PAMP

History of PAMP

Iraqi businessman Mahmoud Kassem Shakarchi founded a company in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1948, engaging in currency exchange and trading of investment gold. The business flourished, but the civil war in 1975 forced him to leave the country. In 1979, Mahmoud decided to establish MKS SA in Geneva.

He developed a close business relationship with a small gold bar manufacturing company, Produits Artistiques Métaux Précieux (PAMP), founded in 1977 in Ticino, Switzerland.

The business ties became so strong and fruitful that in 1981, Mahmoud became the majority owner of PAMP.

Two years later, Mahmoud passed away, and his daughter Karma and son Marwa set the goal for MKS PAMP to become the largest group in the precious metals market. This goal became evident through the results in the following years.

In 1986, the Swiss National Bank granted PAMP products “Good Delivery” status. The following year, the company received accreditation from the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) for its gold products.

In 1989, PAMP became an official supplier for the COMEX exchange in the United States.

Fifteen years later, in 2004, MKS PAMP was named by the LBMA as one of the five LBMA referees for the Good Delivery system. This system involves the inspection and acceptance of other refiners and mints into the LBMA.

Interesting Facts about the Company

MKS PAMP has the capacity to process over 450 tons of gold and over 450 tons of silver annually. It is officially present in 11 countries, with operations in 17 offices and two refineries.

The company employs over 1,450 people worldwide.

What Products Does PAMP Offer?

PAMP offers a wide range of products, not only in gold and silver but also in palladium, platinum, rhodium, and ruthenium. However, the most globally recognized products are gold bars, particularly the PAMP Fortuna series.

Originally launched in 1979, the Fortuna series achieved immense success. It features the Roman goddess of luck – Fortuna, who is still considered the goddess of wealth and good fortune in Italian culture.

The image of Fortuna with a veil over her eyes symbolizes the Italian saying “La dea fortuna è cieca” (“The goddess of luck is blind”), indicating that luck is unpredictable.

PAMP Fortuna bars are available in weights ranging from 1 gram to 100 grams, all made from pure 24-carat gold.

In addition, PAMP produces other investment gold bar series, such as the Lunar series, which features the animal of the year according to the Chinese zodiac. There is also the lesser-known but very romantic Rosa series, featuring a rose motif on the obverse – the perfect gift for special occasions.

These bars are manufactured using the cutting method, but PAMP also offers cast gold bars in weights ranging from 1 tael (37.8 grams) to 400 troy ounces (12.5 kilograms). The purity of the cast bars varies, and they are available in versions of .995, .999, and .9999.

Apart from gold, PAMP also produces silver bars in weights ranging from 1 ounce (31.1 grams) to 1000 ounces (31.1 kilograms).

Are There Limited Edition Products?

PAMP is known for releasing limited-edition bars with designs inspired by the lunar calendar and other cultures. Lunar series: Bars with designs of animals from the Chinese lunar calendar, such as gold bars featuring the Year of the Dragon, Tiger, Monkey, etc.

Are PAMP Products a Good Investment?

The bars and coins offered by PAMP are recognized worldwide. This is a refinery with over 60 years of history, and all of its products are accredited by the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA).

A very important aspect is the packaging of PAMP bars. The refinery was the first in the world to implement a digital verification system to check the authenticity of its products.

All gold bars under 100 grams come in vacuum-sealed plastic packaging, which contains a certificate of authenticity. On the back of the packaging, there are details about the weight, purity, and serial number of the bar, as well as a QR code.

By using the VeriSCAN system, anyone can scan the QR code with a phone camera and be redirected to the official PAMP website, where the bar with the corresponding serial number is displayed. This reduces the possibility of counterfeit investment bars to a minimum.

This is why it is extremely important to keep the packaging intact. If the packaging or bar is damaged, the product loses its investment value and can only be sold as raw precious metal.

Is the Price of PAMP Products the Same Worldwide?

The price of PAMP products is not uniform and can vary depending on several factors:

• Precious Metal Prices: The price of PAMP bars and coins largely depends on the current market price of precious metals (gold, silver, platinum, palladium).

• Local Taxes and Customs Duties: Different countries may have different taxes, customs duties, or other charges that affect the final price.

• Supply and Demand: Prices can vary depending on supply and demand in a particular region, as well as the specific characteristics of the product (e.g., limited editions).

• Distribution and Shipping: The cost of delivery, distribution, and trade margins can lead to price differences across different markets.

Thus, although the base price of precious metals may be similar globally, additional factors can lead to price differences for PAMP products worldwide.

Why Trust Tavex?

Tavex has been the official partner of the Swiss refinery PAMP since 2006. The goal of our collaboration with PAMP, as well as with other refineries and mints we work with, is to offer our clients the widest possible range of investment products in gold and silver.

Our diverse catalog allows us to offer the best market prices, without compromising on service quality. All PAMP products are sourced directly from the Swiss manufacturer.