For thousands of years, humans have treasured gold and regarded it as a prized possession. You can buy it as an investment or as a beautiful piece of jewelry for the one you love. If you are looking to get into buying more gold, here are some tips to help you invest wisely.
Get several opinions about the value of your gold piece before you put it up for sale. There are a large number of venues for selling your gold, and they each have different target margins. Getting multiple estimates helps you get a fairer price on your gold when selling it.
Look into companies like GoldMoney. This program allows you to purchase gold without taking physical possession of it. You deposit money into an account and they assign you gold that remains in vaults. Do not worry about theft of your gold as it is insured while it is kept in the safe.
You need to know what a karat is. Gold is a soft metal so it must be combined with other metals for durability. Each karat, which is 1/24 pure gold, tells you how much gold is in the alloy compared to other metals. A piece that has less than 10 karats cannot legally be called gold.
Do not expect too much from a gold party. While you will make some money by attending, they are more about having fun with friends or family. Expect to reap about 80 percent of the actual value of your gold. If you are looking to get more than that, consider dealing with a jeweler or other gold dealer.
Be careful approaching the gold market. There are many unscrupulous companies out there who deal with gold. There are lots of people that want to rip you off by not giving you what you’re owed. Make sure to be careful and do your homework.
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.
Never be an impulse buyer or seller of gold. There’s a ton of emotion wrapped up with gold. Whether it’s a piece that’s been in your family for ages or one that’s so beautiful that you’ve just got to have it, you may consider making off the cuff decisions. Take a step back. There are big prices involved with gold, so little mistakes can add up. Take the time to do it right.
Gold
If you decide to invest in gold, find out which type of gold is the best investment for you. Most investors buy gold bullion bars or gold coins. This type of gold requires a sizable investment. Gold bars are available in a wide variety of sizes from half an ounce to 400 ounces.
When selling your gold, realize that jewelers use a different scale system than others. For example, one ounce of gold will weigh 31.1 grams. Some businesses weigh by the pennyweight, which is 1.555 grams. Then, they purchase by the gram instead of the pennyweight, which can result in them underpaying you.
When in doubt, get it checked out. There are some great knock-off gold pieces out there that really look like the real deal, but are infact fake. The best way to not get duped is by investing in a gold testing kit, or taking the gold piece in question to the pawn shop.
When buying gold jewelry online, make sure to get written confirmation of your delivery date before finalizing the deal. Ideally, delivery should take place in a very short period of time. If it will be delayed, find out why and for how long. This protects you as the consumer, and it gives you information that would stand up in court if necessary.
Pawnshops are always an option when it comes to selling your gold. One nice thing about pawnshops is you can usually buy your items back if you have seller’s remorse in a few days or weeks. However, some pawnshops are more reputable than others, so look up customer reviews online before heading over.
The value of gold has been on the rise over the past decade. Gold is a market that varies daily and it’s unpredictable when the price will go down. Generally, a weak dollar equals strong gold prices.
Find out about the buyback policy. Some gold buyers may charge premiums and fees to do business. Think about the extra charges concerning sending gold of all kinds to different geographical locations. For your own protection, do not buy gold and leave it in the physical custody of your dealer.
As you have seen, gold is a highly prized, precious metal. It has lasting value and can be a wise investment if you know how to do it. Now you are better educated about gold and how to buy it. So get started on your own collection of gold today.
