How to Buy Gold

Stockpiling gold has been a favorite investment of the wealthy through much of history, and gold remains the most popular investment of all the precious metals.

Gold is fungible, portable, and accorded value everywhere in the world. This article outlines four ways to invest in gold. The most suitable method for you depends on the amount of money you have to invest, your investment objectives, the amount of risk you can absorb, and the length of time you intend to hold on to your gold.

Method1

Buying Scrap Gold

1. 
   1
   Manage your risk. Collecting and storing scrap gold has become a popular investment strategy. With gold prices steadily rising, buying scrap gold is a low-risk way to invest in this valuable resource.

   • Term (duration) of Investment: Varies
   • Nature of Investment: Low risk. Gold is the safest investment option available. The potential reward far outweighs the minor risk.
   • Profile of Investor: Ideal for the first-time gold investor or for someone just looking to set something aside for a rainy day.
2. 
   2
   Keep it in the family. Ask family and friends if they have gold they are looking to get rid of. Practically everyone has broken necklaces, damaged rings, mismatched earrings and other forms of scrap gold that they would love to turn into cash. Work out a price they are happy with while leaving plenty of room for your profit.
3. 
   3
   Place an ad in the newspaper. Have an ad run in both the classified section and the help wanted section of your local paper. Most people who are looking at the help wanted ads are in financial distress of some sort, so placing an ad offering to help them make money by selling gold to you can work wonders.
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   4
   Place an ad on Craigslist. This is similar to a newspaper ad yet is entirely free and has the potential to reach more people.
5. 
   5
   Monitor Internet auctions. Gold items will often sell for less than their scrap value, making them a great investment tool. Be sure to factor in any taxes or shipping costs before bidding.
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   Develop relationships with local pawnshops. Leave your contact information with them and have them contact you if anyone comes in to sell gold items that the pawnshop doesn’t want. Some smaller shops may not have access to a refiner or even want to deal with scrap gold.

Method2

Buying Gold Bullion

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   1
   Buy gold bullion. Countries around the world (including the United States) continue to spend money they don’t have, creating unstable economies. Gold bullion is the only true hedge against this kind of instability.

   • Term of Investment: For the long term, even if the economy picks up, inflation will follow close behind. Which asset resists inflation? Gold.
   • Nature of Investment: It's low-risk. Experts agree that the investment-allocation pyramid is built on a low-risk base that includes gold bullion.
   • Profile of Investor: Gold is a perfect component for a new investor's portfolio.
2. 
   2
   Decide what type of investment-grade gold bullion you want to buy. You have a choice of gold coins, gold bars, and gold jewelry.

   • Gold coins: Historic (pre-1933) gold coins tend to retain the most value, as these have numismatic value in addition to their gold content.
     • Examples of historic gold coins that do not sell at an excessive premium over the gold price because they contain only 90 percent gold are the British sovereign, British guinea, Spanish escudo, French 20 and 40 francs, Swiss 20 francs, and American Gold Eagles ($10 face value), Half-Eagles ($5 face value) and Double Eagles ($20 face value).
     • The British sovereign and the American Eagle gold coin are notable exceptions with 91.66 percent gold content (or 22 karat). Other gold bullion coins include the Canadian Maple Leaf, the Australian Kangaroo, and the South African Krugerrand (which sparked the entire gold-coin-investment industry), ^[1] and the 24 karat Austrian Philharmonic.
   • Gold bars: Gold is also sold in bars that are usually 99.5 to 99.99 percent fine (that is, pure gold). Popular gold refineries include PAMP, Credit Suisse, Johnson Matthey, and Metalor. You’ll see the names of these refineries stamped on the bars they process.
   • Gold jewelry: The problem with buying gold jewelry as an investment is that you pay a premium for the craftsmanship and the desirability of the design. Any piece of jewelry marked 14 karat or less will be below investment quality, and any resale for the sake of investing will be impacted by the need to refine the gold. On the other hand, it is possible to pick up antique or vintage gold for very little at estate sales and similar auctions where a seller may not recognize the true value of the metal content or if people simply aren't in the mood to bid much for it. Older pieces can carry more value due to their unique craftsmanship, so this can be a lucrative and enjoyable way to collect gold. ^[2]
3. 
   3
   Choose the weight. Clearly, the greater the weight, the greater the price. Something else to keep in mind is your ability to store the metal safely.

