Due to the economic troubled period all over the world it is difficult to find an area where one can invest without considering the possibility of total failure. Because of this fact, the trend nowadays turns investors' attention to more traditional markets. Precious metals investments seem to be highly appreciated and recommended by stock market professionals. However this market is a very wide one. So the following question arises: which side of it is safer and brings more profits?
Investing in goldThe price of gold has been in continuous ascension over the few years. This, plus the fact that investing in gold can take so many forms, makes gold an excellent choice for many types of investors. Whether they want to invest large sums of money, or just small ones, the precious metal is one of the safest means through which one can make sure that the results are positive ones. One of the traditional ways of buying gold is by purchasing it as bars, coins or jewels. The fact that the investment is a tangible one makes physical gold an ideal option.
Investing in silverJust as in the case of gold, silver is a commodity whose price is influenced by speculation, but also by the supply and demand. However, compared to gold, silver's price is considered to be more volatile. In the case of the yellow metal, its great value was given in the first place by the rarity issue. From this point of view silver is considered to be less valuable than gold. At the same time, silver can also be purchased in the physical form as bars, coins or jewelry.
Investing in mining stocksThis type of investment requires knowledge in the area. This is why it is indicated to hire a professional, a stockbroker to advise you. Choosing the right mining stock to invest your money in requires a lot of research in advance, so that you make sure it will be a profitable one. Many investors prefer large mining companies, which can give guarantees. However there are few guaranties if you do not invest at the right moment of time. There are many people who buy mining stocks when they are at their highest value, disregarding the fact that the ascension trend usually follows a decreasing curve.
Jewelry is one of the earliest forms of body adornment. The word jewelry is derived from the old French word "joule" as far back as the thirteenth century. Jewelry has always been a woman's best friend. No matter what stage of life she is in, her heart will always fall in love with jewelry.
In the recent fashion trend surveys, statistics show that silver jewelry has begun to dominate Gold in the market. The yellowish traditional Gold is no longer a fashion statement. What is special about Silver is that, one can get an elite and elegant look at a price far lesser than what Gold would cost. The low manufacturing cost of the metal lets buyers have a wide range of choices, on a budget. You can buy an entire jewelry set in Silver and still have money remaining in your wallet, which is not the case with Gold. Buyers, both young and old are laying their eyes upon them. Many designers are now tilting their focus to designing to Silver. In fact, fashion analysts are predicting a Silver-shift trend among buyers in the future.
Other than cost, Silver is simply trendy and versatile. It is just a class apart. Wear it with any outfit for any occasion without having to undergo the hassles of changing accessories often depending on the clothes. Silver rings are recommended among the best accessories as it has the ability to match with any outfit due to its neutral color. It is one of the few metals that is used as both fashion jewelry and also fine jewelry. Fashion jewelry is the one you wear with your latest designer dresses, as you go out in the city, whereas fine jewelry is the one you reserve for fine occasions in your life like weddings, club parties, and black tie affairs.
It is interesting to find Silver catching up as bridal wear jewelry. What would go hand in hand with weddings? Of course, a ring! The very act of exchanging rings between the couple is as timeless as love itself. It is not only the gesture of giving, but also what the ring is meant to represent -- an undying eternal love for your soul mate. The importance of the ring you choose cannot be underestimated. One must choose it with utmost care, looking for distinguishing quality and exquisite workmanship. Sterling silver is the standard for high quality Silver in jewelry. Sterling Silver jewelry collection has some of the finest craftsmanship in both classic and contemporary design. Gemstones like diamond engraved in Silver rings can make spellbound with their brilliance. This combination is truly a complementary one.
It can be great fun to buy and wear Silver rings, but one must take proper care of the silver ring to sustain its reflective and lustrous nature. It is easily vulnerable to oxidation and getting tarnished. Of course, there are umpteen number of Silver cleaning liquids in the market. But you can even clean it yourself. A solution of baking soda and hot water can help you in the cleaning process. It is advisable to store Silver rings in a velvet jewelry box or any air tight bag to prevent it from coming in contact with moisture. With a little care you can preserve them for your entire life time and even pass on your legacy to the next generation.
