FAQ

• How much can I take in the form of gold?: You are free to select any amount between CHF 5,000 and CHF 100,000. Simply enter the desired amount in the corresponding fields of the process information sheet.The final purchase amount will be equivalent to the purchase price on the trading day and the available denomination (ounces and 1/5 ounces). You can calculate the denomination here for the current gold price. Please note that this is the physical gold price rather than the paper gold price, and that the price may change before the actual purchase date, which may result in changes to your denomination.
• How do I make a purchase?: To obtain physical gold, please fill out page 3 of the process information sheet, sign it, and return it to Helvetia. You will receive the process information sheet shortly before expiry of your policy.The amount you indicate is the maximum amount that you would like to take in the form of gold. Due to the actual purchase price and the available denomination, the fixed amount of gold shown on the purchase date will be slightly different to the amount you actually receive. This difference will be transferred to the account stipulated in the process information sheet.
• When will the gold be purchased?: As a rule the gold purchase will be effected on a Monday, at the earliest two weeks before expiry of your contract, and at most one week before. Should the Monday in question not be a trading day, the purchase will take place on the first trading day thereafter. To ensure that you meet this deadline, your reply letter should be received at Helvetia no later than 15 days before expiry of your policy.
• Will I receive confirmation?: Following settlement of the gold purchase and transfer of the residual amount, you will receive a detailed final statement with details of the gold price, the denomination, and the transferred residual amount from your policy.
• Where will the gold be purchased?: The entire gold purchase process is managed by our partner and specialist in physical precious metals, Finemetal AG.
• Where is the gold produced?: HELVETIA gold ounces are produced in Switzerland by Argor Heraeus SA.
• Can I cancel the purchase?: Once the signed process information sheet has been received by Helvetia Swiss Life Insurance Company Ltd, Basel, you will no longer be able to cancel the purchase.
• Why is the price of physical gold higher than that of paper gold?: Paper gold is the term used to describe all forms of gold investment types that that do not involve the actual physical metal. Physical gold is precisely that – a tangible commodity such as gold coins, gold ounces, or gold bars. A HELVETIA gold ounce has a purity level of 999.9 ‰.For the production of a HELVETIA gold ounce, the gold has to be processed in a number of stages (extraction, transportation, refinement, stamping). As a result of the processes that take place in the refinery, the HELVETIA gold ounce receives its "LBMA Good Delivery" certification. This production and refinement process is shown in videos on the YouTube channel of Finemetal AG.. These process stages are not required for paper gold, which explains why the price of physical gold is higher than that of paper gold.
• Who or what is Finemetal AG?: Finemetal AG was founded in Zurich in 2009. It is an owner-managed company that exclusively deals in the physical precious metals of gold, silver, platinum, and palladium. Finemetal AG provides you with an ideal way of purchasing physical precious metals at favourable terms, close to the material value and with perfect processing. Finemetal AG has had a close working relationship with Argor Heraeus SA for many years.
• Who or what is Argor Heraeus SA?: Argor Heraeus has been an official member of the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) since 2001, and is one of the LBMA's five reference producers. The popular gold products of this Swiss precious metal company are considered to have unrestricted tradability with banks all around the world. Indeed the precious metals produced by Argor Heraeus for investment purposes are among the most sought-after and traded gold products worldwide.
• What is the LBMA (London Bullion Market) and what is meant by "Good Delivery Standard"?
The market: The word bullion is the term used to describe bulk precious metal before it is minted,and the London Bullion Market is the world's leading trading centre for physical metals such as gold and silver. The global market prices of gold and silver have been set in London since 1919 and 1497 respectively. The London Bullion Market Association coordinates trading, lays down standards, and monitors the quality of physical precious metals during the refinement process up to the point of trading. Physical precious metals that come from certified LBMA refinery establishments such as Argor Heraeus receive a particular stamp which constitutes both a seal of quality and a form of certification. For investment gold this is known as the "LBMA Good Delivery" standard. It is recognized worldwide as guaranteeing a high degree of fineness and unrestricted tradability in the market.
Trading: Trading in physical gold and silver bars nowadays takes place outside of exchanges in what is known as "over-the-counter" (OTC) trading. The London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) organizes and manages this trading. Its members include large international banks, manufacturers, refiners, processors, producers and traders all around the world. Only the physical precious metals of refineries and mint institutions that meet the necessary requirements and rigorous quality criteria are eligible for international precious metal trading. Standard bars of the LBMA standard come with a precisely calculated weight and a high degree of fineness. In the case of gold, the fineness must be at least 995 ‰, and in the case of silver at least 999 ‰. The degree of fineness, weight, and seal of the LBMA-certified producer must all be stamped on the products.
