The premium is the difference between the spot price and the purchase price. It covers minting, logistics, insurance and the dealer's margin, and for gold it runs from about two percent on kilo bars to five percent on gram units. It is the only line where dealers genuinely differ — and therefore the number you should be comparing.
The spot price is the exchange price for unworked fine gold. Turning that into a serial-numbered bar in your letterbox costs real money — and that is what sits in the premium.
The gap between 1 gram and 1 kilogram is three percentage points. On a €10,000 investment that is €300 — for an identical amount of metal.
Percentages on their own are not enough, because they can refer to different reference rates. Compare the final amount for an identical product at the same moment instead — and count everything that gets added.
On our site, every product page shows the spot price and the premium separately. That way you can check the arithmetic instead of taking our word for it.
When you sell, a dealer does not pay the spot price but somewhat below it — typically one to three percent. So your true round-trip cost is the premium on the way in plus the spread on the way out.
A worked example: you buy an ounce at a three percent premium and later sell at a two percent discount. The gold price has to rise by around five percent for you to break even. Buy in small units and you need correspondingly more.
The premium is the markup over the spot price. It covers minting, certification, logistics, insurance and the dealer's margin, and for gold it runs from about two percent on kilo bars to five percent on gram units.
Because minting, packaging and documentation cost almost the same per piece, whether it contains one gram or one kilo. On small units that fixed block is spread across less metal.
By the final amount for an identical product at the same moment, including shipping, insurance and any payment fees. Percentages alone are misleading when the reference rate is not disclosed.
No. When you sell, the dealer pays the spot price minus a spread of typically one to three percent. The premium and the buy-back spread together make up your round-trip cost.
All figures are typical magnitudes as at July 2026 and vary with market conditions and availability. Not investment advice.