Hey guy just want to ask for some opinion on pamp suisse cast 1 kg silver bars. I recently had a f2f trade for some 1kg pamp bars and I did some basic testing on it and decided not to buy them. Basically the bars looked exactly same as my bar bought from bullion dealer except the "f" and the "r" prints on the edge of "fine silver" wasnt very deep and the back of the bar looks slighly poorer finish. Secondly the measurements on the bar was 2mm wider and longer but 2mm thinner compared to my bar (my bar measured spot on with the specifications off pamp website) The bars were exactly 1 kg Lastly the bars had a much lower (very obviously different) pitch and short ring to it compared to my silver on a ring test. Hence I didnt buy them but the seller insist he bought them from a reputably dealer and its just a different batch. Just wondering if anyone else has seen anything like this and whether these bars are fake Cheers
I only bought my magnet after I developed suspicion for those bars. Just makes me worry after seeing all these fake coin on youtube. I would imagine bars would be much easier to counterfeit.
i think it is probably more worthy doing gold rather than silver... as long as it passed the neodium magnet test.. i will take the silver.. or am i wrong here
I haven't seen any fake PAMP Bars before... but then again, maybe they were very convincing fakes ... hmmz... However, PAMPS are definitely still my preferred 1KG Bar. Has anyone ever come across a fake PAMP 1KG Bar?
Just bought some acid testing solution off ebay. Cant wait till I get them. Guess its the only way to be sure. Unless if its plated with thick later
Not a good idea. The core could be filled with another material and the surface silver. Plus you will damage the surface although not important if on a cast bar. Just get yourself an ultrasound thickness meter or simply buy from reputable dealers.
I understand different batchs are made but how come the size is different to the specification of Pamp's website (presumably updated) Also magnets will only pick up fake silver its its made from iron, nickle cobalt and gadolinium, alloys from copper and lead will not stick to a magnet. One thing I thought particular suspicious is the sound on the ring test, Silver has a unique acoustic property, those bars dont sound like silver at all
This fake gold PAMP bar case has been on SSs before but. (sure it is not Ag 1kilo) [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOmKCQQz2WA[/youtube] Counterfeiting sucks the big one.
This - can't beat physics. Resale liquidity of acid tested bars is low compared to unmarred bars, and it only tests the surface, so plating will defeat it. Ultrasonic testing works perfectly fine on 1kg silver bars.
the slabbed coin being opened so easy at the 12:00 minute mark was a worry for people that by that sort of thing.
Removing from packaging then acid testing wipes off all resale premium. Would be cheaper to pay return post and send to a reputable dealer for testing thus retaining premium. Safest thing if unsure is to never buy anything from anyone anytime anywhere and that way you wont get ripped off and can sleep soundly.
I actually have never heard of that. And fail to understand why that would be the case as long as: - we are testing bars not coins - decently sized bars - the correct material has been setup in the meter I have myself tested quite a bit of bars, and results have always been very accurate. This is with a $80 meter on ebay, the basic stuff. I don't see why a database would be needed. All that is needed is the sound velocity in a given metal and an accurate measurement of the bar being tested at the point it's tested at. Most reliable and non destructive method that does not involve XRF.
Ok so you know the thickness test range for ultrasound then. Bars or coins, plastic pipes it's all the same.