Arigato, {{ first name | dear investor }},
I first bought physical gold in October 2024.
At the time, gold was trading at around US$2,600/oz.
When I first bought my 2 pieces of 100g physical gold bars, I invested around S$22,000 in total. I even made a YouTube video about it at the time, and you can check it out here!
Today, gold is around US$4,300/oz — meaning the value of gold has increased by approximately 60% in less than two years, despite the recent correction. 📈🪙
Since the gold price has corrected almost 30% from its peak, I recently decided to buy another 2 pieces 100g gold bars + a 1kg silver bar to capture the opportunity. Here’s how much I paid.
Although my first physical gold purchase has appreciated significantly since then, it does NOT mean gold will continue going straight up.
Gold can be volatile.
There can be periods when gold falls substantially or remains stagnant for years.
That's why I personally see physical gold primarily as a LONG-TERM wealth preservation and diversification asset rather than something I'm trying to flip for a quick profit.
For me, physical gold serves a different purpose in my portfolio:
✨ Long-term wealth preservation
✨ Diversification beyond stocks and ETFs
✨ A hedge against inflation and currency weakening
✨ A physical asset I can actually own and hold
That's why I only invest money in physical gold that I'm comfortable leaving there for the long term.
If you're thinking about buying your first physical gold bar, here are 5 important things to look out for.
1️⃣ Buy From a Reputable Singapore Dealer
The first thing I look at isn't the gold.
It's WHO I'm buying it from.
When buying physical gold in Singapore, I prefer dealing with an established Singapore-registered company that is appropriately registered as a regulated dealer with the Ministry of Law where required.
Before transferring your money, always verify the dealer's details independently.
You should also understand:
✓ How long they've been operating
✓ Where the gold comes from
✓ Whether proper documentation is provided
Remember, you're potentially handing over thousands or tens of thousands of dollars.
Make sure to do your due deligence and get a trustworthy dealer.
2️⃣ Look for LBMA-Accredited Refiners
When buying investment-grade physical gold, I personally prefer bullion produced by refiners on the LBMA Good Delivery List.
LBMA stands for the London Bullion Market Association.
Its Good Delivery standards are widely recognised across the international wholesale gold market.
Why does this matter?
Because when the day comes for you to sell your gold, you want your bullion to be easily recognised and accepted.
Buying gold from a widely recognised refiner can therefore make authentication and future resale easier.
💡 Don't just think about how easy it is to BUY your gold.
Think about how easy it will be to SELL it too.
3️⃣ Choose Established & Recognised Refiners
Brand matters when you're buying physical gold.
I personally prefer internationally recognised refiners because their bullion is generally easier for dealers and investors to recognise.
Some well-established Swiss refiners include:
Argor-Heraeus SA (Switzerland)
PAMP SA (Switzerland)
Metalor Technologies SA (Switzerland)
These are globally recognised names in the precious-metals industry and are on the LBMA Good Delivery List.
Before buying, I would also ask the dealer:
→ How easy is this particular bar to resell?
→ What is your current buyback price?
→ What is the spread between buying and selling?
→ Will other bullion dealers readily accept this brand?
💡 Always think about your EXIT before you make your ENTRY.
4️⃣ Bigger Bars Generally Mean Lower Premiums
Here's something many first-time gold investors don't realise:
The gold bar you're buying normally costs MORE than the actual spot value of the gold inside it.
This difference is known as the premium.
It can include refining, manufacturing, packaging, transportation and the dealer's margin.
Generally:
🪙 Smaller bar = Higher premium per gram
🪙 Bigger bar = Lower premium per gram
For example, buying 100 individual 1g gold bars would typically cost considerably more than buying ONE 100g gold bar containing the same amount of gold.
That's why, if I'm investing a meaningful amount of money into physical gold, I personally prefer larger bars such as 100g.
However, there's a trade-off.
Smaller bars give you more flexibility because you can sell part of your gold holdings without selling everything at once.
So consider BOTH:
✓ Cost efficiency
✓ Future liquidity
5️⃣ Consider Starting With a 1 oz Gold Bar
Gold prices internationally are normally quoted per troy ounce.
🥇 1 troy ounce = approximately 31.1 grams
That's why you'll constantly hear people saying:
"Gold is US$3,000 an ounce."
"Gold has reached US$4,000 an ounce."
A 1 oz gold bar is one of the most widely recognised bullion sizes internationally.
For someone who wants meaningful exposure to physical gold without immediately committing to a much larger 100g bar, I think 1 oz can be a good starting point.
As your allocation grows, you can consider larger bars such as 50g or 100g, which may offer a lower premium per gram.
🪙 Where Do I Buy My Physical Gold?
If you're wondering where I buy my physical gold, I recently purchased another 2 gold bars from Joshua at Gold Silver Trading Pte. Ltd.
I found Joshua’s service to be absolutely awesome, and his pricing is much more competitive compared to some of the larger bullion retailers in Singapore.
In case you’re wondering, his company is a Singapore-registered company and states that it is a regulated dealer under Singapore's Ministry of Law.
📍 Office: Paya Lebar Square
By Appointment Only
If you'd like to check out their gold prices or find out more, you can contact Joshua directly via WhatsApp:
Mention promo code: "ARIGATO" 🎁
to ask about the special National Day promotional discount available to the Arigato Investor community.
Want a More Flexible Way to Invest in Gold?
Apart from buying physical gold bars, I also invest in gold through ETFs.
Why?
Because gold ETFs give me a much more flexible entry point.
Instead of needing a few thousand dollars to buy a physical gold bar, I can start with a much smaller amount and build my position gradually.
And because some gold ETFs also have options available, I can even combine them with options strategies to potentially generate additional income from my portfolio.
For me, physical gold and gold ETFs serve slightly different purposes:
🪙 Physical gold = long-term wealth preservation and tangible ownership
📈 Gold ETFs = flexibility, liquidity and easier portfolio management
If you'd like to learn how ETF investing works — and how I combine ETFs with options strategies to potentially generate additional income while managing risk — you can join my FREE 2-hour ETF Options To Freedom investing masterclass.
Inside the masterclass, I'll walk you through the process step by step, even if you're completely new to investing.
Would love to have you join us,
and keep learning together—the Arigato way 💛
Arigato!
Chloe
Arigato Investor
Just a quick heads-up 🌸 Except for Instagram, where I may reply if you comment on my posts, I’ll never initiate a private message to you on any platform. So if you ever get a DM from someone claiming to be “Chloe” or “The Arigato Investor” on Telegram or TikTok — please know that’s not me. It’s a scammer impersonating my account. Stay safe and always double-check 💛
The information provided in this newsletter is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Readers should seek their own independent financial advice before making any investment decisions. Please note that the opinions expressed in this newsletter are Chloe's own and do not represent the views of any organization. Always perform your own research and due diligence before investing. 💛
