Have you ever considered an investment in gold? Does the lure of this fabled metal call your name? If so, you may want to learn as much as you can about the market for gold before investing your hard-earned money. The following article will teach you some of the basics.
If you need money in a pinch, sell your gold to a pawn shop. You won’t get the best rates from a pawn shop, but it’s highly unlikely they’ll look the other way with any gold you bring into them. If speed is of an essence, it’s probably your best bet.
When mailing your gold away for sale, make sure to read all the fine print before sending it in. Some buyers have less than stellar reputations, and you will not see this until you read the fine print. Make sure you are comfortable with all the terms you are agreeing to, or look to another location to sell your gold.
Make sure the dealer you are considering is licensed. Make sure, too, that the dealer is active in reputable organizations within the industry. This is a business with a lot of sharks in it, so the more things that prove the legitimacy of the operation, the better it is for you.
Avoid gold coins that are being sold at flea markets and local pawn shops. They may seem like a great deal, but all that glitters is not gold. The coins may be counterfeit and/or they may have been cleaned to make them appear far more valuable than they actually are.
Only jewelry that is at least 10 karats can be sold to gold dealers. The more karats your piece is, the higher amount it will command on the market. Therefore, a necklace that is 14 karats should get you a better price than something that is only 10 karats. Prior to taking in your jewelry, look at each piece to determine how many karats it is. This may help you decide whether you want to sell it or not.
Anything that contains gold can be sold. You could, for instance, sell some broken jewelry, some tableware, gold coins or many other objects. Mixed metal items can be sold as well. It could be part of an item that’s gold, or just gold-plated. You still stand to make a fair amount of money selling it.
When selling your gold, realize that jewelers use a different scale system than others. For example, one ounce of gold will weigh 31.1 grams. Some businesses weigh by the pennyweight, which is 1.555 grams. Then, they purchase by the gram instead of the pennyweight, which can result in them underpaying you.
Do not allow different carats of gold to be weighed together. This is because dealers will base the price on the lowest carat gold. Each carat of gold is mixed with 10 parts of other alloys; thus, a 10 carat weight gold ring will be worth much less than an 18 carat gold ring.
Try saving on gold by buying some at regular intervals. It doesn’t even matter what the current gold price is. Every month or every regular period, try to buy some gold. Its price may be higher one month and lower the next, but that doesn’t matter. The consistency is what matters since its value will eventually even out and rise later on due to gold’s value going against the value of currency.
Go into your gold selling knowing the current price of gold. This is a commodity that has a fluctuating price. Every day it’s something new. If you aren’t in the know, you could be taken advantage of by a less than reputable gold buying company. Remember, knowledge is the real power here. Go into any negotiation ready with it.
When in doubt, get it checked out. There are some great knock-off gold pieces out there that really look like the real deal, but are infact fake. The best way to not get duped is by investing in a gold testing kit, or taking the gold piece in question to the pawn shop.
Consider throwing a “gold” party in your home for friends and neighbors. Tupperware and Avon parties have been replaced by gold events hosted in many areas. Invite friends and colleagues to your home to have their gold items appraised for free by a reputable local appraiser. Once appraised, they can exchange the item for cash or decide to shop elsewhere. For your time and effort, the appraiser would pay you a commission based on the amount of gold that is sold. Look for appraisers who have direct experience with such events since they will have developed the skills needed to keep the mood light and comfortable.
Gold can be a very good investment, but you have to know what you are doing. Otherwise, you can end up losing all of your money. Be cautious and make good use of the tips you have read in this article. This way, you can enjoy a solid return on your investment.
