Gold and Silver Investment Choices

By Chris Ralph

Gold and other precious metals have been moving rapidly upward in the market, and investors wonder what investment vehicles are the best choices to capture that upward price appreciation in the precious metals market. Many wish to buy and hold the precious metals themselves, but there are a number of alternatives. Each of these different options has its own strengths and weaknesses. This discussion gives some basic information on the most common possibilities. Depending on what your goals are, you may choose to use one or more of the available options described below. I’m not an investment counselor, nor am I offering any investment advice, but here is a brief explanation and introduction to each of the best known opportunities for precious metals investment:

US and international gold bullion coins

The US and many other countries have made and are continuing to make gold bullion coins for sale. These are not coins which are rare and have numismatic value, but are coins made for investors interested in their bullion value. The American gold eagle coin is available and denominations of 1/10 ounce, one quarter ounce, one half ounce and 1 ounce. The great advantage of bullion coins is that they are easily available, liquid and portable. Most coin shops buy and sell them. If you plan to buy small amounts of gold, perhaps half an ounce a month for investment purposes, this is the kind of thing you may be interested in. The disadvantage is that they have a significant cost of getting in and out. It will cost about $25 plus the spot price for 1 ounce coin, and if you sell it you will receive a few dollars less than the spot price. The cost for a buy and sell combined is about $30. Foreign bullion coins, such as Canadian Maples or Krugerrands are slightly less liquid but may also have lower buy and sell costs. There are also one ounce silver bullion coins, which are available with a similar significant cost to buy and sell.

US 90% coin silver

Until 1964, all US coinage other than nickels and cents were made of 90% silver. These coins also have a bullion value based on their silver content. You can normally purchase from just a few to a big bucket full, and they are sold both by weight and by face dollar amount - by weight is probably the better deal as some old coins are worn. These coins are available at most coin shops. Like other bullion coins, there is a significant cost to buy and sell.

US Gold numismatic collector coins

Many investors are interested in gold collector coins. These are coins with a large numismatic (coin collector) value premium in addition to their bullion value. These coins will fluctuate somewhat with precious metal prices, but many times they also contain a significant price premium due to their desirability as collector coins. Sometimes the collector price appreciates significantly, but for those who really wish to invest in the appreciation of precious metal prices, these coins are probably not the best vehicle.

Investment Methods in Gold

By Jon Elton

With the rising prices of gold in the bullion market, investors can embark on investment of gold either directly through ownership or through shares, spread betting, accounts and certificates.

Apart from storing gold at the safe deposit box in home or at a bank, investors can also place gold in unallocated or allocated storage with a dealer or a bank. In the event of the latter becoming bankrupt, the client can claim the gold to become a general creditor, whereas the gold held in the allocated storage has to be returned to the client in full.

Purchase of bullion gold bars is the most conventional method of investing in gold. In some nations such as Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria and Argentina, dealers can easily sell or purchase them over the counters of major banks. Instead, there are bullion dealers providing the same form of service. There are various sizes of gold bars available in the bullion market. Typically, in Europe, these are either available in 12.5 kg bars or 1 kg bars. However, other weight units also exist such as 1oz bar, 10 oz bar and the Tael.

More about gold investments:

The popular way of holding gold is by purchasing gold coins as an investment. Usually, the prices of bullion coins depend on the weight, with no or little premium above the price of gold. The most popular bullion gold coins include the Australian Gold Nugget, the American Gold Buffalo, the American Gold Eagle, the Canadian Gold Maple Leaf and the South African Kruggerrand.

Miscellaneous Methods of Investments in Gold:

Gold Certificates: Investment in gold does not mean storing the actual gold bullion. Rather, the gold investors can hold certificate of ownership. The Gold certificate permits the investors to sell and buy the security without any hassles involved in the transfer of the actual physical gold. The only government guaranteed gold certificate program that exists in the world is the Perth Mint Certificate Program. It offers the investors the ability to store platinum, silver and gold in an unallocated account without any storage cost.