   • The American Eagle gold coin and the other coins listed above are made in four weights: 1 oz., 0.5 oz., 0.25 oz. and 0.10 oz.
   • Gold bullion bars are generally sold by the ounce and include 1 oz., 10 oz. and 100 oz. bars.
4. 
   4
   Find a source that sells gold bullion. Often dealers, brokerage houses and banks will sell both coins and bars. When assessing a dealer, see how long they've been in business, whether they're certified with an industry or government body and in what investment activities they specialize. In the United States the national mint provides a list of authorized sellers that you can check. ^[3]

   • See Buy Gold Online for details on how to invest in gold through online marketplaces.
   • Jewelers sell gold jewelry, but if you decide to go this route, be sure to choose a reputable store that has been in business for a long time.
   • Auctions can be another source of gold jewelry, but be aware that auctioned items are sold “as is." It’s up to you to ascertain their value.
5. 
   5
   Determine the current market price for gold. There are many sites online that will give you the current spot price for gold and other precious metals. Kitco is one such site.
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   6
   Aim to buy gold coins or bars at or below the prevailing market price, plus a premium of approximately one percent. Most dealers have purchase minimums, charge for shipping and handling, and offer quantity discounts.

   • Get receipts for all purchases and get a confirmation of delivery date before you pay for the bullion.
   • If purchasing jewelry, retain all receipts in a safe place. If purchasing at an auction, remember to add on a buyer's premium and any sales tax.
7. 
   7
   Store your bullion securely, preferably in a safe-deposit box. This is a very important aspect of investing in gold, because your investment strategy is only as safe as your storage strategy. Invest in high-quality security mechanisms, or pay a company to store the metal for you. ^[4]

Method3

Buying Gold Futures

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   1
   Think ahead. Those willing to absorb a bit more risk may decide to invest in gold futures. However, it is important to note that such a strategy isn’t so much “investing” as it is speculating, which equates to gambling in some respects.

   • Term of Investment varies. In general, investing in gold futures is like making a short-term prediction of what the price of gold will soon be. However, many savvy investors invest and re-invest in gold futures over a period of years.
   • Nature of investment: High risk. There is high volatility associated with gold futures, and many inexperienced investors have lost money on them.
   • Profile of Investor: Futures are primarily for seasoned investors. Very few novices make money this way.
2. 
   2
   Open a futures account at a commodity trading firm. Futures allow you to control a larger amount of gold than you have in cash.
3. 
   3
   Invest capital that you can afford to lose. If the price of gold drops, you could end up owing more than you invested once commissions are added.
4. 
   4
   Buy a gold futures contract. Gold futures are legally binding agreements for delivery of gold in the future at an agreed upon price. For example, you can buy 100 oz. of gold for a two-year contract worth $46,600 for as little as three percent of the value, or $1,350.

   • The commodity trading firm charges a commission for every trade.
   • Each trading unit on the COMEX (Commodity Exchange) is equivalent to 100 troy ounces.
   • Electronic trading on the Chicago Board of Trade (e-CBOT) is another way to trade gold.
5. 
   5
   Wait for the contract to end. Then you can collect your earnings or pay your losses. An investor can exchange a futures position for physical gold, referred to as EFP ("exchange for physical"). However, most investors offset their positions before their contracts mature instead of accepting or delivering physical gold.

   • When you buy a futures contract for a fraction of the actual cost of the assets involved, you are basically betting on a small change in the price of the assets. You can make a lot of money buying gold futures if the value of gold goes up relative to your currency, but if it goes down, you can lose everything you invested and possibly more (if your futures contracts do not simply get sold to someone else when you do not have enough money down). This is a way to hedge a risk or speculate but not in itself a way to build savings.

