Gold has been valued by people since the beginning of time. It has been used as money, given as gifts and turned into jewelry to show affection. Gold is a good investment because it is universally treasured. If you are looking to invest in some gold, here are some tips to help you invest wisely.
Think about using the Internet to sell gold. You don’t need a storefront to buy and sell gold. You can also choose to use an independent online site to that specializes in buying gold. Most sites work by mailing you a mailer or kit. You then use your mailer to ship the gold. If everything is okay, they will pay you whatever their current rates are.
Just like you would do a price comparison on a vehicle you are interested in purchasing, make sure you go to more than one place to inquire about the value of your gold. Different shops and dealers are going to quote you different prices. Get the most money possible for your jewelry.
Do not go to a pawn shop if you have gold to sell. You will not get as much for your gold as you would if you went to a gold dealer. A pawn shop will try to give you the minimum amount so they can make the maximum profit.
Once you decide to sell your gold, start your search with local dealers. Go into a store and get a ballpark figure for your pieces. From there, you can begin checking online and in other shops to see where you can get the most bang for your buck. Get at least four to five quotes before you go forward with a sale.
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.
Be very wary of anyone that claims to be able to offer you rare and valuable coins at dropdown prices. The reality is that no one is going to give you something for nothing. The coins you are being offered are probably not as valuable as they are making them out to be.
When it comes to selling gold jewelry, you should know exactly what it is that you are selling. Many pieces are worth more when they’re left as is rather than melted down. If your pieces come from famous makers or designer lines, they may carry more value for the buyer over what kind of gold they’re made of.
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.
If you are selling gold of different karats, have them weighed separately. This is because 24 karat gold has a higher value than 18 or 14 karat gold. By having them all weighed separately you will get a fair price. If they are all weighed together, you will be given the total value of the lowest karat.
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 you are thinking about investing in gold by buying jewelry, buy pieces of jewelry that you really love. That way, even if they go down in value, they will still be treasured possessions. They will also have sentimental value and can be passed on to your children one day.
The first step in buying gold bullion is to be sure you know the actual price on the day of your purchase. Gold prices change daily, so precision is important.
Experts say you should expect to pay more proportionately for a fraction of an ounce than you would for the full ounce. Among gold coins, the Kruggerrand coins from South Africa can usually be acquired at a cheaper price than the more popular American Eagle or Canadian Maple Leaf coins.
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.
Hopefully these tips have given you a better idea of how to go about buying gold. Whether you are looking to invest in it to make money or just to collect beautiful pieces of jewelry, gold has lasting value. It usually goes up in value. Keep these tips in mind and start your own collection of gold today.