Gold Accounts: Majority of Swiss banks provide gold accounts, wherein investors can easily sell or purchase gold just as a foreign currency.

Exchange-traded Funds: Investors can trade GETFs or Gold exchange-traded funds as shares on the major World Stock Exchanges including Sydney, New York and London.

ETFs in gold denote simple method of gaining an exposure to the price of gold sans the inconvenience of placing physical bars. Typically, for trading in gold ETFs, authorities charge a small commission along with a small yearly storage fee. By selling a small amount of gold, the annual expenses such as management, insurance and storage fees are balanced. Hence, the amount of gold held in each certificate of gold declines gradually over a period.

In some nations, gold ETFs indicate a method of avoiding the VAT or sales tax that may apply to physical gold bars and coins. Ease of purchase, sale and liquidity make ETFs a popular method of gold investment.

Methods of Purchasing a Gold Coin

By Jack M Patterson

As the price of gold continues to increase, the value of gold coins will increase as well. Many collectors of gold coins are trying to purchase new pieces to add to their collection before the price gets so high that they will not be able to afford them. Luckily, there are many different methods that can be used to purchase collectable gold coins.

The most traditional method that is used to purchase a gold coin is through a local dealer. There are many different reasons why some collectors prefer to use this method. For example, when purchasing from a local dealer, the collector will be able to see the coin in person and determine if there is any damage to the coin that could affect its value.

While purchasing a coin from a local deal is popular, there is usually not a large selection to choose from. This is why most coin collectors prefer to use the Internet to purchase coins to add to their collection; however, there are several things that collectors should remember when purchasing coins online.

When purchasing coins from an online auction site, it is important to ensure that the seller of the coin has a good feedback rating. This is because the feedback rating is calculated from the comments that are left by previous customers. A user that has a good feedback rating will have many past customers who have been satisfied with their purchase.

It is also important to ensure that the seller has some type of return policy for the gold coin. This will give the purchaser an opportunity to examine the coin and ensure that it is exactly what they want. Collectors should also try to purchase rare coins because they will hold their value longer than common coins.

Facts About Pink Diamonds

By: David Cowley
The Argyle Diamond Mine is located in a remote corner of North West Australia and it produces over 90 percent of the world supply of pink diamonds and yet less that 1/10 of 1 percent is classified as Pink in color.

The pink diamonds comes in shades ranging from a pastel rose, such as the Pink Orchid to intense purple-reds of the Moussaieff Red, and the price is determined by the intensity of the color. Pink diamonds have sold for up to $1,000,000 a carat. Unlike the Type I diamonds that derived their color from impurities imbedded in the diamond, Pink diamonds are considered a Type II and get their color from a process known as Plastic Deformation.

Type II diamonds have very few if any nitrogen impurities in them. They get their coloration due to structural anomalies caused by Plastic Deformation during the crystal growth. The intense pressure changes the lattice structure of diamonds and has led to the formation of Pink, Red, and Brown colored diamonds.

Only 1 out of the top 66 largest diamonds in the world is pink. When Ben Affleck gave Jennifer Lopez a pink diamond solitaire engagement ring, traffic to web sites that had pink diamonds increased from 300 to 400 percent. Although not normally large in size they have become very popular and over the years many have become world famous.

Pink Panther

Probably the most famous pink diamond in the world was the Pink Panther Diamond that was made famous by the 1964 file release of The Pink Panther. Peter Sellers as Inspector Clouseau was on the trail of the jewel thief also known as The Pink Panther.

Darya-I-Nur

Darya-I-Nur diamond is believed to be the largest pink diamond in the world. The stone is estimated to weigh somewhere between 175 and 195 carats, and it is a light pink color. Its exact weight isn’t known because its been mounted in its brooch setting for over 130 years. This stone is one of the most celebrated diamonds in the Iranian Crown Jewels and it is also one of the oldest stones known to man.

