If you were to want to add gold to your investment portfolio today without lugging around gold bars, would you know how to do that? Do you know all of your options for investing in gold? To learn some basics so that you can get started with gold investing, keep reading.
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.
While doing your research about the seller of gold, be wary of reviews on social media sites. Gold sellers have been known to pay people to produce false reviews about their services. Do not count solely on the reviews that you read on those sites and continue your research through other sites.
Those investing in gold bullion coins or collector coins need to know how their prices work differ before they buy or sell. The prices of bullion coins are determined by the daily prices of gold, while collector coins carry significant collector premiums that are determined via historical supply and demand. Some coins may be easily found in circulated condition for modest premiums over their own bullion content, but those exact coins in superb condition may fetch a higher value that is several thousand dollars above their melt value.
If you have an interest in gold and also want to start your own business on the side, combine the two passions. Collect scrap gold from various sources, like friends and classified ads, and learn how to treat and melt the pieces into pure or near-pure gold. You can easily find a buyer for your end-product and repeat the process!
Purchasing gold at retail values can be expensive and unaffordable at times. Pawn shops and consignment stores often carry a variety of gold pieces. This gold is second hand, which makes it more affordable than purchasing it in a retail store. Visit different shops until you find the perfect gold piece for you.
Watch out for the gold buying bait and switch. There are buyers out there that promote the price they’ll pay for bulk gold, but don’t tell you that the price is much more for smaller quantities. This can leave you making a very bad deal. Ask before you make any sort of commitment.
Ask what method is used to determine the purity or karats of your jewelry. Many pieces of jewelry will be stamped with a karat rating. Other times, though, there are no outward signs, and therefore representatives rely on other techniques. Dealers using an acid test may be newcomers, as this is a very basic test.
Be sure to learn how you can test the grade of gold you are considering purchasing. Gold is measured by karats. As the number increases, the purity does as well. The stamp isn’t enough to go on. When you know how to test gold, you’ll ensure that you get good quality.
Only deal with gold buyers you have researched and approached on your own. If you choose to use a mail-away gold buying service, be sure you requested the service. Don’t just mail your gold and personal information off to someone who has asked you to. Ensure the gold-buying companies you’re using are listed with the BBB to see if any issues or complaints were filed against them.
When buying gold coins, always purchase the largest denomination available. Gold firms typically charge a premium on each coin to cover their advertising costs and provide a profit. By purchasing large denominations, and therefore fewer actual coins, you save yourself money by reducing the premium you pay to the dealer.
Prior to any gold buying or selling, look for a stamp on the gold or jewelry. This stamp lets you know what the karat value is of the piece you are considering. This is essential information to give you an idea of the exact value of the gold. The buyer or seller will be aware, so make sure you are too.
Just like in other markets, both technical and fundamental market analyses are key. You have to consider news events regarding gold mining, how the market has performed up until now and how it may react to future events. The more that you know about the market, the better your strategy will be.
There are fraudulent companies out there, but there are plenty of well-established options. Be sure that you’re taking the time to find one, such as USA Gold, that will take care of your needs expediently. You don’t want to run into any problems, and you want a company that has plenty of great reviews and many years experience.
Only buy your gold from a reputable broker or dealer. There are many scammers out there who are selling impure gold with a fake gold stamp. Always insist on getting the proper documentation that attests to the gold’s purity. Buying gold from a pawn shop or from someone promising you riches will just set you up for disappointment.
Just because you bought your jewelry at a certain price doesn’t mean the gold associated with it is worth a similar price. You’ve got to be realistic here. It may be that the gold is only worth a small portion of what you spent overall. Maybe that’s because there were precious gems attached or the price of gold has dropped significantly.
If you are mailing your gold to a buyer, purchase insurance from your local post office of delivery service. This will help protect you should the item get lost during transportation. Insurance is very inexpensive on items and will help protect you from loss or damage caused by the delivery service.
This article has described some great strategies you need to know for gold investing. Surely you now feel more comfortable about investing in gold to help diversify your financial portfolio. Use the information that has been given to you so that you can plan and strategize in the right direction.
