Best precious metals to invest in 🪙 Best Tips 2025 USA (21 min read)
Best precious metals to invest in
What are the best precious metals to invest in? These are the eight metals that are called “precious“. They are rare and of high economic value.
The metals are:
Special characteristics
The first four are the most well known. All these metals have special characteristics and uses. In the industry some of these metals are frequently mixed up with other elements for even more improvement. Gold, silver, platinum are traded most.
Important uses:
- as a currency in ancient times
- materials used in industries (medicine, science, art, jewelry)
- investment and stored as savings.
General properties
Chemical properties of these metals in general are:
- they are less oxidative than most other elements (therefore called ‘inert’ or ‘noble’).
- usually they are not very hard but ductile
- in good condition they ‘shine’ (they are luster).
3 properties of precious metals
As an investor you should be familiar with 3 properties of these precious metals, which are:
Karat: purity
- 24 karat gold = 99.99% purity (code 999)
- 20 karat gold = 83.3% purity (code 833)
- 18 karat gold = 75% purity (code 750)
- 14 karat gold = 58.5% purity (code 585)
Fineness : how much of the alloy is pure precious metal. A kind of purity measure
Troy ounce: this is an old term still used only in the precious metals market and is about 31,103 gram.
The value of these metals is mostly determined by rarity. With gold, silver and platinum more complex factors have influence on the price (mining difficulty, production, demand, trade, economy, etc).
This is a general overview of important points of the best precious metals to invest in.
As the investment market is risk-oriented, many people prefer investing in precious metals like gold, silver, platinum, and palladium. Precious metals have always been a popular investment option, offering durability, rarity, and intrinsic value. In comparison, precious metals are tangible assets that retain their value even when the market is unstable.
FAQ 1 about Best precious metals to invest in: Advantages
The best precious metals to invest in are listed above and are all a great form of investment. They bring diversity to your portfolio and make your assets package more stable.
Investing in precious is considered relatively safe (compared to stocks and bonds).
Other advantages of precious metals are:
- They can be bought and sold easily
- You don’t need much knowledge or expertise to start investing in precious metals
- They are rare, not easy to collect (mine) and their demand is rising.
- They can be bought in the form of jewelry, bullion bars or coins.
- They are tangible and don’t deteriorate and don’t need maintenance
Developments in economy
You don’t have to worry about trends and developments in economy like with stocks and don’t need to stay alert or act quick
- They can be stored easily and don’t take much space .
- They can be moved in other places .
- They can be insured.
- If you need cash the precious metals can be sold (liquidated) easily and quickly
- They have a worldwide high status and some have been a currency for thousands of years.
- They cannot go bankrupt or broke.
- They are less volatile than stocks, bonds and crypto.
- They cannot be hacked, deleted and they are not stolen easily if stored properly.
- They are secure and are hardly influenced by political instability nor interest rates and can be stored abroad.
Many reasons why precious metals are one of the best investments regardless of where you live or how old you are. This the main advantages of the best precious metals to invest in.
FAQ 2 about Best precious metals to invest in: Why own gold?
In the former paragraph we listed a lot of reasons why investing in precious metals is a good idea. The top precious metal is of course Gold. Gold is the most popular, most common and one of the most stable forms of investment. Nothing beats gold. It is timeless and its status is indestructible.
Gold is the perfect metal in chemical sense: it doesn’t oxidate or deteriorate. It has been the ideal currency for thousands of years through history. Only its heavy weight in ancient days has been a disadvantage.
Everybody in the world knows that gold is a very valuable asset. It has an indestructible status and will always be one of the top precious metals to have.
Gold should always be a part of your investment portfolio because it will make your package more diverse and stable and diminish risks. Buy gold only with certified dealers and always let an expert check its purity and weight.
Gold very stable
Gold is a very stable metal and it is scarce, rare and difficult to mine. Gold is shiny and beautiful and an investor’s dream.
Gold can easily be bought and sold. It can be obtained in various forms like gold bullion bars, collectable coins, jewelry but also in shares of a Gold investment company.
Best precious metals to invest in: rhodium
The value of rhodium fluctuates with the market, so it’s important to keep an eye on prices before you make any investments. Currently, rhodium is experiencing high values, but that could change at any time. If you’re thinking of investing in rhodium, be sure to do your research first!
Investing in rhodium can be risky because it is a volatile metal, but it can also be rewarding because it is a rare metal with many uses.
If you’re thinking about investing in rhodium, you’re not alone. Rhodium is a metal that’s been on the rise in recent years, and there are a few reasons why it’s attracted so much attention.