Steinmetz Pink

The Steinmetz Pink Diamond is classified as a vivid pink and is 59.60 carats in weight. This diamond was discovered in South Africa and is the largest Fancy Vivid Pink diamond in the world. This fantastic diamond was first shown to the public in 2003 in Monaco. A team of eight jewelers took 20 months to create this Internally Flawless diamond. They created over 50 models before cutting on the real diamond began.

With the new techniques in creating laboratory diamonds it will only be a matter of time before quality pink diamonds are available to the general public at an affordable price.

Cognac and Champagne Diamonds

Imagine diamonds the color of champagne bubbles, sparkling as they rise up in a crystal glass; or the shade of warm cognac, catching the light at every angle. Or even the sheen of honey and caramel, butterscotch and chocolate, silkily diaphanous as they glow.
The shades and hues of brown diamonds, usually grouped under the category of champagne diamonds, can be light and pinkish-bubbly as the elite, effervescent wine; or dark, rich and spicy as cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves; but whether espresso-deep or café au lait-soft, their sparkle, fire and flash is as captivatingly warm as the whitest white diamond is cold.
No wonder white diamonds are called “ice.”
Found in Australia, Africa, and Russia, the largest champagne diamond producer is the Argyle Diamond Mine, located in a remote corner of northwest Australia. The mine began producing in 1979 and along with champagne and cognac diamonds, also produces white and all varieties of fancy colored diamonds—yellow, blue, orange, green, red, purple and pink. Brown and yellow are the most common naturally-colored diamonds; pink, blue and green are extremely rare, and red is the rarest.

Diamonds And What To Do With Them

Author: Frank Hague

Diamonds are allotropes of carbon , whose hardness and high dispersion of light make it useful for industrial applications and jewelry.

Diamond in Greek means “impossible to tame”. Diamonds are found mainly in central and southern Africa, although significant sources of the mineral have been discovered in Canada, Russia, Brazil, and Australia.

There are Synthetic Diamonds and Natural Diamonds.

There is something so special about diamonds, and they are so valuable, that people have been trying to make them for a long time.

Synthetic diamonds were first produced in 1953, in Stockholm ,Sweden by ASEA ,Sweden’s major electrical manufacturing company. Pressure was maintained within a device at an estimated 83,000 atmospheres for an hour to produce these diamonds.

It now seems that it is possible to make diamonds in a laboratory so perfect down to the same atomic structure that DeBeers, the world’s largest diamond consortium, is running scared.

And you know what, these diamonds can be made and sold at a profit.

Apparently there are in Russia alone 5 laboratories producing synthetic diamonds that have the same atomic structure as natural diamonds but with ONE difference, they are too perfect.
They have the same characteristics as real diamonds, the same hardness, same conductivity, the same sparkle.

Different types of Synthetic Diamonds:

2 different processes are being used to produce Synthetic Diamonds:

The oldest process uses pressure, lots of it, and carbon.

Since diamonds are carbon, eventually people were able to make diamonds in this manner, but these diamonds were easily distinguishable from natural diamonds.

Originally, the pressure process was developed by GE and, by major manufacturers, on a much larger scale.

There is also a cubic press system.

The newest process actually grows diamonds layer by layer as a chemical process and is called Chemical vapor deposition.

This process allows many new uses for diamonds which in the past had previously been either too expensive to implement or too difficult to make.

The most important characteristic of CVD diamond growth is the ability to control the properties of the diamond produced.

Diamonds are now being used to machine tools, especially for non-ferrous alloys. CVD diamond also has applications in electronics. Conductive diamond has been demonstrated as a useful electrode under many circumstances.

Diamonds are also being used as radiation detection devices. Diamonds also have uses as semiconductors because the diamonds can be contaminated with impurities.

Diamond is the ideal material. It can be used in computers to run them at speeds that would melt anything on the market today.

