Gold Stater shows the live per-gram gold price for every karat. This guide connects the live price to a formula for valuing a gold bar before buying it.
Step 1: verify the bar stamp
Every certified gold bar must carry, stamped or engraved on its surface, the weight (such as "10g" or "1oz"), the karat (such as "999.9" for 24K), the maker (name or logo), and the serial number. A bar with no stamp or a suspicious mark is doubtful; refuse the purchase.
Step 2: get the certificate of origin
Imported bars come sealed in a stamped plastic card (an "assay card") carrying the same information printed with the maker's signature. Trusted makers: PAMP Suisse, Credit Suisse, Valcambi, Metalor, Argor-Heraeus. For local Egyptian bars, Sennoures and Gold Mart are known.
Step 3: verification weighing
Ask the dealer to weigh the bar in front of you on a precise electronic scale. Compare with the stamped number. Any difference above 0.1% deserves an explanation. A bar from a certified maker should match its stated weight exactly.
Step 4: compute the raw value
Open the gold price page and get the 24K gram price. Multiply it by the bar weight. This is the minimum fair price. Example: a 10 gram bar at a 24K gram price of 4,100 EGP has a minimum of 10 times 4,100 = 41,000 EGP.
Step 5: know the workmanship and commission
Bar workmanship is usually 20 to 80 EGP per gram. Imported bars may carry an extra import commission. The reasonable final price is the raw value plus (workmanship times weight) plus import commission (if any) plus VAT. Continuing the example: a 10 gram bar at 40 per gram workmanship, no commission, 14% tax on workmanship: raw 41,000 EGP, workmanship 400 EGP, tax 56 EGP, fair price about 41,456 EGP.
Step 6: compare across multiple sources
Before buying, ask two or three dealers for the price of the same bar (same maker, weight, karat). A normal difference is 0.5% to 2%. A difference above 3% deserves a question.
Step 7: confirm the invoice
The tax invoice must include the shop name and commercial registration, the full weight, the karat, the bar serial number, the raw price and workmanship separately, and the VAT. An invoice without these details will not serve you on a later sale.
How do you check authenticity yourself?
Preliminary methods without professional equipment: a magnet test (pure gold is not magnetic), a sound test (pure gold rings clear when tapped gently), and a density check (weight divided by volume should be near 19.3 g/cm3). For full certainty, go to the Assay and Weights Authority for an acid test.
Is a large bar or several small bars better?
A large bar (100 grams or 1 kilo) has lower workmanship per gram but harder resale liquidity because the buyer needs a large sum at once. Small bars (1 to 10 grams) carry relatively higher workmanship but sell more easily. Recommendation: for quick resale, choose 5 to 10 gram bars; for long-term savings, a larger bar is relatively cheaper.
A practical example with 2026-04-29 prices
Assume on 2026-04-29 the 24K gram is 4,150 EGP. For a 10 gram bar: raw gold 41,500 EGP, nominal workmanship at 35 per gram 350 EGP, tax 49 EGP, import commission about 200 EGP, fair price about 42,099 EGP. If the dealer asks 44,000 EGP or more, ask why; a gap above 2,500 EGP on a 10 gram bar is unjustified. Track the live price on the gold price page so you enter with a reference.
How do you verify the serial number?
Every LBMA-certified bar comes with a unique engraved serial number that must match the number on the sealed assay card, the number on the dealer's invoice, and the maker's official records (verifiable on some makers' websites). If the bar number does not match the certificate, the bar is not genuine or the certificate is altered; refuse the purchase immediately.
Conclusion
A disciplined seven-step check protects you from overpaying and from fakes. Always enter the shop with the live raw price open. See the methodology page for how we handle bar pricing.
Sources
- LBMA: approved bar standards and trusted manufacturer list, 2026-04-29
- Egyptian Assay and Weights Authority (official inspection)
- World Gold Council: bar investment guidance
- Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce, Gold Division
- goldapi.io: ounce reference price
- exchangerate-api.com: conversion rate