THE image of a traditional plain gold ingot will soon be replaced by a type of dazzling gold bar minted with kinegram, which gives out rainbow colours and intriguing patterns that will insure gold investors against possible forgery.
The kinebar, a gold ingot with kinegram, launched by the Union Bank of Switzerland (UBS), marks the first application in precious metals of counterfeit-proof technology currently used in passports, visas and bank notes.
Depending on the angle at which the bar is held up to light, it shines in a spectrum of colours and shapes. Unlike a hologram which is a three-dimensional photographic image, the kinegram's pattern is computerised and cannot be easily reproduced like a picture.
''The innovation concerned is a security feature originally developed for and applied in banknote production,'' said Urs Seiler, senior vice-president and global head of precious metals at UBS.
This kinegram makes forgery highly difficult and therefore ensures the authenticity of the bars.
''The kinebar sets the new standard for beauty and authenticity in the gold business,'' Mr Seiler said.