GOLDU’s Supply Chain: From the Mine to the Customer
Before investment gold reaches your home, it travels a long way – from mining through refining and minting to the authenticity check at GOLDU. In this article we walk through the entire supply chain step by step – and explain why its transparency matters.
Step 1: Mining
The journey of gold begins in the mines – the largest sources of raw material for the European market have long been South Africa, Ghana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali, Uganda, Tanzania and Peru. We covered this in detail in the article Where does gold for Swiss refineries come from.
Step 2: Refining and LBMA certification
Raw gold (so-called doré) goes to refineries, where it is purified to the investment fineness of 999.9/1000. Refineries accredited under the LBMA Good Delivery system – such as Argor-Heraeus, PAMP or Valcambi – must also pass an audit of responsible origin under the LBMA Responsible Sourcing programme. What this certification means is explained in the article What is LBMA and Good Delivery certification.
Step 3: Minting bars and coins
Mints and refineries then turn the refined gold into the final form of investment bars and coins. GOLDU offers products from renowned manufacturers such as The Perth Mint, The Royal Mint, Münze Österreich, Rand Refinery or Canada’s Royal Canadian Mint (maker of the Maple Leaf).
Step 4: Authenticity check at GOLDU
Before we add a product to our range, it undergoes an authenticity check – weighing, inspection of hallmarks and manufacturer certificates, and testing with the Sigma PRO device (an electromagnetic authenticity tester for precious metals). The procedure is described in detail in the article How to verify investment gold.
Step 5: Packing and delivery to the customer
The final step is secure, discreet packing and insured delivery – by Czech Post or via Zásilkovna. How the whole packing and shipping process works is described in the article How GOLDU packs and ships gold and silver.
Why a transparent supply chain matters
Every step of this chain – from the refinery’s LBMA accreditation to GOLDU’s own check – reduces the risk of receiving a product of unclear or problematic origin. That is exactly why it is important to buy from a verified dealer with a transparent supply chain, not from unclear sources where the origin of the goods cannot be checked.
Frequently asked questions
Does a long supply chain mean higher risk?
On the contrary – every link in the chain (the refinery’s LBMA accreditation, the mint’s own checks, GOLDU’s verification) adds another layer of control, not risk. Risk grows where these control steps are bypassed.
Does GOLDU check every single piece or only spot-check?
Authenticity checks are carried out on products added to our range and also when buying back from customers – details can be found in the articles on authenticity checks and on the buyback process.
Does the supply chain differ by product type (bar vs. coin)?
The basic steps (mining → refining → processing → verification → delivery) are the same; only the specific mint or refinery and the final form of the product differ.
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About the author
Natálie Pokludová – without whom everything at GOLDU would grind to a halt, stop working and never get finished. While the others come up with ideas, she makes sure things actually run. Someone has to drive the car.
