Gold has long been the default option for investors seeking a hedge against inflation or economic uncertainty. But with gold prices hovering near historic highs in 2025 — recently above $2,400 per ounce — many are starting to ask a simple question: Is there value left in gold, or is it time to look elsewhere?
The truth is, gold’s rally reflects more than just safe-haven demand. It's also being driven by central bank purchases, ETF flows, and retail investors piling in. While the reasons for gold’s strength are legitimate — from geopolitical tension to stubborn inflation — high entry prices have prompted a closer look at other metals in the same category.
Silver: Undervalued and Industrially Essential
Silver often tracks gold’s performance, but it serves a dual role as both a precious metal and an industrial commodity. That’s important. Roughly half of global silver demand comes from industrial use, including electronics, solar panels, and EV components.
As of June 2025, silver trades around $30 an ounce — far below its all-time high of nearly $50 set in 2011. While it's more volatile than gold, silver often outpaces gold during strong commodity rallies, making it attractive for investors who can stomach a bit more price movement.
Platinum: Scarce, Overlooked, and Slowly Rebounding
Platinum is another metal worth considering. Once trading at a premium to gold, platinum has lagged in recent years, partly due to dwindling demand from internal combustion engine vehicles, which use it in catalytic converters. But that narrative is changing.
Automakers are now exploring new industrial uses, including in hydrogen fuel cell technology, which could revive long-term demand. Supply is also constrained, with most of the world’s platinum coming from just a few countries, primarily South Africa and Russia. In times of geopolitical risk, that can amplify price moves. In early 2025, platinum remains below $1,100 an ounce, potentially making it one of the more undervalued metals in the sector.
Palladium: Once a Star Performer, Now in Correction Mode
Palladium stole the spotlight between 2016 and 2021, soaring past $3,000 per ounce on supply shortages and strong demand from the auto industry. But since then, prices have corrected sharply — currently hovering closer to $1,200.
This retracement isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It reflects normalization in supply chains and a shift in auto production toward alternative technologies. While palladium may no longer be the standout it once was, it still has a role in a diversified portfolio, especially if emissions regulations drive demand back up in key markets.
Rhodium and Rare Metals: High Risk, High Reward
For more adventurous investors, metals like rhodium, iridium, and ruthenium occasionally make headlines for massive price swings. Rhodium, for instance, surged past $28,000 an ounce in 2021 before collapsing. These markets are illiquid, opaque, and not for everyone — but they do show that precious metals extend far beyond the usual names.
The Bottom Line
Gold remains a solid long-term store of value. But with prices already stretched, it’s worth asking: Is now the best time to enter, or could silver, platinum, or even palladium offer a better balance of value and upside potential?
Just like with equities, diversification matters. Spreading exposure across multiple metals — especially those with both monetary and industrial use cases — may offer a better hedge in a world where traditional correlations keep breaking down.
