01Purity and karats
Understand the difference between 9K, 14K, 18K, 22K and 24K gold.
02Bars or coins
Practical differences in premiums, liquidity, storage and resale.
03How pricing works
Spot price, currency, dealer premium and spread — without the jargon.

FEATURED GUIDE
How does the real price of gold work?
The price on a market chart is a spot reference for the metal, not necessarily the amount you will pay for a coin, bar or piece of jewellery. A retail quote also reflects purity, weight, currency conversion, fabrication premium, delivery and dealer margin. When you sell, the bid–ask spread matters as well. This is why two products containing the same amount of fine gold can trade at different prices. Our guide breaks down every part of the calculation and explains why checking purity, weight and buy-back terms can be just as important as watching the headline spot price.
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