Category Archives: Gold

Why You Should Avoid Pawning Jewelry

Pawn shop from the old West, where pawning jewelry likely occurred

When you first think of pawning jewelry or pawn shops, you may think of the TV show “Pawn Stars,” or maybe even a Quentin Tarantino film. However, pawn shops aren’t just an American practice, although more than 30 million Americans use pawn shops yearly. The practice of pawning has been around for centuries, dating back […]

Tips To Distinguish Real Jewelry From Fake

Jeweler viewing a diamond through a loupe

Humans have spent thousands of years entranced by gemstones and precious metals. In some ways, we’re like fish – we’re attracted to shiny things! That’s why jewelry and gemology are such fascinating subjects with rich histories. It’s also why it’s so difficult to tell the real deal from the imitation. While costume jewelry and diamond […]

Are You Tidying Up Marie Kondo Style?

Marie Kondo Folding Clothes

Over the past few years, the Marie Kondo method of tidying up has exploded in popularity across America. The Japanese tidying guru, as a result of her wildly popular book and Netflix series, has a method that is convincing (typically materialistic) Americans to get rid of dust-gathering junk like never before. If you’re unfamiliar with […]

Is It Time To Get Bullish About Bullion?

Barrons Magazine Cover

There are plenty of opinions about whether this is the right time to buy gold, which is down about 35 percent from its 2011 peak and has resisted predictions of a comeback. Barron’s, the business magazine, checks in this week in with a long, balanced examination of pros and cons, and comes down on the […]

The Power of Gold Has A Whole New Meaning

Sun Rays

Need another reason to love gold? Everybody’s favorite precious metal might revolutionize the solar energy industry. Scientists at Hokkaido University in Japan have developed a photoelectrode that uses gold to convert far more sunlight to energy than is currently possible. The scientific reports are full of terms like “localized plasmon resonance” and “inlaid depth traps,” […]