Credit Suisse gold bars are among the most popular gold products available because of their beauty and distinct characteristics. However, these qualities also make them a target for counterfeiting.
Whether you’re a first-time gold buyer or a seasoned investor, knowing how to spot a fake Credit Suisse gold bar is a skill that could save you a lot of money and headache one day.
Characteristics of an Authentic Credit Suisse Gold Bar
Authentic Credit Suisse gold bars are instantly recognizable to precious metal experts due to their distinct characteristics. On the front of the bar, you’ll find its gold fineness, content, and serial number engraved in a modest font. Above this information is a rectangular box with “Credit Suisse” carved within it, while below sits the French phrase Essayeur Fondeur (meaning “melting tester”).
On the back of each bar, you’ll find multiple logo boxes containing the words “Credit Suisse” stretching diagonally across its surface. Every word on both sides consists of all capital letters and has the same font. Additionally, every Credit Suisse gold bar, regardless of weight, is 24-karat gold with .9999 gold fineness.
When looking for an authentic Credit Suisse Gold Bar, check every marking, insignia, word, and font carefully, as many counterfeits contain slight changes that can easily be spotted if you know what to look for. However, some fake bars may not show warning signs without further testing, so it’s important to remain vigilant when purchasing precious metals.
How Common Are Counterfeit Credit Suisse Gold Bars?
Counterfeit Credit Suisse gold bars aren’t a common issue; however, they do make their way into the precious metal market now and again. Because a gold bar is a hefty investment, it’s essential to authenticate your gold and silver before making a purchase.
Fake gold bullion often comes from illegal counterfeiting rings on online marketplaces like Alibaba. Some unscrupulous precious metal dealers also attempt to scam newcomers with exceptionally low prices for counterfeit gold bullion. Many novice investors may be unable to tell the difference between authentic and fake gold, so dealing with a reputable dealer to purchase any precious metals is crucial.
It’s also worth noting that many of these fake Credit Suisse bars have been made using tungsten or other cheaper metals to pass off as real gold bars at first glance. It’s best practice for anyone looking to buy physical bars, coins, or bullion to always weigh them first and then use another counterfeit-testing method to verify their authenticity before purchasing them.
Perform A Visual Inspection
Visual inspection is an important part of verifying the authenticity of a Credit Suisse gold bar. It involves looking at the bar’s weight, dimensions, hallmarking, serial number, and condition.
Weight and Dimensions
The first step in visual inspection is to check that the weight and dimensions match what’s printed on the bar. A fake Credit Suisse gold bar may be lighter or heavier than it should be or have different measurements than expected.
Genuine Credit Suisse gold bars typically weigh around one troy ounce (31 grams) and measure approximately 2 inches long by 1 inch wide (50mm x 25mm).
Hallmarking
Hallmarking is another way to tell whether a Credit Suisse gold bar is real. All authentic bars will have a stamp with “Credit Suisse” and other information such as purity, fineness, and metal content stamped onto them.
Fake bars may not have any markings at all, or they could be stamped with incorrect content information.
Serial Number
Authentic Credit Suisse gold bars also come with unique serial numbers, which can be used to verify their authenticity online through official channels such as banks or bullion dealerships. If there isn’t a serial number present, this could indicate that it’s not an authentic product from Credit Suisse.
Magnetic Testing
The magnetic test is a quick and easy way to detect whether a Credit Suisse gold bar is real. This method involves testing the bar with a magnet and comparing it to an authentic bar. When using this method, you should know that it may not be as reliable as other methods.
Testing with a Magnet
To begin the magnetic test, you will need an authentic Credit Suisse gold bar and the one in question available for comparison. Start by placing your magnet close to each of the bars in turn. They are likely fake if either is attracted to the magnet, as genuine gold does not react with magnets due to its low ferromagnetic properties.
Once you have tested both bars with your magnet, compare them side-by-side for visible differences. The markings on their surface should match up exactly when compared to each other; any discrepancies could indicate that one is counterfeit.
XRF Testing A Gold Bar
X-ray fluorescence (XRF) testing is a non-destructive method of analyzing the composition of metals, such as gold. It’s widely used in industries such as jewelry manufacturing and metal recycling.
XRF uses an x-ray beam to excite atoms in the provided sample to measure their energy levels. This information can then be used to determine the elemental composition of the tested material, including its purity level.
Benefits Of XRF Testing
XRF testing offers several advantages over other methods for determining gold purity. For one, it doesn’t require any destructive sampling or melting down of samples, making it ideal for authenticating precious metals like gold bars and coins without damaging them.
Additionally, it provides highly accurate, repeatable, reproducible results with minimal operator error or bias. Finally, it’s relatively fast compared to other analytical techniques, such as spectroscopy or fire assay analysis, providing quick and easy results.
Acid Testing Credit Suisse Gold Bars
Acid testing is an effective way to determine whether a gold bar is genuine. The process begins by applying nitric acid drops onto different areas on the bar’s surface, such as edges, corners, and centers. If it’s real gold, no reaction will occur when exposed to nitric acid; however, if it’s fake or mixed metal alloys, chemical reactions will be visible on the surface after exposure.
It’s important to know that experienced professionals should only do this method due to its destructive nature.
How To Perform An Acid Test
When performing an acid test on a Credit Suisse gold bar, you’ll need two bottles – one containing pure nitric acid and another containing aqua regia (a mixture made up of three parts hydrochloric acid and one part nitric acid). You’ll also need cotton swabs for application purposes and protective gloves and eyewear for safety reasons.
Start by applying small amounts of each solution onto various areas around your Credit Suisse gold bar until you’ve covered every inch that can be seen without damaging it further. If there are any reactions present, this could indicate that your Credit Suisse gold bar isn’t authentic but instead composed of other metals like copper or silver alloys which react when exposed to these acids compared to pure 24k-gold bullion bars.
Ultrasonic Testing
Ultrasonic testing is a non-destructive method of verifying the authenticity of gold bars. It involves sending high-frequency sound waves through a metal and measuring how long it takes to return. The time taken for the wave to travel from one side to another will depend on the thickness and density of the material being tested, allowing an accurate measurement to be made.
The measurements can then be compared against Suisse bar standards for authentication purposes. If there are any discrepancies between what is expected and what is measured, this could indicate that the bar may not be authentic, and further investigation should take place before making a purchase decision.
Buy Gold Bars From Noble Gold Investments
If you’re concerned about buying a potentially counterfeit Credit Suisse gold bar, the best thing to do is to purchase directly from a reputable gold dealer like Noble Gold Investments.
With a full range of precious metals available in an IRA or as physical coins and bullion, you can put your mind at ease when purchasing any precious metals from Noble Gold Investments. Contact us today to learn more about buying gold bars and coins from one of our support team members.
