Is the 999.9 fineness of RCM silver bars just a gimmick?

PerryHall

The RCM uses the 999.9 fineness of their silver bars as a selling feature. Is this a big deal to you or do you consider this to be just hype? Is there any practical difference of 999.9 fineness versus the 999+ fineness of most other silver bars and rounds in industry?

ricko

Good question...obviously an infinitesimal difference if real.... and certainly, for me, it would not command any difference in price. Cheers, RickO

Baley

Everything "made for collectors" is a gimmick.

piecesofme

I think you know my answer, that possibly spawned the question

Weiss

<< <i>The RCM uses the 999.9 fineness of their silver bars as a selling feature. Is this a big deal to you or do you consider this to be just hype? Is there any practical difference of 999.9 fineness versus the 999+ fineness of most other silver bars and rounds in industry? >>



So for a 1000 gram bar, the standard 999 would seem to indicate about 1 gram's worth of "other" in the bar. A 999.9 bar would indicate just 1/10th of a gram of "other". At current values, that represents less than $.50 of silver on a $550 bar (check my math). Hardly seems worth it. But with all things being exactly equal, I would probably opt for the more pure bar.

However, that answer may be misleading, and may actually lead to a better question: How close to 999.9 fine are "average" 999 bars? It seems possible that the technology to create 999.9 bars is widespread. It may even be the norm. It's just that other refiners may not want to be held to that standard in writing to avoid consumer dissatisfaction or worse. So maybe they're actually 999.4 or 999.7. At that point, it's literally a few cents of difference in terms of value on a bar that costs over $500.

Pokermandude

Regular bullion silver maples are also .9999 silver. Always have been, since the start of the program in 1988.

Is the .9999 Gold Buffalo US Mint line of bullion also a "gimmick" when compared to the AGE 22k purity?

bronco2078

<< <i>Regular bullion silver maples are also .9999 silver. Always have been, since the start of the program in 1988.

Is the .9999 Gold Buffalo US Mint line of bullion also a "gimmick" when compared to the AGE 22k purity? >>




It's all a gimmick

PerryHall

I doubt if the difference between 999 fineness and 999.9 fineness matters in the silverware or jewelry industry but does it matters in the pharmaceutical and electronics industry?

Baley

<< <i>I doubt if the difference between 999 fineness and 999.9 fineness matters in the silverware or jewelry industry but does it matters in the pharmaceutical and electronics industry? >>



They do not generally use small collector bars for these applications; the silver for industry will be in even higher purity foil, wire, shot, "sponge", emulsion, or other suitable form.

Barndog

if you had seen the young lady employed by the RCM booth at the 2014 ANA Show in Rosemont, you would not be asking if it matters.

derryb

<< <i>

<< <i>I doubt if the difference between 999 fineness and 999.9 fineness matters in the silverware or jewelry industry but does it matters in the pharmaceutical and electronics industry? >>



They do not generally use small collector bars for these applications; the silver for industry will be in even higher purity foil, wire, shot, "sponge", emulsion, or other suitable form. >>


good info on silver applications

lcoopie

Means .0001 to me which I round to zero

derryb

<< <i>if you had seen the young lady employed by the RCM booth at the 2014 ANA Show in Rosemont, you would not be asking if it matters. >>


Four nines?

derryb

the more pure the metal content in a bullion product the sexier it is. Sex sells.