Diamonds: Wedding jewelry as an investment

While gold is a deposit insurance in low-interest periods, you should buy rather than diamond jewelry because as an investment. For private investors trading is difficult and expensive.
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Vienna. In the face of fluctuating stock markets and low interest rates investors are increasingly looking for alternative investments. Besides gold and diamonds, to many real estate grab. This year alone, prices are set for some polished diamonds have risen by 50 percent. The year before that it has been a double-digit growth. "That's true for some diamonds," said the jeweler Anton Heldwein. Above all, very little gems that you need for dials of some watches, would be substantially more expensive. "I do not know how long this trend will continue, he may be turning again," he says.
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Will you invest in something Wertbeständiges, he advises rather larger stones of one or two carats (one carat equals 0.2 grams). "Larger diamonds are more valuable, because they are rare," said Heldwein. At the Dorotheum is observed already for some time a strong demand for gems in the order of between two and four carats.


Buy only with certificate

A Einkaräter costs depending on the cut (cut), color (color) and purity (Clarity) - is a flawless diamond, if it becomes clear even with tenfold magnifier no crack or crystal in the crystal - 3000-30000 €. A trader only has a few diamonds at hand, it is also possible that he asked for one more stone, Astrid Fialka says the Dorotheum. "The issue of availability also plays a role in determining award," she explains.

The white color of the diamond is also important. According to Fialka should not be worse than the quality level "H". The color scale ranges from "D" (pure white) to "O" (tinted). "Before we dispense with color and clarity, it is better to buy a diamond with less weight," advises Fialka. The trend, namely in the direction of good quality.

However, there are stones that are colored by nature. They are called in the jargon as "fancy diamonds". They come about in blue or pink. They are often scarce and therefore valuable. To a layman, the value of a diamond is hard to determine. You should buy only from reputable diamond dealers, who have been around a long leave, or seek advice from the jeweler. Also, the Dorotheum has a gem lab. "It is also important that an internationally recognized certificate is there," added Held wine.

Diamond needs should be abandoned in any case on the Internet. "That by itself, because you can not recognize as a layman, if a stone is synthetic. Here one can only rely on a specialist. "

To speculate on capital gains but do not own the bling. There is no public exchange on which they could act as a private person. In addition, they-unlike gold sales tax.

If you buy a diamond to a jeweler, you pay 20 percent VAT. "To this must be the price rise only once, so you can sell the diamonds at a profit," said Heldwein. He advises, buy diamond jewelry, especially as to bear. "If the value increases sharply, says you should expect it not." Diamonds mounted in the safe could also not play to their appeal.

As a "safe haven" when it really hard hergeht, would be diamonds, but are better than gold: To transport 800,000 euros have to carry forty pounds of gold - or eight grams of diamonds.

Who wants to define itself not exactly a gem, but get exposure to securities, is not so easy to find the diamond like gold. Securities that represent the diamond price, such as "Exchange Traded Funds" or certificates do not exist. "I do me at all difficult to describe diamonds as pure asset class," says Alfred Grusch of Pioneer Investments.


Mining stocks are lagging behind

However, one can invest in lean mining stocks. This one has the choice between pure diamond company or large commodity companies which mine including diamonds. The latter include some Anglo American (ISIN: US03485P2011), Rio Tinto (GB0007188757) and BHP Billiton (AU000000BHP4). The shares of these companies but rather move in unison with the stock market as the diamond price. For a year they are slightly in the positive as well as the S & P 500 index. The company Petra Diamonds and Harry Winston diamonds are pure groups. This business strategy is clear though, because companies do not work but other segments, is also the risk of larger investments.

What should you consider when ... Diamonds

Tip 1

Trade. Unlike gold, there is no public market for diamonds, may also act on the private investor. One must therefore find a buyer who pays the required price. Even when you shelled out 20 percent VAT jeweler. To this value, the diamond prices rise at least to ensure that the system expects in the first place. Because the rising demand from Asia, are likely to attract the price-the extent is uncertain.

Tip 2

Criteria. The value of a diamond results from the "four Cs": carat (weight), cut (cut), color (color) and Clarity (purity). A Einkaräter (0.2 grams) of high quality currently costs about 30,000 €. To assess purity and polish, however, extremely difficult for lay people. Buyers should always seek logistic distributors who know in this profession, or seek advice from the jeweler can. Certificates can also help.

Tip 3

Alternatives. Who, given the growing demand from China and India on a diamond boom, but he believes wants to acquire any physical precious stones can also draw on mining stocks. Broad-based companies such as Anglo American, Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton to build not only diamonds, but various commodities. Who is willing to take risks, has the opportunity to invest in pure diamond companies.