To add gold to your investment portfolio, there are a few things you must know. It is more complicated than just jumping straight in, but the right information can help. This article can help you invest in gold wisely.
When searching for jewelry, you will probably want to know how many karats a particular piece has. The hallmark on a piece of jewelry will provide you with this information. For instance, say you purchase a ring that is 14 karat gold, the hallmark will say “14k”. The hallmark can be found on the inside of each piece.
If you have a particularly nice piece of jewelry, you may be able to get more money for it as is rather than selling it to someone to melt down. This is particularly true if the item was made by a popular designer. Investigate your options before you just go forward with a sale.
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.
Some pieces of gold jewelry have values above and beyond their weight in gold. If you have antique or designer pieces of gold jewelry you’re considering selling, take them to an appraiser first before selling them for scrap value. There may be a buyer out there that wants your jewelry for its collectible value, rather than its gold value.
If you decide to invest in gold, you need to consider it a long-term investment. The price of gold fluctuates constantly but over the long term, prices increase. Even if you plan to make a large investment in gold, buy gold bars or coins separately over a short period of time.
One valuable piece of information about gold is that while its dollar value may fluctuate, its purchasing power does not. In other words, if 10 ounces of gold could purchase a car 50 years ago, 10 ounces of gold can still purchase a car today. This is because although the dollar value of the car has increased, so did the dollar value of an ounce of gold.
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.
Do not sell your gold at a gold party. Although these parties are fun, sellers usually net less than 80 percent of the value of their gold at these parties. To get the most bang for your buck, find a reputable dealer that specializes in buying and selling gold.
A photo id is required with each sale of precious metal. This is because the information is kept on file to assist local police authorities in the investigation of thefts and robberies. A reputable dealer will require identification when selling gold. If the buyer does not require identification, he is not honest, and you should find a different gold dealer.
Scrutinize any forms that a gold dealer gives you. This business deals with large amounts of money. Understand precisely what you are asked to sign. If you’re not happy with the specific terms, then you need to keep moving along. At the end of the day you are the one who stands to lose financially.
Have some idea of who you are selling to. To help guarantee that you are selling to a reputable dealer, make a call to your local Better Business Bureau. By contacting the BBB, you can see if they have any complaints against them. If you find complaints, think about going elsewhere for your transaction.
When you are strapped for cash, sell your gold. Anything containing gold can be sold. This includes bracelets, necklaces and other jewelry. Gold plated china, gold plated cups and even dental gold can be sold for extra cash. Additionally, broken jewelry, gold coins and gold bullions can also be sold to a gold dealer.
Always deal with a reputable dealer. There are many unscrupulous people out there who are in business one day and then gone the next. Ask your friends and family who they deal with and also do an online search to find out about a dealer’s reputation. This can help you avoid making a costly mistake.
A fun way to invest in the gold market is to invest in those who mine the gold. This market is very undervalued at the moment, so the time is now to buy stocks in gold prospecting firms. It is a far better investment value-wise than actually investing in gold.
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.
Remember, a gold dealer only buys gold, not the alloys it’s mixed with. Many gold pieces are made with gold that’s less than pure (based off the karats). Your dealer will take that into consideration when offering you a price, so the weight of your piece may not reflect what you’re offered exactly.
After reading this article, it is time to begin using the knowledge you have gained. Remember the information you have learned and use it for your investment strategy. Gold can be a key part of planning for a successful financial future.
