Precious metals markets combine an investment dimension with an industrial one. Gold is held largely as a store of value; silver and the platinum group metals carry substantial industrial demand alongside investment interest.
Provenance is central. Responsible sourcing standards, refinery accreditation and chain-of-custody documentation determine whether material can be traded through mainstream channels at all.
Form matters as much as metal. Bullion, dore, grain and scrap each carry different assay, refining and logistics considerations, and each attracts a different set of credible counterparties.
Transactions in this sector require patience. Verification steps exist for good reason, and counterparties that seek to bypass them should be treated with caution.