
Platinum is a rare and valuable metal, but is it a better investment than gold for your future? According to historical data, platinum has outperformed gold in the long term, with a 10-year average annual return of 8.6% compared to gold's 4.6%.
Platinum's rarity and limited supply make it a more scarce investment opportunity. This scarcity can drive up demand and prices, potentially leading to greater returns.
Investors often look for diversification in their portfolios, and platinum can provide a unique hedge against inflation. Platinum's industrial uses, such as in catalytic converters and jewelry, can also reduce its price volatility compared to gold.
Investment Considerations
Investing in precious metals can be a great way to diversify your portfolio, but it's essential to consider the pros and cons of each metal before making a decision.
Gold has been used as a currency and investment for centuries, and it's generally considered a safe-haven asset that holds its value during economic uncertainty. It's also a liquid asset, making it relatively easy to buy and sell.
However, gold has no yield and doesn't pay dividends, unlike financial assets like stocks and bonds. Additionally, its price can be volatile in the short term, which is why experts typically recommend considering it a long-term investment.
Platinum, on the other hand, is a rarer metal than gold, making it almost thirty times rarer than gold. Its high value is partly due to its extreme rarity, and it's used in various industries, including medicine, automotive, and aerospace.
While platinum offers an attractive value proposition, its price is primarily influenced by industrial demand and supply dynamics, leading to frequent price fluctuations and volatility. This makes it essential to consider the market conditions and personal investment strategies before investing in platinum.
Here are some key differences between gold and platinum to consider:
Ultimately, the decision between investing in gold or platinum depends on your individual financial goals and risk tolerance. It's essential to do your research and consider the pros and cons of each metal before making a decision.
Characteristics and Availability
Platinum is relatively rare, making up only about 0.000006 ppm of the Earth's crust.
Platinum is highly valued for its rarity and versatility, with a wide range of industrial applications, including catalytic converters in cars and jewelry.
Platinum's high melting point and resistance to corrosion make it an ideal choice for these uses, and it's also highly durable, with a high density of 21.45 g/cm³.
The Up-and-Comer
Platinum is an up-and-comer in the world of precious metals, with a bright future that's driving its price upward.
Its unique combination of beauty, rarity, and demand makes it extremely attractive as an investment. Platinum is incredibly appealing to the eye, even rarer than gold, and highly demanded by multiple industries.
The price of platinum is based on rarity and demand, with speculation playing a significant role too. Many investors see a bright future for platinum.
Its brilliant white sheen and unique use cases set platinum apart from gold, making it a standout in the precious metals market.
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Liquidity
Liquidity is crucial when investing in any asset, and gold generally shines in this department.
Gold is more liquid than platinum due to its higher trading volume worldwide.
This means investors can buy and sell gold quickly and easily.
Platinum, on the other hand, has a significantly less liquid market with less demand and more limited supply.
This results in a much smaller trading volume for platinum compared to gold.
Gold's higher trading volume also makes it more accessible to investors with simple buying and selling methods.
Platinum's smaller trading volume makes it more speculative and harder to access.
Its bid-ask spreads are also wider than gold's, making it less appealing to some investors.
Rarity and Availability
Platinum bullion is less standard than gold bullion, making it harder to find and purchase.
You can find platinum bullion in various sizes, from one ounce to one kilogram, and it's available for purchase from various precious metal dealers, coin shops, and online retailers.
For your interest: Gold Bullion as an Investment

Platinum bullion is available in different sizes, but it's not as widely available as gold bullion.
Here are some common sizes of platinum bullion:
- One ounce
- One kilogram
Keep in mind that platinum bullion may be harder to find in certain sizes or locations, but it's still widely available through various channels.
Available Products
When investing in gold and platinum, you have several options to consider. One of the most common approaches is to invest in physical metal, which can be obtained through a precious metals exchange.
You can buy physical gold or platinum bars or coins, which you can store in a secure facility, safety deposit box, or safe. However, this option comes with extra storage and maintenance fees.
Investors who prefer a more hands-off approach can opt for exchange-traded funds (ETFs). ETFs allow you to gain exposure to precious metals without physically holding them, making it easier to diversify your portfolio.
ETFs are baskets of securities that track the price of gold or platinum, providing a convenient way to invest in these metals. You can acquire precious metal ETFs through your existing brokerage service, making it a relatively straightforward process.
A unique perspective: Nickel Etfs

