For millennia, gold has played a central part in the world’s economy. Only within the last century did most nations go off the gold standard. Millions of people still invest in gold as part of their financial portfolios. If you are interested in investing in gold, keep reading for some great advice.
When buying gold, it is best to buy in larger weights. The more the gold weighs, the less you will pay per ounce. Take your time when buying gold to be sure to shop around for the best price for the weight that you are intending to buy to be sure you are investing wisely.
Learn how precious metals are priced before you trade in gold. Silver, gold and platinum prices fluctuate often, and therefore you need to verify spot pricing the day prior to your intended deal. You must be prepared to pay higher percentages over the melt values for fractional gold pieces like 1/10, 1/4th, and 1/2 ounces versus one-ounce pieces.
Never feel too rushed when dealing with gold. These are highly involved purchases and sales. There’s lots of money on the table, so it’s important to be confident about your choices. If that means taking a few extra days to look into other options or to wait out a price fluctuation, then so be it.
Always purchase gold jewelry from a jeweler you can trust. You would be surprised at how many jewelers try to sell fake gold or lower-karats at a high-karat price. Ask friends or family members if they know of a good jeweler. Or, you can go online and look at reviews for jewelers.
Remember that gold is not the only type of precious metal that you can invest your money in. Sometimes silver and palladium can actually be better investment that gold. In addition, you can also buy copper bullion bars and copper coins. Therefore, do not think that gold is your only option if you are looking to invest in metal.
If you are purchasing gold jewelry and have allergies to nickel or other metals, only purchase 18 or 22 karat gold. Almost all gold jewelry has some other metals in it because pure gold is very soft and not easy to wear on a day to day basis. By buying 18 or 22 karat, you are ensuring you’re getting the most gold, meaning less change for an allergic reaction.
Always identify the karat value of your jewelry when you walk into the store to sell it. Some dealers will try to convince their customers that the karat value of a piece is lower than it actually is, and this results in less money in the consumer’s pocket. Have a clear understanding of your piece’s actual weight so this doesn’t happen to you.
Gold can be an important part of a properly diversified investment portfolio. However, to get the best return on your investment, you need to understand as much as you can about the market for gold. With the information you have read here, you can get a good return on your investment.
