For centuries, people have entrusted their money to the precious metals market. Switzerland, a world wide banking hub, is also home to the largest gold market in the world. People who are in possession of a Swiss bank account have six different ways to invest their money in gold. Investors should be sure to choose the Swiss procedure that makes the most sense for them and their funds.
First of all, investors can buy actual gold. If they wish to transfer their funds into an exchangeable object that they can keep in their possession, then they can buy bars of gold. People should be aware that their Swiss bank will charge them a fee for delivering the gold. This method is often attractive to people who want to consolidate a great deal of money into a transportable commodity.
Those who are already in possession of gold can deposit the bar or bars for safekeeping into a Swiss bank box. People who decide to use this procedure should be sure to have their gold bars certified before depositing them in the bank. This will ensure their quality and allow the investor to trade the gold at a later date.
There is a Swiss procedure that will allow an individual to invest in gold without actually purchasing the metal. If the person decides to invest in a precious metal account, he or she will contractually own a portion of a gold bar. This allows him or her to invest in the precious metal without paying the fees involved in manufacturing the bars or delivering them.
An alternative is to buy shares or funds in the gold industry through a Swiss bank. Investors can also invest in markets that rely on gold-based products through a Swiss bank. This is much like investing in the stock market.
The rarest and, perhaps, most artful Swiss procedure for investing in gold is to become involved in numismatics. Numismatics is a field of study that has to do with ancient gold and coins. In addition to the weight and quality of a piece of gold, a numismatics scholar will also be interested in its history and rarity. This way of working with gold is only used by a small percentage of investors.