Another option is to invest in precious metals mutual funds, which offer a similar investment experience to ETFs. However, it's essential to remember that investing in individual stocks of companies that mine gold and platinum can be riskier.
If you're an experienced trader, you can also consider futures contracts, which involve an agreement to purchase or sell a specific quantity of gold or platinum at a predetermined price on a future date.
Here are the available investment products for gold and platinum:
- Physical metal: bars or coins through a precious metals exchange
- Exchange-traded funds (ETFs): baskets of securities that track the price of gold or platinum
- Stocks: individual stocks of companies that mine gold and platinum
- Futures contracts: agreements to purchase or sell a specific quantity of gold or platinum
Mining and Extraction
Mining and Extraction is a crucial aspect of platinum production. Platinum mining is more expensive than gold mining.
The process is concentrated in a few countries, such as South Africa, Russia, and Canada. This concentration makes platinum prices more vulnerable to political affairs and geopolitical and labor disruptions.
Consider reading: Diamond Mining
How to Invest
To invest in platinum, you'll first want to analyze the past and current prices of platinum, just like you would with gold. You can shop online on Endeavor Metals' website or visit them in person at their West Palm Beach location.
Endeavor Metals offers a 7-day, 100% money-back guarantee on all their products, so you can feel confident in your investment. This means you can purchase gold or platinum bullion products from them with peace of mind.
If you're unsure whether to buy platinum or gold, or if you should invest in both, Endeavor Metals is happy to help you compare your options. They'll work with you to determine which investment vehicle makes the most sense for your unique financial situation.
Pros and Cons
Platinum and gold are both considered safe-haven assets, historically holding their value or even increasing during economic uncertainty.
One of the benefits of platinum is that it's more affordable for regular investors due to its lower nominal price per ounce.
Gold, on the other hand, is a more liquid asset, making it relatively easy to buy and sell, which can make it more accessible compared to other assets like real estate.
However, platinum's price tends to be more volatile than gold, and there's less liquidity in the market, which could make it more difficult to buy and sell.
Here's a comparison of the two metals:
Platinum also has industrial applications like catalytic converters that may drive demand, making it a potentially attractive investment option.
Pros
Platinum can act as a diversifier and safe haven when the economy is turbulent.
One of the benefits of investing in platinum is its wide variety of industrial uses, which can drive demand.
Platinum is also used in jewelry, making it a popular choice for investors looking for a tangible asset.
Industrial applications like catalytic converters may drive demand for platinum.
Platinum may be more affordable for regular investors than gold due to its lower nominal price per ounce.
Pros and Cons of Investing
Investing in precious metals like gold and platinum can be a safe-haven strategy during economic uncertainty.
Gold has been used as a currency and investment for centuries, making it a relatively accessible investment compared to other assets like real estate.
It's generally considered a safe-haven asset investment because it historically holds its value or even increases during economic uncertainty.
Gold has no yield and doesn't pay dividends, unlike financial assets like stocks and bonds.
Another downside to investing in gold is that its price can be volatile in the short term, which is why experts typically recommend considering it a long-term investment.
Platinum offers many of the same benefits as gold, including acting as a diversifier and safe haven when the economy is turbulent.
However, platinum's price tends to be more volatile than gold, making it a riskier investment.
Here are the key pros and cons to consider:
Why Not Both?
Investing in both gold and platinum can be a wise decision as it helps balance out your portfolio. This is because gold and platinum are different in nature, but investing in both can provide an effective diversification measure.
Each option carries its own risks and rewards, so it's essential to do your diligence before deciding. By diversifying your portfolio with both gold and platinum, you can mitigate risks and avoid overexposing yourself to any single asset.

Investing in both may offset losses if one underperforms more than expected. This can bring about success for all involved, as you'll have a more stable and secure financial foundation.
Doing your diligence is crucial before deciding on any investment, including gold and platinum. This means researching and understanding the risks and rewards associated with each option.
Financial Aspects
Platinum has historically been more volatile than gold, with a higher standard deviation of returns over the past 10 years.
This means that platinum prices can fluctuate more rapidly and unpredictably, making it a riskier investment option.
However, platinum has also shown a higher average annual return of 8.5% compared to gold's 4.5% over the same period.
Investors who are willing to take on more risk may find that the potential rewards of platinum outweigh the costs.
Price Differential
As of April 4, 2024, the current price of platinum is around $950 per troy ounce, which is less than half the price of gold, currently priced at $2310 per troy ounce.
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Gold's price has surpassed platinum's since 2011, and as of mid-May 2023, gold was trading at around $2000 per ounce while platinum was trading at closer to $1070.
Platinum's price has declined significantly in recent years, making it a potentially undervalued commodity compared to gold.
The current price differential between platinum and gold is substantial, with gold being priced at nearly 2.5 times the price of platinum.
Taxes
Taxes can be a significant consideration when investing in gold. You can defer taxes on your investment gains until you withdraw the money in retirement by buying gold through a gold IRA.
Profits from trading securities like stocks and bonds are taxed as capital gains, but physical gold is taxed differently. Gains from physical gold are taxed as ordinary income if you own it for a year or less.
If you own physical gold for longer than a year, the tax rate drops to a maximum 28%. This can be a significant advantage for long-term gold investors.
Consider reading: How Can I Buy Physical Gold
Financial Derivatives
Gold is more liquid than platinum, making it easier to buy, sell, and trade on global markets or OTC trades.
This increased liquidity indicates that more gold is available for purchase and sale, making it simpler to do so on international markets.
Gold's higher liquidity is a key factor in its popularity among investors, as it provides more flexibility and easier access to the market.
However, platinum's lower liquidity can make it harder to find buyers or sellers, making it more challenging to buy or sell large quantities quickly.
Here's a comparison of the liquidity of gold and platinum:
This difference in liquidity is an essential consideration when evaluating gold vs platinum investments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is gold or platinum resale value better?
Platinum generally has a higher resale value than gold due to its rarity and durability. Its resistance to tarnishing and weight retention make it a more valuable investment
Sources
- https://money.com/platinum-vs-gold/
- https://www.boldpreciousmetals.com/blogs/platinum-vs-gold-investment-which-is-better-
- https://www.boldpreciousmetals.com/blogs/platinum-vs-gold-investment
- https://www.edrmetals.com/post/gold-vs-platinum-which-is-the-better-investment
- https://www.raremetalblog.com/is-investing-in-platinum-better-than-gold/
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