GOLD, SILVER AND DIAMOND,

2008-08-27T04:36:00.000-07:00

How to Invest in Silver Coins and Bullion

So you want to invest in silver coins and bullion? Now (2008) is a great time to invest in silver coins and bullion as silver is currently undervalued in comparison to gold. As the U.S. dollar weakens, many choose to put their liquid assets into precious metals and invest in silver coins and bullion as a hedge against inflation. Here's how to invest in silver coins and bullion.

Step1 Bullion Get an account at Bullion Direct, one of the best online sites to frequent as you begin to invest in silver coins and bullion. When registering, you can choose between a regular account and an IRA-enabled account. You can create two accounts, one for your IRA and one for purchasing silver bullion to keep in your own possession.

Step2Research silver investing if you are new to the silver and precious metals market. See the Resources, below, for suggestions.

Step3 Buy Silver Begin to purchase silver coins and bullion. If you decide to roll IRA funds over into a precious metals IRA, or start a new IRA, open an IRA account with Sterling Trust Company in Texas. Depending on how you want to fund your IRA with silver coins and bullion, you will need to fill out the appropriate forms and return them to Sterling Trust.

Step4 Calculate the amount of silver coins and bullion you can purchase between your IRA rollover funds (if applicable), cash on hand and other assets that you wish to turn into silver. Be sure to keep your emergency fund mostly in cash for unforeseen expenses.

Step5 Stay on top of the market. At some point, it may be better to sell your silver holdings for currency, depending on the bull market and your own assets.

2008-08-27T04:34:00.000-07:00

How to Buy Silver
Introduction
The year 2008 is a great time to buy silver. Many experts think silver is currently undervalued. If you want to know how to buy silver, you're probably curious as to why many are turning to precious metals, silver particularly. Evaluating silver's price versus the cost of gold, silver is at historic lows. The price itself -- (around $19 an ounce) has gone up quite a bit in recent years, but many predict it will continue to rise for some time. The current gold-silver cost ratio suggests that silver may soon see a dramatic rise in price. However, silver is more than an investment; it provides a safe haven to guard your money from the damage of inflation. As the dollar falls, your money stays safe in silver. In a time of rapid inflation and real worries about an extended economic recession, preserve your savings by buying silver. Here's how to buy silver.

Step1 Try to buy silver locally, through coin dealers, silver traders, and pawn shops. Buying silver locally will save you shipping costs and the waiting time intrinsic with mail delivery.

Step2 Set up an online account to buy silver via the internet. There are many good sites available; I personally recommend BullionDirect, which I have used. Shop around to see where the best prices are. Whichever site you choose, be sure to make sure it is reputable. Register at the website and provide the required information.

Step3 Research the silver you can buy through the site. Silver is available in bars and coins. Coins are minted by countries (some of the most popular one-ounce coins include Canada's Maple Leaf, the American Liberty, and Mexico's Libertads) as well as private companies (such as Prospector Rounds minted by Englehard).

Step4 Buy silver coins and bullion through the site's catalog or trading feature, where the prices may be slightly lower than the catalog, depending on the market. You may need to fund your account first, and some places do not accept credit cards.

Step5 Request shipment of your purchased silver coins and bullion once you have completed buying. After the package arrives, catalog the contents and promptly notify the company of any discrepancy (this is very rare and customer service is usually exceptional with reputable sites).

2008-08-27T04:31:00.000-07:00

How to Avoid Buying a Fake Diamond Ring
You may think you're an expert at spotting fake jewels, but with some of the new diamond facsimiles on the market, even a jeweler might not be able to spot the imposters.

Step1Ask if the stone is a genuine diamond or if it is a cubic zirconia, moissanite or other synthetic substance. A reputable jeweler will give you an honest answer.

Step2Look at the setting and mount. Since stones such as cubic zirconia are so much cheaper than diamonds, they are sometimes set in inferior metals.
Step3Check the wear and tear on the stone. A cubic zirconia is not as durable as a diamond and may show signs of scratches or nicks.

Step4Take the stone to a trusted jeweler. Looking through a jeweler's loupe, he or she should be able to spot a fake stone right away. If the jeweler cannot tell by examining the stone, he or she will have instruments that can verify its authenticity.

Step5It is highly recommended that you obtain a certificate from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). The GIA, the largest impartial diamond grading authority in the world, issues a grading report after it examines the diamond and details it specifications.

Step6Have the stone appraised by an independent appraiser who is affiliated with a professional organization such as the American Society of Appraisers (ASA). Ask for a certificate indicating the value and characteristics of the stone.

2008-08-27T04:28:00.000-07:00

How to Sell Gold Jewelry in Bay City, Michigan
Bay City, Michigan, may seem like an unlikely place to cash in on the gold market, but the truth is that there are a number of places in Bay City where anyone can make money from gold. Almost everyone has old gold jewelry that is never worn, or perhaps has a broken chain or an earring with a missing mate. Even broken or damaged gold jewelry is still gold, and still has value. If you have gold on your hands, it could easily be turned into cash in your pocket in a matter of minutes. If this sounds like something you would be interested in, keep reading to learn how to sell gold jewelry in Bay City, Michigan

Step1Put a classified ad in the local newspaper. The Bay City Times classified ads has an area for Bay City residents to list items for sell. This is a great way to let the local public know that you have gold jewelry available. One should obviously exercise caution when dealing with strangers, but this can be a quick and easy method of selling your gold jewelry as long as you use a little common sense.

Step2Sell your gold jewelry to one of Bay City’s fine jewelers. Bay City is full of jewelry stores who will buy your gold jewelry, clean it and place it for sale in their store. Others will at least offer to put your jewelry in their store on consignment, and collect a commission when it sells. Some of the jewelry stores in Bay City that you might show your gold jewelry to are Herman Hiss (989-892-2567), Showcase Jewelry (989-684-0490), Simmons Jewelers (989-893-4653), Andrews Fine Jewelers (989-686-3982) and JB Robinson Jewelers (989-686-8588).

Step3Sell your gold jewelry as scrap. Some companies will pay you the wholesale value based on the weight of your gold, simply so that the gold can be melted down and made into something new. This is particularly useful if you have broken or damaged jewelry that no one else wants. While there are no precious metals dealers in Bay City, there are a couple in near by Flint, Michigan. If you don’t mind making a short road trip, you can sell your gold jewelry to Direct Gold & Diamond Company (810-230-0179) or to National Gold and Diamonds (810-235-2035).

Step4Auction your gold jewelry at an online auction site, such as eBay. If you aren’t happy with the offers you are receiving locally, then you may want to consider selling your gold jewelry in an online auction. Many times you'll get a better price from someone in another area, who may consider your particular item a highly sought-after treasure. Just be careful not to accept bids from anyone outside the US, and to pay close attention to the person’s feedback rating.

Step5Use a digital scale to weigh your gold jewelry, then check the current market rates online (see Resources). This will allow you to know if the offers you receive are fair market value, or if someone is trying to steal your gold.

2008-08-13T09:38:00.000-07:00

Since 1946, family-owned REEDS Jewelers has been helping couples plan the perfect wedding day. Whether you design your own diamond engagement ring, shop our diamond vault or select from REEDS’ Collection of wedding bands or wedding gifts, we promise that your selection will be as enduring as your love

2008-08-13T02:39:00.000-07:00

Diamond is one of the precious stones we have today in the world