Aside from the practical and decorative uses of precious metals, the demand for these is driven also by their role in investments. Investors often use precious metals as hedges and definitely rate high in terms of trade price stability in the commodity market. This will hold true unless the demand for precious metals is lowered, although this may hold true many years from now.

Precious metal prices have been steadily increasing through the years. Even the price of silver, which was once projected to decrease in trading price still is priced higher than ever though still much lower than the price of gold. Fluctuations in price are also apparent through the years but the value of these precious metals will always remain. Precious metals are measured and traded per troy ounce for standard trading.

In May of 2006, gold has nearly reached $700 per troy ounce, much higher than its trade price in 1988 at $458.00-483.90, 1989 at $394.00-411.60, 1990 at $472.00-503.00, 1991 at $366.00-403.00, and 1992 at $348.65-357.20.

Platinum is more expensive that gold which presently sells for $1,050 per troy ounce. It was least expensive in 1992 at $349.50-369.50 per ounce and since 1989 has doubled its value from $526.00-532.00.

Silver is significantly less expensive than gold being sold at present for $9.77 per troy ounce, this price has actually doubled from $4.05-4.22 in 1992. Silver was priced slightly higher in 1988 at $6.50-7.65 per troy ounce.

It is believed that the price of gold is closely linked with the monetary system. There is also a close connection between the price of gold and that of other metals. It can be said that gold, in some ways, influences the trend that precious metals follow in terms of price, owing to their similar characteristics.

Based on the prices alone, one can see that precious metals increase in value as time goes by which is the reason why investors continue to look out for them in commodity trade markets. Precious metals are definitely good investments.