This was a document, gold price the quantity having more than doubled over the last ten years, not including the gold that transits by means of Swiss free ports. "In the last ten years, the value of gold has quadrupled," notes Panizzutti. "In the 1970s and 1980s, Italy was the world’s top producer of jewellery, and it bought its supplies of refined gold from Ticino," signifies Valcambi of Balerna, an organization that is now owned by Newmont Mining Corporation of the US. "In a mean 12 months, Switzerland refines about 70 per cent of world gold," according to Frédéric Panizzutti, spokesman of MKS (Switzerland) SA, a Geneva-based mostly firm, which specialises in gold buying and selling and which owns the Pamp refinery in Castel San Pietro, Ticino. Pamp SA of Castel San Pietro (1977 - MKS SA Geneva) has an annual refining capability of 450 metric tons. So, it is more than likely that the ring you put on on your finger or the ingot you retain in your bottom drawer was made with gold refined by Valcambi in Balerna, Pamp in Castel San Pietro, Argor-Heraeus in Mendrisio or Metalor in Neuchâtel. Argor-Heraeus SA of Mendrisio (founded 1951) has an annual refining capacity of four hundred metric tons. It has an annual refining capability of about 650 metric tons.
Valcambi SA of Balerna, based in 1961 and now owned by the US group Newmont Mining Corporation, has an annual refining capacity of about 1,four hundred metric tons. To get an idea of Switzerland’s profile within the sector of gold refining and buying and selling, consider one other figure: the production of gold from all of the mines in the world in 2011 amounted to 2,700 metric tons, in keeping with knowledge from the US Geological Survey. Switzerland has at all times maintained itself at the top as regards quality and there isn't any motive why that should change now," notes Panizzutti, who attracts a parallel between gold refining and watchmaking in Switzerland. The popularity of the "Swiss made" brand as a synonym for quality is absolutely justified as regards gold, says Labarthe. "As well, it shouldn't be forgotten that the gold market in Zurich is a very important one," Labarthe stated. "As a rule these foundries get the gold from their customers and refine it to the standard grade of purity. Who are the Duke of York, Duke of Kent, etc., and the way did they get their titles?
Italian reporter Indro Montanelli promptly published an article within the Corriere della Sera, on the brave and heroic Polish cavalry men, who charged German tanks with sabres and lances. Even earlier than German V-1 pilotless "buzz bombs" and V-2 ballistic missiles struck London and different cities in 1944-45, underground factories labored to finish a V-3 gun designed to fire lengthy-vary warheads. Four of them are based mostly in Switzerland," he provides, backing up his statement: The nice Delivery List is a top quality certification of the London Bullion Market Association, LBMA, the commerce association for the gold market. Six Swiss firms belong to the great Delivery List of the London Bullion Market Association, which signifies that they meet all of the standards set by this London-based mostly trade watchdog. What retains the Swiss refineries going at full pace proper now is not so much the demand for semi-completed products for jewellery and watchmaking, but the demand for gold bars. In 2011, over 2,600 metric tons of raw gold had been imported into the country, to a complete worth of SFr96 billion ($103 billion). The 12 months before, imports had reached 2,326 metric tons (SFr70 billion). In 2011, over 2,600 metric tons of raw gold were imported into Switzerland, to a worth of over SFr96 billion, in line with figures from the federal customs administration.
Four of the world’s main refineries of gold are located on Swiss soil. "If you look on the refineries on the great Delivery List, six have 90 per cent of the quantity. There must be a certain amount of helium in the natural gasoline - at the very least 0.3 percent by volume - to justify all the trouble of separating it from pure fuel. There is rather a lot to contemplate in terms of finding the right ring in your significant other. Ears with larger kernels are usually used for flour or cornmeal manufacturing, whereas these with small, pointy kernels are perfect for popcorn. The refineries are primarily service suppliers. It's not a coincidence, due to this fact, that three out of 5 refineries in the world, to which the LBMA has given the title "Referee" of quality control for gold refined by the industries belonging to the affiliation, are based in Switzerland: Pamp, Argor-Heraeus and Metalor. To have an ingot refined in Switzerland is a assure of quality anywhere you go," he explains.