Gold investing is very popular among investors. Many people trust this precious metal to be a good hedge against inflation. Gold has made some investors very rich because they made the right market decisions at the right time. If you want to find out what gold investing is all about, read the following article for some helpful tips.
Try to only buy and sell your gold to certain dealers that are recognized through official gold and money associations. These dealers must follow strict guidelines under these organizations to ensure that you get fair compensation or quality pieces. One such well-known organization is the ANA or American Numismatic Association.
Do not hesitate to sell any gold jewelry that you no longer have use for. There are many people that hold on to these pieces for no logical reason when they can be sold for a tidy profit. The money you make from the sale would do more good than unused jewelry sitting in a box.
Do not fall for the pressure that sellers may put on you. Sales pressure is commonly used when the seller is trying to pull a fast one on you. Always take some time to consider all of your options before investing in gold. This is especially true when buying over the Internet.
Sell gold to buyers that are state licensed to buy gold. Although anyone could rip you off, the chances are slim when working with someone who is licensed. There are quite a few vendors that will purchase gold, so never go into it thinking you’ve got to sell your gold to the first seller you talk to.
Protect yourself from dishonest people who are trying to steal your identity. One way to ensure that you are protected is to purchase gold locally from a reputable dealer. Never give your personal information out over the phone, including your Social Security number and credit card information, unless you are certain that it is a reputable company.
If you’re going to get into gold, plan ahead for it. As fun and rewarding as it may be, accumulating wealth is also a very stressful thing if you’re not prepared properly. Consider things like storage and insurance long before you get your hands on any gold, and avoid unnecessary headaches and worry.
Talk to a the gold party representative to learn how they make karat determinations. Many times the item will have a stamp. Sometimes, however, you won’t be able to see any kind of a stamp, so the people should have another way to figure these things out. One method that can be used is the acid test.
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.
Learning how to be a smart investor in gold is not hard. However, it does take full understanding of the market in order to make this profitable for you. Good investing techniques take practice and experience. Use what you have learned in this article to give yourself a good start in your gold investment.