Everyone is searching today for safe places to store their money, and one of those areas is the gold market. If you have thought about becoming an investor in gold but really aren’t sure where to start, the tips presented below can be valuable in helping you begin this journey. Read on and get solid advice on gold.
Gold’s price is always changing, which makes it important to know your piece’s value before selling it. If you choose to go ahead with the sale, separate different karat items and have them appraised individually. Don’t sell jewelry that is more valuable due to maker or designer.
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 all gold investment come with risks. If you’re buying gold bullion coins to invest in, take time to learn about the coins before you buy them. Buyers who are uninformed tend to make hasty purchases, which they often overpay for. Like other investments, you don’t have guarantees. No one can predict that gold prices will stay the same or that they will remain popular later on.
Do you have an allergy to nickel? If so, you are better off getting jewelry that has a higher gold content, like 18 or 22 karat gold. Items that have a higher gold content are less likely to cause an allergic reaction. You should also stay away from gold plated jewelry.
Be aware of the going rate of gold before you sell you gold items. You can then discern whether you are getting the right price for your jewelry pieces. Lots of dealers offer market value, though some try to take advantage of the sense of urgency felt by sellers needing fast money.
Before taking your gold to sell, research the buyer. Most reputable dealers will be members of the American Numismatic Association. These dealers are held to a higher standard of ethics and must follow certain criteria when purchasing gold from individuals. To ensure you get the most money for your gold, make sure to use a dealer who is part of this association.
Be wary when buying gold from online precious metal dealers. There is a lot of fake gold for sale on the internet, so it pays be cautious when buying investment precious metals online. Many fake gold bullion bars are almost indistinguishable from real gold bullion bars, as many fake gold bars are coated with real gold despite the fact that their insides are fake.
When looking to buy gold as an investment, it is important that you invest in solid gold. There are many phrases you should look out for such as “gold clad,” “gold enveloped” because these are just fancy words for gold plated. This means under the gold is a different metal, which drastically drives down the value.
Know that the gold jewelry you buy online may be different than you think it really is. When you cannot hold something and look it over in person, you may be disappointed when you get the item. This is because there’s no telling what the quality will be like with just the picture.
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.
Do not buy gold from strangers who approach you in the streets and offer to sell it to you at an unreasonably cheap price. It might sound silly but people fall for it all the time. These pieces are brass or gold plated and the seller will do anything to get you to buy it. Ask to go to the pawn shop and if they refuse, walk away.
You must understand what is meant by a karat when you are buying or selling gold. Gold is a relatively soft metal so it is normally mixed with other metals to improve durability. A karat is the measure of how much of your metal is gold. Twenty-four karat is almost pure gold while ten karat is about half gold.
If there are small gems in your gold piece, ask to keep the gems after the gold is melted down. The really small pieces are rather hard to remove, however. In general, the buyer doesn’t want the stone.
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.
If you are going to sell your gold jewelry through the mail, there are certain things you need to do. For starters, research the company you are selling to in order to make sure they are reputable. The Better Business Bureau is a great place to do this. Also, certify your pieces so you are protected if they get stolen or lost.
Don’t sell your gold to just anyone. Do your homework. Remember, this is an unregulated industry, so there are many gold buyers out there looking to swindle folks that aren’t in the know about what they’re selling. Having the knowledge is your responsibility, and that starts with knowing how to choose a reputable gold dealer.
As stated from above, anyone can get into the gold market and succeed if they understand where to start. Being educated is the first step towards being successful in gold trading, and making sure you get a good return on your investment. If you keep these tips close by you are sure to reap the rewards in the market of gold.
