Co. believes in ensuring your precious metals are pure and of the highest quality. You can depend on our assaying and authentication services.
Buy, Sell, Store, & Ship Gold, Silver, Platinum, and Palladium
Whether you are buying, selling, or recasting your gold, silver, platinum, or palladium, you need to be sure of their purity and composition. Assaying and authenticating is the process wherein recognized experts certify the quality of your precious metals. This provides you with certainty and peace of mind, and confirms the authenticity of your holdings. Assaying bullion is essential when buying bullion from dubious sources, or when selling us bullion that was not sold through us.
J. Rotbart & Co. has access to a global expert network to comprehensively analyze and inspect precious metals for credible and trustworthy certification. This process will confirm the quality of your holdings or potential purchase up to the strictest standards of the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) or the London Palladium and Platinum Market (LPPM), if needed.
J. Rotbart & Co. stands behind every one of our transactions. We draw on world-class specialists to identify possible counterfeiting and rely on reputable refiners in locations around the world to assay, smelt, and recast precious metals. You will receive a comprehensive assaying report fully detailing the composition of the precious metals in question for your further action. We further safeguard your precious metals transactions by complying with international regulations and guidelines. We conduct comprehensive due diligence to avoid dealing with precious metals from questionable or disreputable sources.
When buying precious metals from a source which is unknown to you, assaying is a vital component. Assaying is the process by which metals are analyzed so that their composition is determined and quantified.
We would like to believe everyone who says that their gold bullion bars are pure, but we should not. And as much as we would like all our customers to take our word on the quality of the bullion, we know that expert analysis and certification is the only option for providing our customers with the levels of confidence they need to feel safe.
Generally, there are two different types of assaying. Direct methods measure metal compositions through physical and chemical processes, while indirect methods use instruments that measure how the metal interacts with electromagnetic radiation (normally visible light and x-rays).
Many consider direct methods as the most accurate, as they test the metals’ composition. However, this usually requires melting or dissolving some or all of the product in question. Any markings or stamping will obviously disappear or be marred. So, while this is an excellent method of bullion bars, it may not be the best method for commemorative coins, since the stamps, which may be integral to the value, are likely to be damaged.
Fire Assaying is the one of the most common and accurate direct methods. It can be quite complicated, but essentially, it involves analyzing either all, or a sample of the metal in question, as it melts. Each element has its own melting point, so using very sensitive instruments and chemical agents, the assayer can identify and measure an item’s distinct make-up.Direct assaying requires physically altering the precious metals being analyzed, which usually requires recasting after completing the process. Indirect methods such as x-ray fluorescence (XRF) or Inductively coupled plasma – optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) do not require melting or dissolving.
XRF is the more common method. The metal is radiated so that it emits x-rays. As different metals will emit x-rays at different rates and intensities, the emitted x-rays are then analyzed and identified by the assayer.Upon completion, you should receive an assay card or an assay certificate. This should have details confirming the process and results. Expect such information as date, purity, weight, and dimensions, as well as a unique serial number and mint mark. Each of these data contribute towards verifying the precious metals you are buying or selling are pure.
If you are offered a Certificate of Authenticity (CoA), you may want to ask for an assay card or certificate as well. A CoA does not usually mean there was a detailed, expert assay completed. It is often issued with a coin or other commemorative item to verify authenticity, but not necessarily purity.
Our team of experts at J. Rotbart & Co. are here to answer your questions. As a boutique precious metals firm, we have spent years building our reputation, one customer at a time. We understand that to maintain that reputation it’s imperative we’re always able to ensure the precious metals that pass through our doors are certified to the highest standards possible.
J. Rotbart & Co. offers options and flexibility with assaying and authenticating. We work with you to determine your best course of action depending on your specific needs. You can choose to sell your assayed metals or have them recast into new bars. J. Rotbart & Co. wants to help you transact in physical precious metals at the highest standard. Contact us today to find out more.