When buying anything, and silver bullion is no different, you need to keep in mind the concept of 'value'. How you determine value is different for each and every investor. Ask yourself several times why you are buying silver bullion in the first place. Anyone who buys silver bullion, especially for the first time, must keep this point in mind. Remember whether you're approaching silver bullion dealers from strictly an investment standpoint or you're a serious collector of silver bullion you'll be able to gauge value in your own special way; don't bother understanding what silver bullion value means to you and chances are you'll get gouged. So take your silver bullets and aim your sights at the bull's-eye because if you don't know your purpose for buying you'll probably miss the mark altogether.
It seems a clear, simple analogy would be beneficial at this point and what does the vast majority of us know about and have experience with in the modern era?
The answer is shopping for a car. Whether you're a first time buyer seeking your first ride, looking for a sedan for the family or collecting vintage British sport coupes out of personal interest as much as profit then you'll know what I'm talking about.
When you're deciding upon the best silver bullion you can buy, the selection process is very similar to that of choosing a car; what it comes down to is defining 'value' in your terms and identifying the factors that allow you to create that value when you buy silver bullion.
Some key factors to keep in mind creating your definition of silver bullion value:
1) Should I swim in the pool?
When buying silver bullion you can opt to take delivery or buy from a general pool. What this option equates to is that you don't physically see, touch and feel your silver ingots because you're buying a concept rather than a coin. The disadvantage from a collector's point of view is that the investor does not physically own his or her investment whereas from a general purchaser's perspective in terms of storage limitations the advantage once again is that they do not physically own their investment.
Look at it in terms of buying a car. Are you a salesperson interested in leasing a company car with functionality being as high up your list as appearance? You may want to have a variety of models at your disposal and have the flexibility to exchange and return them to the dealer. Or are you that serious collector of rare, vintage European roadsters who loves to store them in his/her garage and appreciate their uniqueness and aesthetic beauty.
2) Bars versus Coins.
When selecting which form of silver bullion to buy keep in mind it that you can buy in both bar and coin form. If you're looking at silver as a standard part of a steady investment strategy then bars may be the Japanese autos of the car buying world; as reliable and convenient as Honda and Toyota these consistent performers have ease and convenience of resale and come with certain expectations in regard to sell-on value and appreciation; the wise investor realizes that 1,000 oz bars must be redeemed in entirety, so when dealing with a few thousand ounces or less a combination of the smaller denominations are preferable.
Coins on the other hand are more of an adventure, while not as random as nuggets that really require a sophisticated eye, they become as much about the joy of ownership as a straight investment. When an impressive collection of silver coins is amassed by the owner and both structure and elegance are on display value is achieved on two levels however keep in mind the importance of selecting the right kind of coin; for example opinions differ over the merit of Nationally minted rounds, some people suggest that the special design and recognition increase their market demand while others argue that the extra expense is not justified in terms of greater resale value.
If you're the kind of person who might consider owning a classic European sports car maintained in 'mint' condition and might even drive it once in a while this option would definitely appeal to you.
3) Generic versus Recognized Mints.
When buying rounds the options are generic, semi-generic, well known minted and nationally minted. What it comes down to once again is sell-on value. In terms of buying a car it shouldn't be a problem to sell a quality pre-owned generic model back to the dealer and similarly most precious metal dealers will buy any minted silver without question. Coin dealers will take generic minted silver bullion off your hands no questions asked but everyone recognizes that just as cars from GM, Hyundai, Volvo, Acura, Lexus, and Mercedes Benz will be appraised differently that silver bullion will also be looked upon differently by both coin dealers and independent collectors alike depending on the fame and prestige of the source mint. Also for rare and unusual items in both the world of cars and coins realize that individual collectors with an eye to particular taste may be willing to a pay a premium for silver bullion ingot from respected, internationally recognized mints.
Usually it comes down to a trade off between lower fees and higher resale value since when buying semi-generic, widely known, and nationally minted silver bullion the dealer will charge a higher fee as the recognition factor of the mint increases respectively.