Method4

Buying Gold Exchange Traded Funds

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   1
   Use ETFs. Some exchange-traded funds (ETFs) aim to track silver and gold prices and are generally bought through a stockbroker. They are much like derivative contracts that track prices, but they differ in that you will not own the underlying metal assets.

   • Two examples of ETFs are Market Vectors Gold Miners and Market Vectors Junior Gold Miners.
     • The Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF attempts to replicate (before expenses and fees) the yield performance and price of the New York Stock Exchange Arca Gold Miners Index. The portfolio contains gold mining companies of all sizes from around the world.
     • The Market Vectors Junior Gold Miners ETF debuted in 2009. This ETF has become quite popular among investors seeking to have indirect access to gold assets. Although similar to the Gold Miners, the Junior Gold Miners focuses on smaller companies involved in an ongoing search for new sources of gold. Because these companies are less established, there is more risk involved.
   • Term of Investment: Short term. There is a fee assessed each year that deducts from the amount of gold backing your investment, making this an expensive way to invest.
   • Nature of Investment: Medium risk. Because a typical ETF investment can be short- term if you prefer, risk can be minimized.
2. 
   2
   Use a broker. Use the same broker you would use to buy stock, a mutual fund, or shares in a gold ETF, such as GLD and IAU on the New York Stock Exchange. A gold exchange-traded fund is designed to track the price of gold while maintaining the liquidity of a stock.

   • Note that gold exchange-traded funds do not give you the ability to physically control the gold. Therefore, some gold advocates believe this is an inferior way to own the commodity. ^[5]
   • Another disadvantage is that ETFs trade like stocks, and you may have to pay a commission to buy and sell on the exchange. Moreover, any capital gains you realize must be reported for tax purposes.

Method5

About Investing in Gold

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   Decide why you're interested in investing in gold. If you have funds to invest, it's important to understand why you want to invest in gold in the first place. Make sure it's the right thing for you. Understand that gold mainly serves as a repository of value and as an investment hedge. Common reasons for investing in gold include:

   • Gold is always in high demand. It is a tangible product that can always be passed on without concerns for its desirability. Contrast this with antiques and collectibles, which are subject to fluctuations in fashion and style trends.
   • Owning gold can protect you from inflation or currency fluctuations. Countries often invest in gold when economic growth starts to decline. The more debt-laden an economy, the more it may have to pay for gold.
   • Gold can be another "string to your bow" when you seek to diversify your investment portfolio. Diversification is another reason to own gold. This is a cornerstone of sound financial management.
   • Gold is an excellent vehicle for protecting wealth over a long period of time (provided you store it securely).
   • During a period of civil instability, gold is a way to protect assets. It is portable, easy to hide, and can give you something to hang on to when everything else is crumbling.

