Friday, April 26, 2013

How Is The Price Of Platinum Determined?

Many factors contribute to the determination of the platinum price.  Platinum is an extremely rare metal.  There is a rather low supply level of the metal which indicates that it will be expensive, however its price fluctuates regularly.  The economic and political environments in the few regions that produce this metal play a big part in the supply and pricing structure of the metal.

Platinum is more rare than silver and gold.  The minimal supply of the metal all over the world, in comparison to silver and gold, ensures that the demand for the product remains high, with low supply.  This supply and demand structure increases the price dramatically.

Economic pressure can affect the demand for platinum which makes for the volatility of the price of the metal.  This situation is the opposite to gold which does not appear to lose its pricing strength even in times of economic recession.  In contrast, during strong economic periods, the platinum price has been known to rise above that of gold.

The majority of the world’s platinum production is carried out in Russia and South Africa.  The political and economic climate in these countries can impact the supply of platinum and, by default, the price of the metal. 

More than 50% of the world’s platinum production is utilized in the automobile industry.  Due to the advent of ‘green cars’ and the production of catalytic converters that allow for cleaner vehicle emissions, the demand for the metal has increased.  Once again, the supply and demand situation that this promotes has an effect on the price of platinum.  The other area where platinum is mostly used is in the jewelry trade. 

Selling Platinum

Platinum jewelry has gained popularity in recent years, particularly the wedding ring niche.  If you have platinum jewelry that you wish to sell, you should be aware of a few things.


Know Your Jewelry

The value of platinum is quite high, so it will be in your best interest to confirm that your jewelry is indeed platinum and not white gold or silver.  Find out what the weight of the platinum is.  Many buyers will estimate the weight and this means that your final price may be lower than what it should be.

If you have jewelry with precious stones inset, be sure of what the stones are.  If you are unsure about the stones set into your jewelry, unscrupulous buyers may take advantage of you. 

The design, especially if it is a popular one, may hold more value than a plain design.  If it is a vintage piece and you hold authentic paperwork for it, you should produce the paperwork when you intend selling the jewelry as this will definitely help you procure a higher price.

The best option for selling platinum is to approach buyers like Gold Solutions in Cape Coral who have experience in trading the metal.  Speak to several gold buying companies so that you can get an idea as to the pricing structure of the items you are selling.  Ensure that you check the credentials of the buyer you eventually choose to deal with.

 By, Kevin Robbins
 

 

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