Things to consider while buying gold on Dhanteras:Despite soaring prices, experts believe gold can still rise to ₹1.60 lakh per 10 gm by next year

Today, 18 October is Dhanteras. Investing in gold on this day is considered auspicious. Currently, 24-carat gold is selling at ₹1.30 lakh per 10 grams (gm). Experts believe that by next Dhanteras, the price of the precious metal could rise to ₹1.60 lakh per 10 gm. Gold has given more than 70% returns so far this year. Here are 4 easy ways to invest in gold this Dhanteras… 1. Physical Gold: Choose bars, coins, avoid jewellery Physical gold means buying gold biscuits, coins or jewellery. However, jewelry incurs a 10-20% making charge. Jewelry also does not contain 24-carat pure gold. Therefore, if you want to invest in gold, you should buy biscuits or coins. 2. Gold ETF: Easy trading like stock market In Gold ETF, gold can be bought and sold like shares. These are traded on NSE/BSE. The prices fluctuate according to the current market price of gold. A demat account is required to buy this. There is no worry about theft or purity in this. 3. Payment Apps: Investment from as low as ₹1 with Digital Gold Smartphone users can buy digital gold on Paytm, GooglePay, PhonePe or Amazon Pay. This is 24-carat pure gold, which is stored with certified partners like MMTC-PAMP or SafeGold. You can invest in this with a minimum of ₹1. 4. Gold Mutual Funds: Invest through SIP or Lumpsum In this, fund managers invest money in gold ETFs and gold-related stocks. These do not trade on NSE or BSE like ETFs. A demat account is not required for this. Like other mutual funds, you can invest in this through both SIP or lumpsum methods. Keep these 3 things in mind before buying gold… 1. Check gold purity: It is measured in carats. 24k gold is 99.9% pure, but it is so soft that jewelry cannot be made from it. Jewelry is made from 22K (91.6% pure) and 18K (75% pure) gold. Every piece of real gold jewelry has a BIS hallmark, which guarantees purity. This is a government standard that prevents adulteration. The hallmark contains the quality and specifications of the jewelry. Some simple tests can also be done to check the purity of gold. Nitric acid testing is considered somewhat advanced and reliable. If you don’t have the kit, it can be found at jewelers. For testing, a small scratch or filing is made on the gold item to reach the inner metal, as surface plating can hide results. Now a drop of acid is placed on the gold. 2. Compare Making Charges: Check rates of different jewelers, don’t overpay. Simple pieces have lower charges while intricate designs cost more. Some brands also offer zero making charge options. 3. Verify Current Gold Rate: This can be checked from websites like IBJA. However, rates at jewelers may be slightly higher. These vary across different cities. Gold has given 200% returns in the last 5 years In October 2020, it was ₹47,000 per 10 grams, which has now reached ₹1.30 lakh. This means it has given about 200% return in 5 years. Global tension, inflation and Fed rate cuts have boosted it. Meanwhile, gold prices have increased by ₹54,700 this year so far. On December 31, 2024, 10 grams of 24-carat gold was at ₹76,162, which has now become ₹1,30,874. That means, it has given about 70% return. Is this the right time to invest in gold?