Gold has been highly valued throughout history. Gold has been around for thousands of years and man has always held it in high regard. Keep reading for information on investing in gold and maximizing your purchasing power.

Go with a reputable gold vendor when selling. You can check out their reputation by contacting the BBB and checking online reviews. If you are being offered good customer service and an honest price for the gold, then you are dealing with a reputable buyer. Protect your interests and your gold by doing this.

Learn how precious metals are priced before you trade in gold. The prices of metals like platinum, gold and silver can fluctuate greatly in just one day. Before you do any buying or selling, check the market prices beforehand. 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.

Gold Jewelry

You might have avoided gold because of the price, and chose instead to buy gold-filled or gold-plated pieces instead. You do not have to pay full price for gold jewelry if you find that the prices offered by jewelry stores are too expensive. It is easy to get great deals on gold jewelry from online retailers or pawn shops.

When looking to sell gold and you’re not sure of the value, look at getting it appraised. While you may have to pay a fee, the knowledge you gain will help you in the long run. In order to maximize reliability, make sure the appraiser is independent and accredited. Understand that you’ll be paid less than the appraisal value of your gold by gold buyers, however.

Figure out what you’re really in possession of. Just because something looks like gold, that doesn’t mean it’s worth the full weight in gold. A lot of the time there will be something mixed with the gold so it holds up better. This makes the value lower. This also applies to pieces that are plated with gold. If you don’t know what you have, have it appraised before trying to sell it.

You can use a magnet to determine the authenticity of gold. Gold and other real precious metals aren’t attracted to magnets. Certain pieces have a clasp made of real gold while the remaining parts are plated. A magnet is an easy way to test.

Gold prices have increased substantially during the past decade, making it a great value investment for anyone dealing in it. Whether it’s the right time to invest in gold is not certain and depends a lot on the value of the dollar. Weaker paper currency equates to a stronger gold market.

See if friends or relatives have broken pieces of gold they want to sell. If you use an accurate scale that is designed for jewelry, you can offer friends and family a higher price than what they would receive at a pawnshop.

If you are thinking about selling gold on the Internet, check the prices several times prior to proceeding. Frequently, a local dealer who has a physical presence will provide a better deal. Although mailing does offer some simplicity, is it really worth losing out on a bundle of money?

You now know more about how gold is valued and the reason why people around the world treasure it. It is a great way to invest your extra money. Follow the tips presented here to amass your own gold collection.