Given its historical place of honor among valuable commodities, it is easy to understand why gold continues to be of immense interest to investors of all levels. Unfortunately, not everyone who wishes to get involved in gold markets has sufficient know-how to do so successfully. The article that follows is meant to remedy that situation for interested readers.
Do not sell your gold without first knowing what it is currently worth. If you have made the call to sell any gold you have, group your pieces by karat value. Avoid selling any jewelry that’s worth is dependent on the designer.
You need to know what you have before you go to sell it. Higher karats equals higher gold density and more value. Buyers who do not have a good reputation may try to take advantage of sellers who don’t know exactly what they have. Twenty-four karat gold is almost pure gold so it is worth way more than fourteen karat gold.
Though it is much more cheaper, try to avoid gold plated jewelry. When worn frequently, these pieces of jewelry tend to rub against the skin, causing it to wear down and turn colors. If you do insist on wearing this kind of jewelry, do not do so on an everyday basis.
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.
Do your research before selling gold. You should also look around to see what other people are asking for similar pieces. This allows you to get an idea of what you should be asking for. People will haggle, so ask for more than you will actually settle on.
Prior to going to a gold party, take your jewelry to a store and get an estimate as to how much the gold is worth. If the gold party representative quotes you a lower amount, see if they are willing to negotiate. If not, determine whether you truly want to sell at the party or would just prefer to hang on to the items.
If you are looking to find a great deal on gold and other precious metals, try going to flea markets and estate sales. If you really take your time to look around thoroughly and do some hard core digging, you can end up finding pieces that others have overlooked.
Have a basic understanding of grams and pennyweight measurements when selling your gold. Some jewelers will measure in pennyweight but pay in grams, and this results in a lower payment to the seller. Avoid this by asking what measurement your jeweler is using before your pieces are ever weighed, and make sure you are paid based on that same measurement.
Try to avoid buying gold coins from small shops that claim to be reputable dealers. You want to make sure that the people you deal with are really knowledgeable about the business, so it would be in your best interest to look for a gold dealer that has a much larger inventory.
Get multiple bids before deciding on the final offer that you’ll take. The logic is simple: every dealer will offer something different. You want the best possible price for your gold, so you owe it to yourself to get at the minimum three bids prior to a final decision. It can turn a good deal into a great one.
Unless you have true expertise, avoid investing your money in rare gold coins. The novice buyer won’t be able to appreciate the many distinctions in grade between coins and can be easily cheated. If you do go this route then you really should hire a professional coin grader to protect your interests. Be sure to insist on a certificate of authenticity for any purchases you make.
Do not immediately discount pawn shops as a place to sell your gold. They will often buy pieces that other stores do not want to buy because they are not always looking to buy simply to melt a piece down. You can also haggle prices in a pawn shop, meaning you might get a better deal than you expected.
Gold investments are long term investments. You should instead think of it as some kind of a wealth insurance. If you’re going to figure out the timing perfectly, it’s best to do so when it’s quieter in the market. When the economy goes down, gold is often in shortage.
Gold has a long and storied history when it comes to preserving and building personal wealth. The best way to get involved in gold markets in prudent fashion is to study several fundamental concepts and methods. It is our hope that the facts presented above have given readers a great resource for doing just that.