A Unique Gift Black Diamond Rings

Author: Jennifer

Diamonds have long been considered the ultimate gemstone that can be placed in jewelry and given. These stones are used in everything from engagement rings, wedding bands to earrings and necklaces. The stones are generally very beautiful and the colors radiate from within the stone.

Diamonds are formed in an interesting manner. Deep beneath the earth’s crust where the temperature is extremely cold, diamonds begin their transformation.
The combination of extreme cold and the pressure from the earth causes this molecular change in the carbon within the earth.

Once the diamond has begun to be formed, it is then spewed forth from the earth’s mantel to the upper crust through volcanic pipes that lead to the earth surface. The color of the diamond is based on conditions that occur while it is traveling. Diamonds come in many shades including pink, yellow green and red.

One of the most interesting diamonds is the black diamond. This color stone is found in Central America and hasn’t necessarily been a popular choice. People were not intrigued by the dull color and it is a difficult stone to use. Recently, though it has made its appearance and can be seen in things like necklaces, pins and of course black diamond rings.

Recently, scientists have begun looking into the fact that black diamonds may actual come from outer space. This is based on the carbon structure found within the black diamonds that resembles a meteorite as opposed to the process within the earth surface. The thought is that since these diamonds are only found in specific regions they could be the result of a meteor shower and the amazing pressure that would occur during the impact into the earth.

Since black diamonds are not generally the prettiest stones, finding appropriate ones for black diamond rings and other jewelry can be a challenge. This is then reflected in the price of black diamond rings, which can be costly. Black diamond rings can be an extremely eye-catching item, as they are rare and against a gold or silver metal stand out.

Black diamond rings and other pieces of jewelry can look spectacular combined with white diamonds. The contrast is striking and if in a black diamond ring, can make a statement.

Black diamonds are being used more and more in jewelry and can be located at many fine jewelry stores or on-line.

Black diamond rings and other pieces are truly an elegant style that has the mystique of being possibly from outer space.

Great Ideas Where You Could Use Antique Diamond Rings

Author: Jennifer

Antique diamond rings are more than priceless; they are a statement of love and undying devotion. The best way to use antique diamond rings is as a gift for someone you love - as engagement rings, as wedding rings, as rings that show your undying love, adoration and complete devotion.

Can You Identify Genuine Antique Diamond Rings

Buying antique diamond rings would come only after you are able to identify
them. Do you know what the qualities that classify and qualify as antique diamond rings are? First of all is the age of the rings - after all this is why it is called antique. In order to be labeled as antique the rings should be at least one hundred years old. This could be determined by their certificates which would have mentioned their origin and date of first purchase.

The certificate would show another qualifying point - its origin. Not all old diamond rings can be called antique diamond rings. Only those that can trace their origins to Art Deco, Art Nouveau, Georgian, Edwardian or Victorian era, among others can qualify.

Most of these antique diamond rings are so charming and priceless because they have a history. They have stories attached to them or kings and queens ownership, victories, tragedies, romantic involvements, etc which make these pieces of jewelry invaluable.

Authenticity certificate - the fact that you are looking at genuine antique diamond rings should be supported by an authenticity certificate or the translation of such a document. Each one of the antique diamond rings sold in the market by genuine sellers would have such a certificate which would convince you that you are buying the right thing.

Lastly, even if you have the full documentation checked and found it satisfactory, it would be good if run it through the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) the only one organization which can assure you of one hundred percent accurate gradation and authentication of a diamond.

What You Can Do With Antique Diamond Rings?

Plenty - but the best ideas would be to use it just as you would use a very rare bottle of wine, i.e. for special occasions and people. You could gift it to your fiance or wife to show how much you love her; you could use it an as engagement ring or wedding ring; you could gift it to the other special woman in your life - your mother with thanks for all that she did to bring you up, or you could buy it as a special gift to yourself to tell yourself how priceless and special you are.