Factors
All of these factors make rhodium a metal worth paying attention to—but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a good investment. If you’re thinking about investing in rhodium, be sure to do your research and talk to an expert before making any decisions.
There are a few things you should keep in mind before investing in rhodium. Here are some pros and cons to help you make your decision:
Pros:
- Rhodium is a rare metal, so it is valuable.
- Rhodium is used in a variety of industries, so there is high demand for it.
- Rhodium is a good investment because it is not as volatile as other metals.
Cons:
- Rhodium is a rare metal, so it can be expensive to invest in.
- Rhodium is used in a variety of industries, so the price can fluctuate.
Where to buy Rhodium
Now that you know a little more about rhodium, you might be wondering where to buy it. The most common place to buy rhodium is on the commodities market. Rhodium is traded as a futures contract, and you can purchase it through a broker.
Another option is to buy rhodium coins or bars. These are typically produced by private mints and are not government-issued currency. You can also find jewelry made with rhodium, but it’s important to note that this will not be pure rhodium—it will be an alloy.
Rhodium mining companies
Finally, you can also invest in rhodium mining companies. This is a more speculative investment, as you’re investing in the company rather than the metal itself. But if the company is successful, it could provide you with a good return on your investment.
So, is rhodium a good investment? It can be, but it’s not without risk. The price of rhodium can be volatile, and it’s important to do your research before investing.
Best precious metals to invest in: Silver
After gold, silver is the second best precious metal to invest in. Like gold it’s been around for thousands of years and was always used as a stable form of savings and as a currency. You have to polish it to keep it shiny but it doesn’t deteriorate easily, a common property of precious metals.
Silver has been mined for over 6000 years. In ancient times silver bottles were used to store water, wine and vinegar to avoid bacteria growth. Most of the world’s silver is now mined in Peru and Mexico. Other big silver producers are the USA, Australia, Russia and Canada.
Silver is cheaper than gold and its value is less stable because its price is more volatile. Silver plays a crucial role in various industries; it is the best electric and thermal conductor of all metals. This makes it a very important component in electronics, jewelry, silver tableware, mirrors, batteries, solder alloys, dentistry, solar panels, bullion bars, coins etc.
But the demand has more fluctuations having its influence on the price development and the price of silver stocks. The higher volatility makes it easier to make profits (or losses!) when trading it, compared to gold.
Still a silver investment is a good component to stabilize your investment portfolio. A good Gold Investment Company will always advise and help you to make a silver investment. There is an impressive variety of collectable silver coins with a high demand.
Therefore silver coins are quicker to liquidate because they sell easier than silver bars. The supply of silver could run out in a few decades and makes it the most vulnerable precious metal in that sense.
Best precious metals to invest in: What is platinum?
Platinum is more rare and more expensive than gold. It’s an important precious metal and is also known as “white gold”. Its name is derived from the Spanish word ‘platina’. Platinum is one of the purest precious metals and one of the heaviest metals. Other metals that belong to the platinum metal group are iridium, osmium, palladium, rhodium, and ruthenium.
The largest amounts of platinum are found in South-Africa and Canada (80% of the total production of platinum comes from these two countries). Smaller deposits can be found in Australia, the USA and Zimbabwe.
Platinum is merely used in jewelry because of its metal properties of being malleable and ductile. It doesn’t oxidize and it is very resistant and very dense. It is also very soft and can easily be formed in any shape you like and is therefore ideal for jewels. It is the premier jewelry metal.
Important component
Platinum is also a very important component in catalytic converters for cars, trucks and buses. It is used in a wide range of products like magnets, electrical contacts, electrodes, pacemakers, computer hard disks, thermocouples, optical fibers, medicine (to treat cancers), dentistry, laboratory equipment and
other products. It was used a lot in cigarette boxes, lighter cases, cigarette and cigar holders, cigar cutters and other smoking accessories.
Lately more small platinum items are recycled. Maybe caused by a declining tobacco market and higher divorce rates (rings). Platinum or sure is one of the best precious metals to invest in.
What is rhodium?
Rhodium is another extremely rare member of the Platinum precious metal family. It is the world’s most expensive precious metal. It is very durable and plating does not scratch, chip or corrode and retains its luster.
Rhodium is a chemical element that is found in platinum group metals. It’s a rare metal that is silvery white in color and is often used in jewelry and other decorative items.
Rhodium is also used in catalytic converters, which are devices that convert harmful gasses into less harmful ones. This makes it an important metal for the automotive industry.
Discovery
Rhodium was first discovered in 1803 by English chemist William Hyde Wollaston. He found it while investigating a sample of platinum ore. Rhodium is actually found in very few places in the world, with South Africa being the main source.
