[ARCHIVE ANSWER]
Gold is a bad investment considering that last time it was at this level, it took 20 years to
reach it again. Unless you buy gold at a low price, you’ll never see a return.
Just like gold, gems have no long-term investment value whatsoever. There are market
values which could go either way up or down, but for a small guy, the resale value will
surely see about a 60-percent loss. It's really hard to find gold that is not retailer’s price,
not shaped into jewelry for extra price, and has liability acceptance of the gold being the
karat that they were told it is.
If you want to invest in gold or gold coins, such as Kruggerrands, Golden Eagles, and
Canadian Maple Leafs, don’t buy in large amounts. When you try to sell them, the
authorities might notice. Before you resell bars or boullion, they usually must be assayed
to confirm gold content.
You could also trade in the world's currencies. I’ve heard of people making 10-30%
profit each month, and you can start with under $1,000. All in all, this requires educating
yourself.