Gold investing has grown to an incredible degree in the uncertain financial times that have been faced by investors of late. Investing in gold is continuing to increase in popularity, despite the fact that some investors are not well educated on the subject. The piece below can help any investors gain top values for gold.
Learn how precious metals are priced before you trade in gold. Metal prices fluctuate constantly, so you need to know the price on any given day for a transaction. You may be required to spend more on melt values if you are working with fractional pieces. You might pay more for something that is 0.25 ounces versus something that is 1 ounce.
Separate jewelry by their karat values before getting an offer. A lot of times, gold buyers will try to give you a price for the lowest karat and lump everything together. Think of that and make a point of separating your pieces according to karat, so you’ll get a better price.
Schedule for a proper delivery before buying gold from any seller. If this is not possible, make sure you get a written contract outlining when the items will arrive. The date on which you can expect to receive the items should be provided. Don’t go through with the order if they can’t provide you with the delivery date in writing.
Take precautions if you mail your items. There are a lot of mail-in services these days, and while they can be convenient, you need to protect yourself. Send the pieces through insured mail, take photographs and know the company’s policies in case they lose your gold pieces and you want a settlement.
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.
If you are shipping jewelry, be certain you find out how much it’s going to cost to get your pieces back if you fail to accept their offer. A lot of buyers offer free shipping but will charge you a lot to send the item back. Understand what you will have to pay if you don’t like their offer. Protect yourself.
Understand how gold much gold is in each ounce. For example, 18 carat gold contains more gold than 14 carat. This is because in 18 carat gold there is 18 parts gold and 10 parts other alloys. In 14 carat gold, there is 14 parts gold and 10 parts other alloys. For this reason, 18 carat gold sells for more than 14 carat 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.
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.
You should always contact the BBB prior to selling your gold. They will have basic information about the business listed, along with any reviews or complaints from others that have done business with them. Look at the complaints to see whether or not they were resolved. Too many complaints are a warning sign and it’s a business you should definitely avoid.
Gold parties seem to be popping up everywhere these days, and participants usually enjoy going. They get to hang out with their friends and leave with money in their pocket. However, remember that the representative may or may not be qualified to evaluate your gold, so you never know what kind of price you are going to receive.
Figure out if you want to invest directly or indirectly in gold. Direct investment means you buy gold, the actual gold. You can feel and touch it. Buying gold coins is an example. Indirect investment means you buy funds or certificates that are pegged to the price of gold. Examples include gold mining stocks or exchange traded gold funds.
Gold’s popularity and importance has risen due to the downward economy worldwide. No matter what your financial circumstances are, you can safely and profitably invest in gold if you educate yourself beforehand. Put these tips to use before you decide how to invest your money.
