Is bullion the same as gold?
Emma Miller
Updated on January 14, 2026
Bullion refers to physical gold and silver of high purity that is often kept in the form of bars, ingots, or coins. Bullion can sometimes be considered legal tender, and is often held as reserves by central banks or held by institutional investors.
Is gold jewelry considered bullion?
Quality of the Gold These types of bullion are produced by reputable refineries and government mints, and they are 99.99 percent pure gold in most cases. In contrast, when you buy gold jewelry, you can’t always be sure of the quality of the gold. Some jewelry is solid gold, but some jewelry is just gold-plated.
What is bullion jewelry?
Bullion JewelryTM is a discreet and portable asset with a unique history and reporting requirements. Each piece is as valuable as minted gold coins and bars with a purity of 22K (91.6%) or 24K (99.9%).
Is gold bullion solid gold?
Most gold coins minted since 1800 are 90–92% gold (22 karat), while most of today’s gold bullion coins are pure gold, such as the Britannia, Canadian Maple Leaf, and American Buffalo. Gold is also easily transportable, as it has a high value-to-weight ratio, compared to other commodities, such as silver.
Are gold coins worth more than gold bullion?
Bullion coins, such as Gold American Eagles, are the best type of precious metals for most investors. You could buy smaller bullion bars, such as a 1 oz bullion bar, but they tend to be harder to sell back and the transaction costs are higher.
What is the difference between gold bullion and gold bars?
Bullion refers to items that derive their value from their precious metal content, rather than their form. For example, a gold bar is considered bullion. The most common forms of bullion are bars and ingots, and coins. Gold and silver bars are also called ingots.
Why jewelry is a bad investment?
“Jewellery is a very bad investment,” says Harsh Roongta of the price comparison website ApnaPaisa.com, based in Mumbai. Prices of necklaces, bracelets and rings reflect the cost of making them – which can add up to 30% on the price of the actual gold in these items.
What jewelry has the best resale value?
For the second year in a row, Van Cleef & Arpels came in at the top spot, with a 74 percent resale value—a 5 percent increase from last year. The RealReal said the brand’s signature “Alhambra” motif is a top draw for its customers.
What’s the difference between gold coins and gold bullion?
However, the two terms “gold” and “bullion” are very different from each other. One is very exclusive, while the other term is more inclusive. Gold would include various forms of gold like coins, bars and other forms of the metal. When you talk of bullion, it also includes other precious metals like silver and platinum.
Why is it important to know what bullion is?
Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Bullion is gold, silver, or other precious metals in the form of bars, ingots, or specialized coins that is said to maintain its worth better than conventional currencies and is therefore kept as a form of emergency currency by both governments and private citizens alike.
What is the purity of gold in bullion?
Purity of gold in bullion is 99.9% which is also known as 24 karat gold. 24 karat gold coins come in two qualities 999 (99.9%) and 995 (99.5%) purity. Added to that you can also buy 22 karat gold coins which is also known as 916 gold as it is 91.6% pure.
Is it worth it to buy gold bullion?
Gold bullion is simply gold (element Au) in metal form and cast into a specific form. It’s available as coins and bars of several sizes and values. Gold is always worth buying, at least as a safety against all kinds of crazy economic problems. Just remember this: “If you don’t hold it, you don’t own it”.