Gold Price in Swiss Francs (CHF) Today
The current gold price in Swiss Francs is CHF3’946.67 per troy ounce, or CHF126.89 per gram for 24-karat pure gold. This is calculated from the live XAUUSD spot price of $5,007.50 per ounce using the real-time CHF/USD exchange rate.
22K Gold / Gram
CHF116.32
18K Gold / Gram
CHF95.17
14K Gold / Gram
CHF74.01
Gold Price in Swiss Francs — All Karats & Weights
| Weight | 24K (99.9%) | 22K (91.67%) | 18K (75.0%) | 14K (58.33%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Gram | CHF126.89 | CHF116.32 | CHF95.17 | CHF74.01 |
| 5 Grams | CHF634.44 | CHF581.59 | CHF475.83 | CHF370.07 |
| 10 Grams | CHF1’268.88 | CHF1’163.18 | CHF951.66 | CHF740.14 |
| 1 Troy Ounce | CHF3’946.67 | CHF3’617.91 | CHF2’960.00 | CHF2’302.09 |
| 50 Grams | CHF6’344.41 | CHF5’815.92 | CHF4’758.31 | CHF3’700.69 |
| 100 Grams | CHF12’688.82 | CHF11’631.84 | CHF9’516.61 | CHF7’401.39 |
| 1 Kilogram | CHF126’888.17 | CHF116’318.38 | CHF95’166.13 | CHF74’013.87 |
| 1 Tola (11.66g) | CHF1’479.52 | CHF1’356.27 | CHF1’109.64 | CHF863.00 |
Prices derived from the live XAUUSD spot rate and real-time exchange rates. 1 troy ounce = 31.1035 grams. Updated every 30 seconds.
Gold Market in Switzerland
Switzerland is the undisputed global capital of gold refining, processing an estimated 60-70% of the world's newly mined and recycled gold through four LBMA-accredited refineries: Valcambi, PAMP, Argor-Heraeus, and Metalor Technologies. These refineries, concentrated in the canton of Ticino and around Geneva, transform raw dore bars from mines worldwide into the London Good Delivery bars (400 oz, 99.5%+) and kilobars (1 kg, 99.99%) that underpin global trade. Switzerland imported and exported over 2,400 tonnes of gold in 2023 alone, making it the world's largest gold transit hub by value. Zurich's Bahnhofstrasse is lined with bank vaults offering private gold storage, and Swiss private banks have offered gold custody services to ultra-high-net-worth clients for centuries. Investment gold in Switzerland is exempt from the 8.1% VAT (Mehrwertsteuer), applying to bars of 99.5%+ purity and recognized coins. The Swiss National Bank (SNB) holds approximately 1,040 tonnes of gold reserves — the world's seventh-largest central bank holding and remarkably large relative to Switzerland's population of 9 million. The Swiss franc itself was one of the last major currencies linked to gold, maintaining a constitutional 40% gold backing until the year 2000, when a referendum removed the requirement.
How We Calculate Gold Price in CHF
The gold price in Swiss Francs is calculated using two live data feeds:
- The XAUUSD spot price — the international gold price per troy ounce in US dollars, sourced from the gold API and refreshed every 30 seconds.
- The CHF/USD exchange rate — sourced from open exchange rate data and cached for 10 minutes.
Gold per ounce (CHF) = XAUUSD spot price × CHF/USD rate
Gold per gram (CHF) = Gold per ounce (CHF) ÷ 31.1035
Example: $5007.50 × 0.7882 = CHF3’946.67 per ounce
Gold Tax & Duty in Switzerland
Investment gold is VAT-exempt in Switzerland. This includes bars of 99.5% or higher purity and coins that meet specific criteria (legal tender coins at 90%+ purity). The standard Swiss VAT rate is 8.1%. Capital gains on personal movable assets, including physical gold, are tax-free for Swiss residents at the federal level — this is one of the most favorable tax environments for gold investors globally. However, if you are classified as a professional trader (gewerbsmässiger Wertschriftenhändler), gains become taxable income. Wealth tax applies: Swiss cantons levy an annual wealth tax on the total value of your assets, including gold. Rates vary by canton (typically 0.1-1% of total wealth) and the gold must be declared at market value. Gold stored in Swiss bank vaults is subject to the same wealth tax reporting requirements.
Where to Buy Gold in Switzerland
Switzerland's four major refineries — Valcambi (Balerna), PAMP (Castel San Pietro), Argor-Heraeus (Mendrisio), and Metalor (Neuchâtel) — together have an annual refining capacity exceeding 4,000 tonnes. They produce the kilobars that dominate Asian demand, the 400 oz Good Delivery bars used in London and New York, and smaller retail products. Zurich is the primary financial center for Swiss gold trading, with UBS, Credit Suisse (now part of UBS), and Julius Baer offering gold trading desks and vaulting services. The SIX Swiss Exchange lists gold ETFs and structured products. Swiss customs data provides one of the most transparent windows into global gold flows — monthly import/export figures broken down by country reveal shifting trade patterns between mining nations, refining centers, and consumer markets. Geneva is home to major gold trading houses that operate globally. The Swiss tradition of banking secrecy, though diminished by international pressure, continues to attract gold storage from global investors seeking jurisdictional diversification.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Switzerland refine so much of the world's gold?
Switzerland emerged as the global refining hub due to a combination of factors: political neutrality and stability, a strong tradition of banking and precious metals, geographic proximity to both European and Middle Eastern markets, world-class technical expertise accumulated over decades, and a business-friendly regulatory environment. The four LBMA-accredited refineries (Valcambi, PAMP, Argor-Heraeus, Metalor) process 60-70% of global gold output. Ticino's refineries benefit from their location near the Italian border and access to skilled labor.
Is gold really tax-free in Switzerland?
Investment gold is VAT-free and capital gains on personal gold holdings are tax-free at the federal level — a combination that makes Switzerland one of the world's most favorable jurisdictions for gold investment. However, there are two caveats: annual wealth tax (varying by canton, typically 0.1-1% of total wealth) applies to gold at market value, and if you are classified as a professional securities/commodities trader, gains become taxable income. For most private investors, the effective tax burden on gold is limited to wealth tax.
How secure is storing gold in Swiss vaults?
Swiss vault storage is considered among the most secure in the world. Banks and independent vault operators (like Swiss Gold Safe) offer allocated storage in underground facilities, often in former military bunkers. Insurance is typically comprehensive. Swiss law provides strong property rights — gold stored in allocated accounts remains your property even if the bank fails. Freeport zones (like the Geneva Freeport) allow duty-free storage. The main risks are counterparty risk with unallocated accounts and the potential for international political pressure to freeze assets.
What happened to Switzerland's gold standard?
Switzerland maintained a constitutional requirement that the Swiss franc be backed by at least 40% gold until the year 2000, when a referendum approved removing the gold link. The SNB subsequently sold approximately 1,550 tonnes of gold between 2000 and 2008, reducing reserves from 2,590 tonnes to around 1,040 tonnes. A 2014 referendum (the "Save Our Swiss Gold" initiative) proposing a return to 20% gold backing was rejected by 77% of voters. The remaining 1,040 tonnes still makes Switzerland one of the largest per-capita gold holders in the world.