The "Good Delivery" standard: The international seal of quality known as "Good Delivery" guarantees the minted or stamped features such as fineness and weight, as well as permanent uninterrupted custody in accepted storage institutions. Bars with "Good Delivery" status are accepted and traded worldwide.; The LBMA has accredited five companies worldwide as so-called "Good Delivery Referees" to monitor the "Good Delivery" system. Argor Heraeus is one of these five selected Referees.; The principal tasks of a Referee include the technical evaluation of new applicants for the "Good Delivery" certification, the proactive monitoring of certified companies,and the provision of technical expertise in various areas.You can find more information on the LBMA website..
• Who can use the Helvetia Gold Option?: For the time being, the Helvetia Gold Option can only be used by customers with endowment life insurance policies of the former Nationale Suisse that are about to expire.
• How are the gold ounces packaged?: HELVETIA gold ounces come in what is known as "blister" packaging with a certificate – or with an order of at least 10 items in a "tube" for superior storage. The 1/5 HELVETIA gold ounces are packaged in a blister with a certificate.
• Where and how am I best advised to store my gold ounces?: There are various custody options available. For security reasons, the custody of physical gold at home should never exceed the value of CHF 30,000. Moreover, any gold stored at home should be insured.Finemetal AG works with partner companies that offer secure storage, and would be happy to give you advice on this option. You can contact Finemetal AG at any time in this respect. It goes without saying that you can also deposit gold in a safe deposit box with a bank of your choice. However, you should bear in mind that your valuables are not always insured by the bank.
• Where can I get my gold insured?: Helvetia would be happy to advise you if you would like your gold insured, for example against theft. Please contact your client advisor.
• Who delivers the goods?: The delivery of your gold ounces is insured. This takes the form of Swiss Post registered mail, and involves no cost to you.
• When do purchase and dispatch take place?: As a rule the gold purchase will be effected on a Monday, at the earliest two weeks before expiry of your contract, and at most one week before. Should the Monday in question not be a trading day, the purchase will take place on the first trading day thereafter. To ensure you meet this deadline, your reply letter should be received at Helvetia no later than 15 days before expiry of your policy.The gold will be dispatched two days after purchase at the latest.
• What are the delivery costs?: The delivery is free of charge for you.
• Is the gold insured, and if so what level of insurance applies per package?: The goods are insured up to CHF 100,000 per package.
• Can I also pick the gold up from Helvetia?: You cannot pick the gold up from Helvetia as it is dispatched directly by the producer Argor Heraeus.
• Can I have the gold delivered to a different address?: You cannot have the gold delivered to any address other than your registered personal residence.
• Will the gold only be handed over to me in person, or can I authorize someone else to take receipt?: You cannot have the gold delivered to any address other than your registered personal residence. The gold can only be handed over to you personally or to a person resident in your household.
• Can I resell HELVETIA gold ounces?: The HELVETIA gold ounce and the HELVETIA 1/5 ounce are 999.9 ‰ fine gold ounces of "Good Delivery" quality. The minting of HELVETIA gold ounces is carried out in Switzerland by Argor Heraeus SA and meets the very highest quality standards. The stamp of Argor Heraeus represents a guarantee, a seal of quality, and certification all in one. It stands for genuineness, acceptance at banks and in international gold trading, and in short ensures the corresponding degree of acceptance anywhere and at any time. You can therefore sell your HELVETIA gold ounces at any time through Finemetal AG, a bank, or a precious metal trader. Finemetal AG purchases these (1 ounce and 1/5 ounce) at the prevailing physical gold price. You can therefore be sure you are receiving the best price for the HELVETIA gold ounce and the HELVETIA 1/5 ounce.
• What should I do if I want to sell the gold ounces through Finemetal AG?: You can arrange the sale of gold ounces through Finemetal AG by telephone whenever you want. You can also take your gold ounces to Finemetal AG, but in this case you must agree this by phone in advance. It is important to note that Finemetal AG will under no circumstances purchase goods for cash. HELVETIA gold ounces are always subject to external examination, with subsequent payment made to a bank account. You can find more information on this under "When will payment take place?" below.
• How and to where must the goods be delivered in the event of a sale through Finemetal AG?: The goods can be delivered or handed over to Finemetal AG, Bahnhofstasse 106, 8001 Zurich. However, any sale must always be agreed with Finemetal AG by telephone beforehand. Finemetal AG does not offer a cash-on-the-spot service.
• When will payment take place?: As is customary in the precious metal trade, the goods are scrutinized after receipt,particularly with respect to their genuineness and resaleability. Subject to a positive examination, Finemetal AG will transfer the agreed purchase price to an account designated by the client within 48 hours of the examination being concluded.
• What kind of price risks am I exposed to if I hold gold coins?: The development of the gold price is dependent on market developments for this commodity. The value of your gold may therefore increase or decline, and the price may at times be lower than the price you paid for it. Helvetia Swiss Life Insurance Company Ltd, Basel. will not be liable in any way for value fluctuations of this kind.