In these uncertain economic times, many people are deciding to invest in precious metals such as gold. This is because they tend to hold their value. If you have been thinking about investing in gold, then this article is for you. It will give you some great tips pertaining to help you invest wisely.
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.
Before attending a gold party, separate your jewelry by karat weight. Some buyers will try to weigh all of your pieces together, and then pay you based on the lowest karat weight among them. This amounts to less money in your pocket, meaning you have made an unfair sale.
Have an idea about what you are selling before you sell. Some jewelry is worth more as is than it is melted down. If a buyer tries to offer you the melted down weight value of the gold, they might not be making a fair offer. Know if you have a popular designer or valuable stones before making your sale.
Know what gold is currently selling for. While it’s convenient to just bring your gold to a shop, do a little internet research first to see what the range is. That way, you can go in knowing how much you can expect to receive. You will know if you are being lowballed.
Know that the price of gold fluctuates on a daily basis, just like any other precious metal. What you think you may be getting could be quite different than what you actually get if you waited an extended period between price look up and selling. When selling gold, watch the market for a few days to see how it’s performing. This will help you choose the best day to sell.
When purchasing gold jewelry, ask the jeweler for a certificate of authenticity. This certificate is proof that you are purchasing a good piece of jewelry made of solid cold. Be sure the certificate indicates the price of the jewelry. Should you ever decide to sell your jewelry, this will be of help.
Consider futures trading if you have an interest in gold investing, but not a lot of cash. You can visit a local commodity trading firm and open a new account. The best thing about futures is that you can control amounts that far exceed what you actually have on hand in terms of cash.
Watch out for “pop-up” buyers. These individuals travel from place to place, putting out advertisements that lure in sellers with the promise of a big payout. In many cases, these buyers then leave town without paying the sellers what they are owed. Always do your research on anyone you are planning to sell to.
Check your local Better Business Bureau before purchasing or selling gold to a dealer. Your local Better Business Bureau will have a record of any complaints lodged about a company. By checking with your Better Business Bureau, you can ensure that you are selling or buying from a reputable dealer.
The gold value of a piece of jewelry will never be equal to the amount you paid for it. That is because the gold is not pure and is diluted by alloys. The jewelry will need to be melted down to separate the gold from whatever other material it was mixed with.
While some people like the idea of purchasing gold in coins or bars, the cost is very high. It is also not advisable to keep valuable coins or bullion in your possession unless you have a very secure safe. Having personal possession of a few gold coins is only a good idea if you know you can keep them secure.
Separate your gold by karat weight. A vendor may scam you by weighing what you have together by the lowest weight in karat. You will lose money that way. Instead go in with the piles pre-separated so that you’ll get the most for your gold.
You can sell your gold through the mail. Many sellers like this process because it is simple. A prepaid envelope comes to you; you place your jewelry inside and send it back to the company. However, remember that these companies often don’t pay as much for your gold as other places. Sometimes, you can obtain 30% less for the item, so be careful.
As you can see, there can be a lot of value in investing in gold, when done in the right way. Hopefully now you feel more comfortable about the subject. Apply the advice you have learned in this article to be much more gold savvy. You will be thankful that you did!
