With so much financial turmoil, many investors are buying gold in an effort to protect their personal wealth. Before you invest in gold, do your research to gain as much understanding as possible. Continue reading to learn valuable information about purchasing and selling gold.

Have an understanding of gold prices. Gold, along with silver and platinum, have prices that change on a whim. Therefore, you must always know what the spot price currently is. There are different percentages owed based on the sizes of gold you own.

Conduct extensive research before you do business with a company specializing in gold. You can read reviews online, check with the Better Business Bureau and discover how each dealer resolves customer complaints. Talk to several different buyers and get quotes from all of them to ensure you get the best price for your items.

Have a professional appraise your gold jewelry if you do not know how much it is worth. Although appraisals cost money, you will know the value of your items. Make sure you go to an accredited and reliable appraiser to get valid appraisal papers. Even if you still choose to sell, do know that you aren’t going to get the appraised value.

When you sell your gold, make sure you verify the market price that day. Also, it might be beneficial to compare prices and see what others are selling similar items for. That allows you to get an idea of the market value. People will haggle, so ask for more than you will actually settle on.

Talk to someone at a gold party to learn how they figure out the number of karats in a jewelry piece. A lot of the time you’ll find a stamp on the item. Sometimes, however, there is no visual sign, so many representatives have other methods of figuring it out. If you see the gold buyer performing an acid test, this is probably somebody who is inexperienced in this market.

Always make sure you’re researching the gold market prior to investing in anything. There may be individuals that claim to be professional market gurus, but they’re just scam artist that want your investment. When they make huge promises, they can’t keep them. Gold won’t get you rich overnight, so don’t expect as much.

A lot of times the backs of the earrings are gold. Necklace clasps and ring bands are as well. You can often sell these smaller pieces together to get more money. By selling them as a collection you will get a higher price.

Investigate with the Better Business Bureau before selling your gold to any purchaser. They will have basic information about the business listed, along with any reviews or complaints from others that have done business with them. Complaints that have been resolved are actually a good thing, so factor those in as well. If a business has a lot of customer complaints or unresolved complaints, avoid using them.

Gold is a very volatile investment. Gold investment may not suit you if your investment style isn’t prepared for a lot of up-and-down price movement. If your stomach can handle the rough ride, you should still protect yourself from losing too much money. Do not invest more than a tiny percentage of your portfolio in gold. A prudent limit is about five percent.

Get to know the dealer before buying gold. Call the BBB or visit their online website to get assistance in finding a reputable gold dealer. That way, you can learn about any complaints made about the company. If the dealer does have complaints filed against them, look for another dealer.

Thinking long term is good in all investing, particularly gold. If you take this approach, you don’t buy at high prices and sell at low prices. Actually, this is a poor time to invest. If you buy gold in good times and bad, and don’t try to time the market, you get a better overall price.

Gold has always been an important part of the monetary system. People have always sought it out for financial security. But, one needs to have the proper education before getting involved with the gold market. Armed with the information presented here, you are ready to make some smart choices in the gold trade.