Many people love gold but don’t know much about it. Not knowing all there is to know about it could really hurt someone. If you feel like your knowledge is lacking, read through these tips to learn much of what you need to know.
Know the meaning of different karat weights when buying or selling gold. Twenty four karat gold is worth more than fourteen, which is worth more than ten. If you understand the differences, you can make sure that you buy or sell for a fair price based on the true value of the piece.
Prior to buying a piece of gold from a seller, make sure you schedule for timely delivery. If delivery isn’t immediate, then you need written confirmation from the seller about your pieces. You should have the date of delivery clearly listed. Do not complete your order without this important information.
When you are buying or selling gold to another person, make sure you are keeping yourself protected agaisnt identity theft. Avoid giving out your personal financial information. This includes bank account numbers, credit card numbers and Social Security numbers. Take special care to not give out this type of information, especially over the phone to people that you don’t know.
Do not hesitate to sell any gold jewelry that you no longer have use for. There are many people that hold on to these pieces for no logical reason when they can be sold for a tidy profit. The money you make from the sale would do more good than unused jewelry sitting in a box.
You must know what investments to make before you actually start investing in gold. There will probably be people saying that they know what they’re talking about just so you’re likely to invest with them. However, you have to be aware of unfounded promises regarding quick riches. Avoid get-rich-quick schemes, and avoid being scammed.
If you’re selling gold jewelry, make sure you know about karats. Pure gold is very soft, so it’s mixed with other metals for color and durability. The FTC or Federal Trade Commission requires that all sold U.S. gold jewelry must describe the alloy’s karat fineness. A single karat equals 1/24 of pure gold via weight. For instance, 14 karats jewelry is 14 parts gold and 10 parts different metals. Jewelry can’t be sold as “gold jewelry” if it’s less than 10 karats.
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When looking for a gold coin dealer to buy from, make sure you do your research. Carefully look at their five key traits: reputation, experience, guarantee, ethics, and size. You also need to find out about any minimal restrictions like minimum amounts, whether they may only accept certain types of payments, and when you’ll get your coins.
Before actually purchasing a piece of gold jewelry, shop around. More expensive jewelry stores will charge you an arm and leg. However, the same piece of jewelry can sometimes be found elsewhere for a much lower price. You can even tell a jeweler that you saw the piece for cheaper and you may be able to negotiate with them.
Know what you have. Some items are worth way more than the actual price of the gold they are made from. This is especially true for antique coins or jewelry. Oftentimes gold jewelry features highly sought after gems in the setting too. That could make the item a lot more valuable.
Do not allow different carats of gold to be weighed together. This is because dealers will base the price on the lowest carat gold. Each carat of gold is mixed with 10 parts of other alloys; thus, a 10 carat weight gold ring will be worth much less than an 18 carat gold ring.
Gold is often volatile even though it can be a good investment. If the thought of volatility and constant changes is a turn-off, perhaps the gold market is not for you. Even if you’re ready to get into these choppy seas, take steps to limit your risk. You want to maintain a diverse portfolio of other investments and make gold only a small portion of it. For example, you might wisely invest 5%.
When you buy gold as an investment, you should consider how easy it will be to sell when you are ready. Common gold coins are relatively simple to sell. Rare gold coins and coins mostly traded outside the US can be more difficult to sell. Gold bars can be expensive and difficult to resell if you need to send them to a dealer.
Be wary of any dealer who requests you to step into a back room to complete a gold sale. All gold sales should be done in a public setting. Many dishonest dealers want to do business behind closed doors to help keep other sellers from overhearing the conversation. By insisting that you deal in a public setting, you can help ensure you get the maximum value for your gold.
While many people like gold, few of them know anything about it. But now that you have read this article, you know more about it. Use this information to make good decisions when investing in gold.
