Which Is Better Diamond Or Gold

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Since time immemorial, gold or gold jewellery has had an inseparable bond with women and Indian households. Almost every Indian household has gold either as a piece of jewellery, as bullion (though rare) or both. Considered a symbol of wealth and prestige, gold is also revered for its investment value in India. In other countries of the world, gold is often considered as synonymous with expression of love. The second identity that gold has in the western world is as investment in Gold ETFs, which is a relatively recent phenomenon.

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However, in recent years, diamonds have risen in competition to gold on the luxurious consumption side. Though the two are often paired together to make attractive jewellery, as individual commodities or asset classes, both are viewed differently. Hence, this brings us to the pertinent debate of, Investing in Diamonds Vs Gold?

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We look at some facts that will help us decide which of the two is a better investment class.

Liquidity:

One of the most important factors for consideration before investing in either gold/gold jewellery or diamonds, is its liquidity. Having an established global market with regular trading makes it easier to buy and sell gold. However, diamond/diamond jewellery is difficult to liquidate as it requires a buyer valuing specific characteristics of the diamond.

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Storehouse of Value:

Another determinant that investors consider is the value of gold vs diamond. Generally, gold/gold jewellery is preferred because of its long history as a storehouse of value and wealth. Diamond/diamond jewellery on the other hand does not bring in a higher resale value as gold, owing to market demand and the presence of intermediaries in the diamond industry.

Stability Amid Market Volatility:

Gold prices are influenced by factors such as, demand-supply conditions, inflation and other economic conditions. Diamond prices fluctuate due to consumer demand, fashion trends and dynamics of the diamond industry. Nevertheless, gold prices are much more stable than the price of diamonds.

Safety Concerns:

Gold is a traditional haven for people who want to safeguard their money against major external circumstances. Diamonds are generally not considered a safety hedge against external conditions. Also, there is transparency when one buys gold, unlike diamonds which can also be synthetically produced.

Fungibility:

Gold is more fungible, meaning it can be exchanged for other assets of the same type unlike diamonds, which can be exchanged only when the other diamond is of same quality and meets the same specifics such as colour, cut, clarity and carat. This weakens its liquidity too.

Purity:

When it comes to gold karat vs diamond carat, there is no instance of gold being produced artificially so far. Diamonds, on the other hand, are made synthetically better than the naturally-sourced ones. Making diamonds artificially is also much cheaper than mining them traditionally. This means, pure gold is definitely rarer than diamonds.

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Long-term Gains:

With respect to diamond vs gold price, gold is sure to become stronger over time, even with the intermittent fluctuations. Gold makes for a viable asset class that reduces risk even while creating wealth. Diamonds on the other hand, do not enjoy price appreciation and hence cannot give the long-term gains as much as gold.