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Tips

• The commission rate on gold futures trading is negotiable.
• The word "carat" refers to mass (weight), while "karat" describes purity.
• If you store your gold at home, invest in a decent safe. Practice good "safe hygiene." Bolt it to the floor out of sight of windows. Don't leave the combination on a Post-It note on the side of the safe. A reasonably large, fire-resistant safe will cost less than an ounce of gold (at recent prices) and can also be used to store important documents.
• Don't pay too much for your gold. Historically the price for gold has usually been around $400 an ounce, adjusted for inflation, but during a bad economy or uncertainties it tends to go up, resulting in a bubble. As the economy improves, the price of gold will revert to its pre-bubble price range.
• Since the price of gold tends to be dramatically cyclical, subject to many factors involving supply and demand, it can be quite difficult to valuate gold in an environment of constantly depreciating paper currencies. One way to valuate gold is to compare it to the price of stocks, which tends to be more stable (in light of tangible book value, earning power, and dividend payouts). Take a look at the Dow/gold ratio from 1885 to 1995:http://www.sharelynx.com/chartsfixed/115yeardowgoldratio.gif. The Dow/gold ratio is the Dow Jones Industrial Average relative to gold's price per ounce (or how many ounces of gold the Dow can buy). A high Dow/gold ratio means stocks are overpriced and gold is cheap, while a low Dow/gold ratio means gold is overpriced and stocks are cheap. A quick look at the chart's relentless upward slope yields the immediate conclusion that stocks will buy more gold in the future than it does now, meaning stocks are a much better long-term investment than gold. However, there have been long periods where gold outperformed stocks, such as between 1929 and 1942 and between 1968 and 1980. Those who bought at the stock market high in 1929, when the Dow/gold ratio was near 20, have still not completely recovered relative to gold (as of 2011 when the Dow/gold ratio was about 8). On the other hand, investors who were scared out of stocks and bought gold at the peak of the gold bubble in 1980 (when the Dow/gold ratio was close to 1) would have missed the opportunity of a lifetime to multiply their money by at least eight times relative to gold when considering 2011 levels. To prevent such mishaps, it is helpful to look at the Dow/gold ratio. One should consider buying stocks and selling gold when the Dow/gold ratio falls well below the historic trend-line (which has recently averaged about 20 or higher). Conversely, one might consider selling stocks and buying gold when the Dow/gold ratio is significantly above the historic trend-line.
• Collecting gold antiquities can be profitable based on their historical value. However, this could involve issues of legality, including the need to seek permits. Black-market purchasing of such items is generally illegal, and most countries consider antiquities to belong to society at large rather than to a select few.
• In the U.S. buying bullion is limited to weekday trading hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time.
• The United States Mint website offers a database of coin dealers listed by state.
• Keep an eye on U.S. Mint consumer alerts for scams and other shady dealings. ^[6]

Como Descrever um Anel

Há anéis em formatos e tamanhos diferentes para vários tipos de situações. Saber onde começar a descrever um acessório específico pode ser difícil se você não estiver familiarizado com as opções existentes. Você terá de descrever o aro e as pedras preciosas (quando aplicável). Também pode ser benéfico mencionar outros detalhes, como o significado por trás da peça.

Parte 1 de 3: descreva as características físicas do anel

1. 
   1
   Saiba como se referir a cada parte. Quando for descrever um anel, é útil saber como profissionais chamam cada parte.

   • O aro é a parte que envolve o dedo.
   • A haste pode se referir ao aro como um todo, mas costuma tratar das partes do anel que ficam aos lados da pedra preciosa.
   • A galeria é a parte inferior do aro, que fica logo acima do dedo.
   
   
2. 
   2
   Identifique o metal. Os aros podem ser feitos de vários metais de base, mas o ouro, a platina, a prata, o carbeto de tungstênio, o titânio e o paládio são as opções mais comuns.

   • Aros de ouro são clássicos e são vendidos em várias cores. O ouro amarelo é o mais tradicional e puro. O ouro branco é criado quando o ouro amarelo é banhado em ródio; o ouro cor-de-rosa, por sua vez, é a mistura do outro tradicional com liga de cobre. A pureza é indicada pelo tamanho do quilate. Os quilates maiores são mais puros.
   • A platina quase sempre é 95% pura. É um metal branco bastante durável, pesado e naturalmente hipoalergênico.
   • A prata é um metal branco-cinzento bastante macio e que pode ser facilmente danificado; por isso, tende a ser uma opção mais barata. Essa opção costuma ser mais usada em anéis de moda do que em noivados e casamentos.
   • O carbeto de tungstênio é um metal cinzento feito de tungstênio e carbono. É bastante duro, pesado e durável. Embora ele retenha o brilho, não pode ser cortado e ressoldado devido à sua durabilidade. Portanto, anéis feitos com esse material não podem ser modificados.
   • O titânio tem um acabamento naturalmente cinzento; às vezes, no entanto, é polido de preto. É tão resistente quanto o aço, mas leve como o alumínio. É uma escolha popular para homens. O metal também é hipoalergênico.
   • O paládio é prateado-branco. Não mancha e é tanto hipoalergênico como flexível.
   • Os anéis também podem usar materiais reciclados. Esses materiais podem vir de várias fontes e terão as características dos seus metais dominantes.
3. 
   3
   Note quaisquer características distintas. Um anel pode ter um design específico ou outros pontos incomuns e difíceis de separar. Embora não haja uma forma de categorizar essas características, você ainda deve descrevê-las quando for detalhar o anel.

