While investment in gold is a sensible long term strategic decision if you want to keep your money safe from the unpredictable and volatile economic shock waves. 2023 is set to be a good year for gold, and analysts believe it could increase by 10 per cent or more in the coming months.
Not all gold is equal
But what gold you invest in is important, because not all gold is equal, and you could risk over-investing in gold that will not hold its value. Gold bullion is the industry standard, as it is in its purest, most unrefined state. From gold bullion, additional metals can be added, which dilute that purity and give them their own ‘personality’ for use in jewellery design.
Different gold colours
The four primary gold colours are rose gold, green gold, yellow gold and white gold.
Yellow gold is created by mixing 75 pr cent gold and 25 per cent silver. Yellow gold is probably one of the most popular for premium jewellery items as it does not fade or tarnish in the same way as other golds.
Green gold contains some silver, but is not so popular as its appearance can vary depending on circumstances.
Rose gold is developed by mixing yellow gold and copper, giving it a reddish hue. And white gold contains nickel, which gives it durability and hardness.
Verify the purity levels of your gold
The overall appearance of gold is more often than not down to personal preference, but if you are looking to make a long-term investment, make sure that you determine the purity level. The higher the purity, the higher the ‘karats’ – 24 karats is pure gold – something that will be difficult to find on the open market!
One of the reasons why pure gold is combined with other metals is that in its purest 24 karat form, it is too soft to mould into everyday items of jewellery. However, by alloying it with other metals, it becomes strong enough to be created into items of jewellery that offer the purchaser both the aesthetic satisfaction of owning a beautiful and unique piece and the reassurance of investing their money into a tangible asset.
Gold plated jewellery
Gold plated jewellery also comes in different formats, and what you choose will be price driven as well. While the actual piece is made from a base metal such as copper, brass or nickel, the plating is still very much real gold. This makes gold plated jewellery much more affordable to a much wider audience, and brings gold closer to the reach of everyone, rather than the wealthier elites.
Gold plated vs gold filled
If you are on a limited budget though, check out the difference between gold plated and gold filled. While gold plated is created by electroplating a fine layer of gold, a piece of jewellery which is gold filled incorporates a much thicker layer of gold with its own karat count. A piece will contain two or three layers to cover the base metal inside.
Be aware that cheap and nasty gold plated jewellery can soon fade and tarnish, especially if the gold is particularly thin. A disreputable retailer will cover the piece with the thinnest layer of gold they can get away with. Unfortunately, the layer can literally be rubbed off by sweaty hands, leaving you with nothing but the base metal underneath which is worth very little. So don’t be lulled into a false sense of security by believing that you are ‘investing’ in gold, simply because it looks like gold.