Heraeus Gold Bars – Germany's Oldest and Most Trusted Refiner
Heraeus is Germany's leading precious metals refinery and one of the most recognised names in global bullion. Founded in 1851 in Hanau, near Frankfurt, by pharmacist and entrepreneur Wilhelm Carl Heraeus, the company grew from a small platinum melting facility into a multinational industrial group with operations in over 40 countries and annual precious metals turnover in the hundreds of tonnes. With 22 products at CelticGold, Heraeus offers the broadest gold bar range of any single manufacturer in the portfolio.
History – From a Pharmacy Back Room to the World Market
The Heraeus story begins with a technological breakthrough. In 1851, Wilhelm Carl Heraeus – then running his family's pharmacy in Hanau – developed a high-temperature platinum furnace capable of reaching over 1,770°C. This allowed him to melt and refine platinum for the first time commercially, attracting orders from the German chemical and electrical industries.
Gold and silver refining followed naturally, and Heraeus rapidly became the supplier of choice for Germany's growing photographic industry (silver halides for photographic paper), the electrical industry (gold and platinum contacts), and chemical industry (precious metal catalysts). By 1900, Heraeus was Germany's dominant precious metals company.
The Heraeus Kinebar® – developed in the 1990s in partnership with Argor-Heraeus – brought holographic security technology to private investment gold bars for the first time. Today, the Kinebar® is the global standard in minted gold bar security.
What makes Heraeus different from other LBMA refiners?
Heraeus combines German industrial precision, the widest weight range of any European refiner (1g to 1kg), and the proprietary Kinebar® holographic security feature. Their bars are among the most recognised and accepted globally.
Is the Heraeus Kinebar® on all gold bars?
Only on minted bars (1g–100g in blister card). Cast bars (250g and above) carry an individual serial number and certificate but not the Kinebar® hologram.
Can I sell Heraeus gold bars back to CelticGold?
Yes. Details: Sell to CelticGold.