The Custodian
Rhodium’s price began to rise in the 1970s as control of South African mines shifted from private ownership to the state. This caused a decrease in supply, while at the same time, there was an increase in demand for rhodium due to its use in catalytic converters for cars. The price of rhodium peaked in 2008 at $10,000 per ounce!
Since then, the price has stabilized and currently sits at around $1,700 per ounce. But even with this dip in price, rhodium is still a good investment because it’s still relatively rare and there’s only a limited supply.
Conclusion
Rhodium is used in other industries to a far lesser extent:
- a catalyst for producing nitric and acetic acids in the chemical industry
- protective coating on jewelry pieces to protect from scratches and tarnish
- a glass strengthening alloy
Overall, the rhodium market is relatively small at just under 1.15 million ounces (MOz) consumed in 2019. This tiny amount equals only 32 tonnes of material, which could easily be contained in a single semi-trailer truck.
Is platinum the best precious metal to invest in?
Platinum, like other precious metals, is very rare. That gives it a high economic value. Platinum is scarce and the demand is high due to many uses in various industries.
That catches the interest of investors on global commodities markets. But by far not as much interest as for gold and silver. But it is increasing. Still it is easy to overlook platinum.
Platinum coins
You can buy platinum bars, bullion coins and shares which are backed by physical platinum (exchange traded funds or ETFs).
But the range of platinum coins is much smaller than that of gold and silver. And because the demand for these coins is still small, the production doesn’t grow much either.
Examples of platinum coins are:
- the American Platinum Eagle coins
- the Canadian Platinum Maple Leaf
- the Isle of Man Noble
- the Austrian Vienna Philharmonic
- the Australian Platinum Koala
- the Chinese Platinum Panda
- a variety of Russian and Sovjet coins.
The platinum investment demand is just a fraction of that of silvers’ (about 10%) because the metal is still relatively new as a financial asset.
Because the demand is much lower than of silver and gold coins it is more difficult to liquidate the coins (it takes more time to turn them into cash).
Safe heaven
Same thing with platinum bullion bars. Suppliers are cautious to buy larger amounts of the metal. So there is a lot of friction in the platinum market. So this unreliable availability makes it more difficult for investors to buy and to sell it. And this causes more volatility of the price.
Despite all problems investing in platinum coins is growing in popularity.
What is palladium?
Palladium is a naturally bright shiny white noble metal. It was discovered in 1802 by an English chemist so it’s relatively new. It is resistant to corrosion and its properties are very similar to platinum. It is stronger than platinum and isn’t magnetic.
Palladium deposits are very rare ( South Africa, Russia, USA and Canada). A lot of palladium is gained by the recycling of catalytic car converters. Over 80% of palladium’s uses come from the auto industry. That makes the metal very valuable.
Palladium is very light (not dense), shiny and its bright ‘white’ color will not fade over time. making it the ideal metal for making jewelry. Also because when added to gold it makes ‘white gold’ which is very strong and hard and still elastic.
Palladium is used in various medical treatments. An isotope form of palladium is used to treat prostate cancer and breast cancer.
Potential
Palladium is also very important in the following industries: catalytic converters for automobiles, chemistry, jewelry, dentistry, groundwater treatment, watch making, blood sugar test strips, aircraft spark plugs, fuel cells, photography, solar energy and electronics. And Palladium is used to store and filter hydrogen.
There is in great demand by many manufacturing industries but a constant supply is getting more and more of a problem. Palladium is special but still is one of the best precious metals to invest in.
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Is palladium a good precious metal to invest in?
Palladium in short: a high demand through jewelry and industries and a very low supply.
Still the majority of investors have less interest in this precious metal. Time will tell if the metal is a good one to invest in if you’re looking to make a long-term investment.
As it is relatively new investors are cautious and can not rely on historical data. But because of its scarcity we can expect a strong performance in tough economic times. Palladium could appear to be some of the best hedges against inflation.
Russia
Russia produces palladium the most but the conflict with Ukraine is a disturbing factor. That can increase the value of palladium even more.
An easy way to gain palladium is through palladium exchange traded funds. With these ETFs you don’t have to store the metal yourself and still profit from its growth in value.
Experts job
With shares you have to keep in mind that in general mining companies focus on a variety of metals and not just palladium.
Altogether we still think palladium is one of the best choices for smart investors: prices are still relatively low and could explode soon. So you could make significant short-term gains. Just be aware of the volatility: things can go in the opposite direction in an instance.
Final answer: What is the best precious metals to invest in?
Which precious metal is the best to invest in? That’s a question that many people are asking these days.
