Are you considering the gold market as a new investment vehicle? Have you tried other markets with little success before? Or are you completely new to trading commodities? It doesn’t matter how much experience you have as the information you will read below will prepare you to trade on the gold market.
When you invest in gold, you can’t go wrong with bullion bars. These come in various weights. They can range from a half an ounce to bars that weigh four-hundred ounces. The 400 ounce bars are generally hard to find.
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 you’re going to have to show your ID when you sell gold. By law, people are required to present their identification when they sell gold. That is done in order to deter thieves and other criminals. Therefore, don’t be embarrassed if they ask for your ID, and even snap a photograph of you.
If you are planning to buy gold coins, consider holding on to them for awhile before making a sale. Gold can fluctuate in value on a daily basis, meaning if you buy today, sometimes the value will be less tomorrow. This can lead to frustration if you try to sell too soon. Save yourself the headache by buying for the long run.
You can sell anything that contains gold to gold dealers. There may be broken home decor, tableware, jewelry, or other things that are around you. Mixed metal items can be sold as well. Even gold plated items will have some value. You can still turn a profit on these pieces.
Avoid gold parties, unless you just want to have fun. For the most part, you aren’t going to get the full value of your jewelry, although participants often enjoy going because the parties are convenient and offer social interaction. Remember, the host has to get paid, as does the company buying the jewelry. That means that you are going to get less for your pieces.
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.
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 trying to determine if something is real gold or not, try holding it up to a magnet. Since true gold does not have any magnetic properties, it shouldn’t respond at all. If you observe any attraction between your “gold” and the magnet, you’ve probably been fooled or simply found a good imitation.
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.
Do not assume because there is no stamp that a piece of gold is not real. There are many solid gold pieces out there that are not stamped at all. Try testing the gold in question with a magnet and if it does not stick, you probably have solid gold.
When you are investing in gold bullions or coins, stay away from high premiums. A premium of ten percent is usually the acceptable average because this is fairly close to the spot price. If you pay a high premium, the actual price of the gold will need to go higher in order for you to realize a profit.
Attempt to sell gold coins when the price is high. The stock market fluctuates daily. If you understand how the stock market works, you will be in a good position to maximize profit. Watch the stock market climb and then sell the gold coins on the upswing.
Understand that when buying gold coins, dealers will charge a commission that will increase the amount you’re paying to above the gold spot amount. In this case, it pays to shop around to find a reputable dealer with the lowest commission. However, you can expect most retail commissions for one ounce American or Canadian coins to be around five or six percent.
If you want to make money if the equity market goes up, your best bet is to invest in shares of gold mining companies. if you want to make money when the equity market goes down, you are better off investing in physical gold instead. Put money in both if you think it can turn a profit!
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.
Even someone who has traded a million times before has to pursue new knowledge when bettering their strategy. No strategy works forever, so one must seek out an education frequently. Novices are fresh and able to be molded, so the right knowledge can turn them into a winner in no time. This article has provided you with some great tips, so put them to use today.
