Buying physical metals, made clearer.
Explore physical ownership of rare earths, strategic metals and precious metals. EarthRarest brings together specialist suppliers and providers, with clear steps from your first quote to storage and an eventual sale.
See how it works
- Specialist suppliers and providers
- Multiple
- Storage options for strategic metals
- Switzerland
- Global storage locations for precious metals
- 5
On this page
Start with the holding you want
Different metals.
A process that fits the purchase.
You might be exploring your first physical holding, adding to an existing portfolio or comparing a basket of materials. Begin with the metal’s role, then look at the product, ownership arrangement and practical costs.
Strategic metals & rare earths
Industrial materials with a specific purpose.
Explore the uses and supply chains behind materials such as rhenium, indium and neodymium/praseodymium oxides. Product form, purity, documentation and access to an eventual buyer all matter.
We confirm what can be sourced for the proposed purchase. A material appearing in our research or price service does not mean it is available to buy.
Explore strategic metals & rare earths →Precious metals
Choose the metal, the format and the location.
Compare gold, silver, platinum and palladium, then consider the available product sizes, purity and custody options. Smaller units and larger holdings can have different costs and resale arrangements.
Explore precious metals →A note on availability: Gallium, germanium and terbium are currently unavailable through our suppliers. We are working on sourcing them.
From your first question to your holding
Know what happens next.
From the first conversation to the records you receive, here is how the purchase progresses.
Get the investor guide →Choose your metals and your approach.
Tell us what interests you, the amount you are considering and how long you expect to hold it. We can help you compare individual materials, a basket of metals and the practical differences between direct ownership and a proposed investment vehicle.
Review the availability and full quote.
We work with multiple specialist suppliers and service providers. The proposal identifies the relevant counterparties, exact materials and quantities, price, charges and storage or delivery options.
Use our price pages for context. A purchase is based on a dated quote for the actual product, with its validity and price-fixing terms stated.
Complete onboarding and confirm the order.
Complete the required identity and source-of-funds checks, review the purchase documents and confirm the order. Follow the payment instructions in the agreed documents, including the identity of the receiving entity.
Payment and allocation are separate stages. The documents should explain when title transfers and what happens if allocation is delayed or cannot be completed.
Receive the allocation and storage records.
The records should identify the metal, quantity, purity, product form and ownership arrangement, together with the storage location and relevant certificates or lot details. Available records depend on the product and provider.
Review the custody and insurance terms, and how you will receive holding statements. If physical delivery is being arranged, confirm handling, transport and its effect on future resale first.
Keep your records and plan the eventual sale.
Retain your ownership documents and review ongoing charges and statements. When you wish to sell, request a quote through the available resale route and check the deductions and settlement terms before accepting.
An industrial buyer’s quote, timing and willingness to buy can change; resale is not a guaranteed price or an instant withdrawal.
Storage suited to the material
A location is only part of the decision.
Product handling, ownership records, insurance and access matter alongside geography. We use multiple suppliers and providers so the arrangement can reflect the metal and the purchase.
Prefer physical delivery?
Ask before placing the order. Precious-metal products and industrial materials have different handling requirements. Delivery, testing, insurance, customs and acceptance by a future buyer can affect the cost and practicality. Taking delivery does not automatically preserve the original resale arrangement.
The paperwork should tell the same story
Know what you own.
Know who does what.
EarthRarest coordinates the conversation and the proposed arrangement. Suppliers, storage providers and any investment vehicle have distinct roles, set out in the relevant agreements.
EarthRarest
Your starting point for research, comparing options and coordinating sourcing, documentation and the next steps with the relevant providers.
Suppliers
The counterparties responsible for the agreed sale, procurement and allocation. Their names, obligations and payment instructions belong in the purchase documents.
Storage & service providers
The parties responsible for custody and the services agreed for the holding. Check the provider, records, insurance and release or transfer arrangements.
Direct allocated ownership
The purchase and custody documents should establish the metal you own and how it is held for you. Check the identifiers, records and your rights to sell, transfer or request delivery.
A proposed vehicle or SPV
With a special purpose vehicle, investors hold interests in the company and the company owns the metal. Subscription, governance, fees, holding period and exit terms belong to that particular vehicle.
An SPV proposal has its own documents and terms, reviewed separately from a direct metal purchase.
Keep these details together.
- The contracting parties and ownership structure
- The metal, form, quantity, purity and allocation records
- The storage location, custody agreement and insurance terms
- The complete fees and the process for selling or withdrawing
Look at the whole holding period
The cost to buy, hold and sell.
Different metals, providers and ownership structures can have different minimums and charges. We set out the applicable costs before you commit, so you can assess the complete proposal.
At purchase
The metal value, any premium or sourcing charge, payment and currency costs, and applicable taxes or delivery charges. Check what is already included in the quoted total.
During storage
Custody, administration and insurance charges, their calculation basis and any minimums. A vehicle can have additional costs that do not apply to a direct holding.
When you sell or withdraw
The sale quote and any spread, handling, testing, release, transport or payment costs. Ask what you would receive after deductions and when settlement is expected.
A clear resale route is worth understanding early.
Precious-metal products and specialist industrial materials reach different buyers. Product form, purity, lot size and documented custody can affect acceptance. We help you understand the available route; the buyer’s price and the time needed to complete a sale depend on the market and the arrangement.
Metal prices can fall. Storage insurance covers the risks defined in the policy; it does not protect against falling metal prices or guarantee a profitable sale.
Explore metal prices and available history →A few questions you may already have.
Do you use one supplier for everything?
No. We work with multiple specialist suppliers and service providers. The relevant parties are identified for the metal, product, ownership route and storage option in your proposal.
Where can my metals be stored?
We have storage options in Switzerland for strategic metals, and across five global locations for precious metals. We confirm the available provider, location, charges and custody terms before the purchase.
What is the minimum investment?
The minimum depends on the metal, available lot or product size and the ownership arrangement. Tell us the amount you have in mind and we can discuss the options.
Can I buy the metals in your current favorites?
The shortlist is a starting point for research. We confirm the availability, grade, quantity and terms for a purchase. Gallium, germanium and terbium are currently unavailable through our suppliers while we work on sourcing them.
Will I own metal directly or hold an interest in a company?
That depends on the agreed route. With direct ownership, the documents establish your holding. In an SPV arrangement, you own interests in the company and the company owns the metal. We explain the proposed structure before you proceed.
Can I visit the storage facility or sell part of a holding?
Ask us about the specific arrangement. Facility visits are subject to provider approval and access rules. A partial sale depends on the product, lot size, buyer and custody or vehicle terms; it is worth establishing those options at the start.
A little more context, before your next step.
Understand the materials →
Explore the industrial uses and supply stories behind strategic metals and rare earths.
Compare precious metals →
See how gold, silver, platinum and palladium differ, then explore their price and ownership guides.
Our current favorite metals →
Start with the thesis, then examine the evidence and the questions behind a potential holding.
You do not need every answer yet
Bring us your starting point.
A metal you are curious about, a holding you want to build or a question about storage. We can help you work through the options and the details that matter for your purchase.