In what form can you buy gold ?

When we talk about the'purchase of gold for investment purposes, it is the bullion which often comes first to mind. And for good reason: gold bars have had their place in central banks for a long time and still serve as guarantee funds today. But bullion is not just reserved for institutions or wealthy individuals. Anyone can buy gold bars or ingots to save differently. The advantage with the gold ingot is that it has a certification which guarantees its authenticity and that it is easy to resell in France, in the European Union and in the whole world. In addition, it comes in several weights, from 5 g to 1 kg. If your budget does not allow you to buy a 1 kg or 500 g ingot, you can for example opt for smaller ingots. This allows you to invest at a lower cost, while splitting your savings. If necessary, you can then resell only part of your gold if you have several bars rather than a single 1 kg bar.

What precautions should be taken when purchasing a gold bar ? Check that it has a test report (Umicore or SAAMP for example) and that it is sold at a fair price compared to the legal tender of gold.

While bullion is a good investment, it is not affordable for everyone, it can be difficult to store, and its price is entirely dependent on the price of gold. This is why gold coins can be another solution. There are two types of gold coins: investment gold coins and collector's coins.

While bullion is a good investment, it is not affordable for everyone, it can be difficult to store, and its price is entirely dependent on the price of gold. This is why gold coins can be another solution. There are two types of gold coins: investment gold coins and collector's coins.

As for modern gold coins, collectibles, or “numismatic coins”, they do not necessarily derive their value from their weight in precious metal. Their history, their date of minting, their rarity, their state of conservation, etc. allow their rating to be determined. Investing in this type of coin is not excluded, but requires good knowledge of numismatics to be sure to get a good deal and not see the value of the coin plummet over the years. Please note that pieces considered “collectible” are exempt from tax if the sale is less than 5,000 euros².

Who says gold, says jewelry. Since Antiquity, successive civilizations have used precious metals, including gold, to make necklaces, rings, earrings, etc. Today, solid gold jewelry is associated with luxury, but it does not necessarily constitute the best investment there is.

Why ? Firstly because the majority of jewelry found in jewelry stores is not made of pure gold, but most often in 18 or 14 carat gold. Then, because the purchase of gold jewelry is subject to VAT in France and the European Union, which is not the case for gold bars and investment coins. Finally, because when buying a piece of jewelry, you not only pay for its value in gold, but also for the work of the jeweler, which implies a price higher than the price of gold. On resale, if you contact a precious metals buying and selling agency, you therefore risk making a loss in value, unless the legal price of gold has increased considerably between the time of sale. purchase and resale.

Nevertheless, if you have gold jewelry (or even silver or platinum) that you no longer need, that is broken or damaged, reselling it can be a good option. Have them valued on the Gold Union website, and see how much they can bring you instead of sleeping in your drawers! In agency or remotely, we collect your jewelry for valuation, then we make a buy-back offer: it is up to you to accept it or not, to receive the corresponding amount by check or transfer. With the money received, why not buy a new piece of jewelry or invest in coins, for example ?

One of the advantages of investing in gold is being able to have a tangible product, which you hold at home or which you store in the vaults of a bank for example. ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds) are funds listed on the stock exchange, which reproduce the price of gold. We speak more precisely of ETC (Exchange Traded Commodities) for gold, because it is a raw material. When gold fluctuates, ETCs fluctuate at the same time and are therefore particularly volatile. Your tangible gold does not move, even if its value is not necessarily the same over a given period. In addition, the theory is that the ETCs issued must be in accordance with the gold reserves held, to have a guarantee. However, this is not the case for the majority of them: if all ETC holders wanted to withdraw the physical gold corresponding to their investment, there would not be enough gold.

While it is easy to invest in paper gold in a few clicks, it therefore does not provide sufficient guarantees and contributes to the volatility of the financial markets.

Another, slightly more roundabout solution to investing in gold metal is to buy shares of companies that extract gold and are listed on the stock exchange. The price of these stocks generally follows the price of gold, but with a leverage effect (both the increase and the decrease are greater than those of the price of gold). There is then real potential for gains, but also a significant risk of losses. Especially since gold mines can be subject to several external difficulties, such as variations in the price of raw materials, the geopolitical situation (many mines being located in unstable countries), etc.

If you have never invested in the financial market before or if you want to secure your savings, gold mining shares are therefore not the preferred solution.

If you were wondering in what form to buy gold, you now have all the answers to this question! You are free to choose the solution that suits you, and why not invest in gold in various forms to benefit from the advantages of each. Regardless, our advice is the following: physical gold remains the one that offers the best guarantees, even if it does not promise you incredible capital gains. Although, given the current market for precious metals, the trend is upward and investing in gold can allow you to earn money in addition to storing your savings in a safe place. Browse the Gold Union online store in search of the gold bars, ingots and coins that will join your assets! Alternatively, why not consider an ingot or a beautiful coin as an original gift ?

Note: the same advice applies to purchasing silver. The safest way to invest remains bars and coins.