   • Designs de metalurgia são um exemplo comum dessas características. Por exemplo, o aro pode ser feito para imitar o formato de folhas. Ou pode haver uma flor cravada na estrutura.
   • Outra característica especial e que vale mencionar é a gravura. A maioria delas é pessoal. Podem ser colocadas na galeria ou na superfície superior do anel.
4. 
   4
   Diga se a peça inclui ou não pedras preciosas. Alguns anéis são apenas aros de metal. Outros incluem uma ou mais pedras. Estas opções devem ser descritas em maiores detalhes, já que você terá de falar sobre o tipo, a qualidade e o posicionamento da peça.
5. 

   
   5
   Descreva o estilo da distribuição das pedras. Há várias opções disponíveis.

   • Você pode distribuir as pedras em pequenas fileiras.
   • Você pode usar apenas uma pedra e um pedaço de metal para proteção.
   • Você pode usar pedras maiores no centro do aro, enquanto o resto do metal é coberto por pedras menores.
   • Você pode até usar “garras” de metal que se estendam do aro e prendam a pedra. Geralmente, há quatro ou seis dessas garras.
   • Também podem haver pequenas pedras adjacentes próximas ao item central.
   • Outra opção é posicionar pedras pequenas viradas para “fora” em torno da pedra principal.
   • Você pode posicionar a(s) pedra(s) dentro de “orifícios” no aro – total ou parcialmente. Como resultado, o anel terá uma superfície uniforme.
   • Você pode usar várias pedras pequenas pelo entorno do aro, separadas por pequenas barras de metal.
   • Você pode até fazer orifícios microscópicos no aro, impedindo que as pedras se soltem.
6. 
   6
   Dê nome às pedras preciosas. Identifique a pedra central. Se o anel tiver mais de uma, você terá de saber o nome de todas.

   • Diamantes são uma pedra popular, especialmente para anéis de noivado. Eles também são a “pedra de nascimento” do mês de abril. A zircônia cúbica é semelhante, mas brilha menos e tem preços menores.
   • Outras pedras de nascimento populares: granada (janeiro), ametista (fevereiro), água-marinha (março), esmeralda (maio), alexandrita e pérolas (junho), peridoto (agosto), safira (setembro), opala e turmalina (outubro), topázio (novembro), tanzanita, turquesa e zircônio (dezembro).
   • Outras pedras que você poderá encontrar incluem a citrina (cuja cor pode ir do amarelo a um alaranjado-marrom), jade (verde brilhante), lazulite (azul escuro), selenito (geralmente, sem cor), morganita (cor-de-rosa claro e cor de pêssego), ônix (preto), turmalina paraiba (azul e verde elétricos) e espinela (vermelho brilhante).
   
   

Parte 2 de 3: descreva os detalhes da pedra

1. 
   1
   Especifique o corte da pedra central. De modo simples, o corte se refere ao formato da peça. Pedras acentuadas tendem a ser quadradas ou redondas, mas a pedra central pode ter vários cortes.