The answer depends on your goals and preferences. If you are looking for a long-term investment, gold is a good option. It has a history of stability and is not as volatile as other metals. Silver is also a good choice, especially for those who are looking for a medium- to long-term investment.
If you are looking for a shorter-term investment, platinum or palladium might be a better option. They are both more volatile than gold and silver, but they also offer greater potential returns.
No matter which metal you choose, it is important to do your research and understand the risks involved before investing.
Gold
Gold is often seen as the safest investment when it comes to precious metals.
Gold is abundant enough that it has been used as a form of currency for centuries, but it is also rare enough that it retains its value. Gold is also very durable, so it can be passed down through generations.
Investing in gold is a good way to hedge against inflation, as the price of gold tends to go up when the cost of living goes up. Gold is also a good investment if you are worried about a market crash, as it typically holds its value better than stocks or other assets.
Silver
While gold is the king of precious metals, silver is the queen. Silver is more affordable than gold, making it a more accessible investment for many people. It is also more versatile than gold, as it can be used in a variety of industries.
Silver is an industrial metal as well as a precious metal, which means it has both industrial and investment applications. This makes silver a more stable investment than gold, as its price is less likely to be affected by economic downturns.
However, silver is not without its risks. The price of silver can be volatile, and it is not as rare as gold, which means it is not as valuable. But for those looking for a more affordable precious metal to invest in, silver is the best choice.
Platinum
If you’re looking for a precious metal to invest in, platinum is a good option. Platinum is rarer than gold and silver, and it has a number of industrial uses.
Investing in platinum is a good way to diversify your portfolio, as the price of platinum is not as dependent on the stock market as other investments. Platinum is also a good long-term investment, as it is expected to continue to rise in value.
Palladium
Palladium is a precious metal that is often used in jewelry and electronic devices. Its price can be volatile, but it has been on the rise in recent years. Palladium is a good choice for investors who want to diversify their portfolio and take advantage of rising prices.
Which Precious Metal Is the Best to Invest In?
If you’re wondering which precious metal is the best to invest in, the answer may surprise you. While gold and silver have traditionally been the metals of choice for investors, platinum is actually a better investment. Here’s why:
Platinum is rarer than gold and silver, so it’s more valuable. It’s also more durable, so it doesn’t depreciate in value as quickly as other metals. And, because it’s used in a variety of industries, platinum is less susceptible to economic downturns.
FAQs About Investing in Precious Metals
You might be wondering what the benefits are of investing in precious metals. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about investing in precious metals.
1. What are the benefits of investing in precious metals?
Precious metals offer a number of benefits, including hedging against inflation, diversifying your investment portfolio, and protecting your wealth.
2. What are the risks of investing in precious metals?
Precious metals are not without risk. The price of precious metals can be volatile, and there is always the potential for fraud when investing in precious metals.
3. How do I choose the right precious metal to invest in?
The best precious metal to invest in depends on your goals and objectives. If you’re looking to hedge against inflation, gold is typically a good choice. If you’re looking to diversify your investment portfolio, silver may be a better choice. Ultimately, it’s important to do your own research and speak with a financial advisor to make the best decision for your particular situation.
No easy answer
There’s no easy answer when it comes to which precious metal is the best to invest in. It depends on a variety of factors, including personal preference, goals, and market conditions.
That said, gold is often seen as a safe investment option, while silver may be a better choice for those looking to make a more significant return. Ultimately, it’s important to do your research and choose an investment that’s right for you. Diversify and buy not just one precious metal, because all of these metals can be considered the best precious metals to invest in.
Top precious metals stocks
Here are a few examples of top precious metals stocks:
- Barrick Gold Corporation (GOLD): Barrick Gold is one of the world’s largest gold mining companies, with operations in several countries, including the United States, Canada, and Australia. The company has a strong balance sheet and a history of paying dividends to shareholders.
- Newmont Corporation (NEM): Newmont is another large gold mining company with operations in several countries, including the United States, Canada, and Peru. The company has a strong focus on sustainability and has been recognized for its environmental and social responsibility practices.
- Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. (WPM): Wheaton Precious Metals is a streaming company that provides upfront financing to mining companies in exchange for the right to purchase a percentage of their future production at a discounted price. The company has a diversified portfolio of assets, including gold, silver, and palladium.
- Franco-Nevada Corporation (FNV): Franco-Nevada is a royalty and streaming company that invests in gold, silver, and other mineral assets. The company has a strong track record of generating cash flow and paying dividends to shareholders.
- Royal Gold, Inc. (RGLD): Royal Gold is another royalty and streaming company that invests in precious metals assets. The company has a diverse portfolio of assets, including gold, silver, and copper.