If you’re looking for an investment that is going to stand the test of time, you should look into how buying gold bars can help you achieve your goal. When you buy gold bars, you make a choice to invest in one of the most valuable materials on the planet. In the United States alone, $7.6 trillion worth of gold is circulated or deposited every year, so you don’t want to hesitate when planning your immersion into the world of gold investment. Here are just a few of the best reasons for you to invest in gold, if you have the opportunity.

Supply is Decreasing – Most of the gold supply in circulation is from gold bullion sales, 80% of which are comprised of the American Gold Eagle coin. But production of gold has been in decline since 2000, with less discovery of new gold in mines. Since it can take anywhere from five to 10 years to have a new mine brought to production, investment is wise before the price increases due to limited supply.

Demand is Increasing – Because of the cultural relevance, India consumes the most gold out of all the nations in the world. Because the Indian wedding season falls in October, the global demand for gold sees its highest global demand peak around this time. The demand for gold in China has held relatively steady, due to their tradition of saving gold bars, which average around 10 ounces in the U.S.

Diversify Your Portfolio – The best way to make sure that your investment portfolio is sound is by investing in a wide variety of things. If you usually don’t invest in metals, adding gold to your portfolio can help ensure that you’ll have stability in that market too, instead of just stocks and bonds. Buying gold reduces your risk of loss, and helps you to cover all the possible investment basics.