   • O corte redondo ou brilhante é o mais popular. Possui uma coroa redonda e um cinturão com uma base menor e cônica.
   • O corte oval tem uma coroa simétrica.
   • O corte “de princesa” é quadrado.
   • O corte “de banquete” parece um triângulo estreito.
   • O corte triangular possui a forma dessa figura geométrica.
   • O corte de marquesa tem o formato de amêndoas.
   • O corte da pera tem o formato desse fruto. O topo da coroa é pontiagudo, enquanto a base é arredondada.
   • Hás pedras em formato de coração.
   • O corte da esmeralda parece um retângulo alto com os cantos cortados.
   • O corte radiante é uma mistura entre os cortes de esmeralda e brilhante. O formato externo se parece com uma esmeralda, mas fica estrategicamente posicionado para refratar a luz como faria um brilhante.
   • O corte “de trilhão” se parece com triângulos de lados curvados.
2. 
   2
   Anote o peso do quilate. O quilate é a unidade de medida padrão usada em pedras preciosas. Quanto maior ele for, maior será a pedra.

   • Um quilate equivale a 200 gramas.
   • Eles também podem ser medidos em tamanho. No entanto, quando você for descrever a pedra, não mencionará o peso.
3. 
   3
   Indique a cor da pedra preciosa. Dar o nome ao tipo de pedra não é uma descrição precisa da sua cor. Essa cor pode ser separadas em três características: matiz, tom e saturação.

   • A matiz se refere à cor primária da pedra. Algumas pedras possuem somente uma matiz, enquanto outras podem ter várias. Por exemplo: a jade sempre é verde, mas o selenito pode não ter cor ou pode ser cinzento, marrom, amarelo, verde ou cor-de-rosa.
   • O tom se refere simplesmente a quão clara ou escura é a cor da pedra.
   • A saturação é a intensidade da cor. Pedras com cores brilhantes e vívidas são mais saturadas do que aquelas com cores mais suaves.
4. 
   4
   Descreva a claridade da pedra. Essa claridade basicamente se refere à quantidade de inclusões contidas na peça. Aquelas que têm menos inclusões possuem claridades maiores.

   • As inclusões são rachaduras e cortes visíveis no interior da pedra.
   • Algumas inclusões acidentais diminuem o valor de uma pedra, enquanto as feitas com cuidado podem aumentar o preço. Certos tipos de pedras são mais propensos a inclusões do que outros.
   
   

1. 
   1
   Lembre-se do propósito. Geralmente, os anéis são comprados com um significado específico em mente. Você deverá saber o propósito do anel sem examiná-lo a fundo.

   • Anéis de noivado e casamento são os exemplos mais óbvios.
   • Anéis com pedras de nascimento podem ser dados como presentes.
2. 
   2
   Indique o tamanho. Ao descrever o anel, você também pode indicar o seu tamanho. Eles são baseados no diâmetro do aro.

   • Os tamanhos de anéis adultos vão de 14,8 a 22,2 milímetros.
   • Os anéis de tamanho 4,5 têm 14,8 mm.
   • Os anéis de tamanho 5 têm 15,6 mm.
   • Os anéis de tamanho 6 têm 16,45 mm.
   • Os anéis de tamanho 7 têm 17,3 mm.
   • Os anéis de tamanho 8 têm 18,2 mm.
   • Os anéis de tamanho 9 têm 19 mm.
   • Os anéis de tamanho 10 têm 19,9 mm.
   • Os anéis de tamanho 11 têm 20,6 mm.
   • Os anéis de tamanho 12 têm 21,4 mm.
   • Os anéis de tamanho 13 têm 22,2 mm.
3. 
   3
   Diga se o anel é ou não parte de um conjunto. A maioria deles não é, mas alguns podem ser. Cada anel em um conjunto é levemente diferente, mas o design geral de todos é semelhante.

   • Anéis de noivado costumam ser vendidos em conjuntos com alianças de casamento.
   • Anéis simples também podem ser comprados em conjuntos, mas são menos comuns.
4. 
   4
   Considere estabelecer o preço. Não é necessário incluir o custo do anel na descrição, mas podem haver circunstâncias em que seja preciso fazê-lo.

   • Sempre deixe o preço do anel sendo descrito claro.
   • Mencione tal preço se você estiver discutindo com alguém sobre a venda da peça (caso isso ajude a pessoa a tomar uma decisão).
   • Geralmente, não se menciona o preço de um anel que você já tenha – somente quando o descrever para amigos e conhecidos.