Frequently Asked Questions
As an export-facing house, we ship gemstones and jewellery to clients and trade partners across the Middle East, Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific. Import duties, VAT, GST, and sales tax vary considerably by destination, and it is the responsibility of the recipient to settle any charges levied by their own customs or tax authority.
We prepare all export documentation - certificates of origin, commercial invoices, and any paperwork your customs authority requires - correctly and in advance, so that clearance is as straightforward as possible on your end. Duties, VAT, and any customs processing fees are payable directly to the courier or customs broker on delivery, and are never included in our quoted price.
Natural loose gemstones typically enter the United States free of federal import duty under the tariff heading covering precious and semi-precious stones, though finished jewellery is more commonly assessed a modest duty based on its material composition. As we are based in Sri Lanka rather than the United States, we do not collect US state sales tax on export shipments - however, some states require the recipient to self-report and remit use tax on significant personal imports, and we recommend confirming your own state’s requirement if this applies to you. Current federal duty rates and any applicable tariffs change from time to time; we recommend confirming with US Customs and Border Protection or your broker ahead of a significant order, and we are glad to share what we have seen on recent shipments to your state.
Most EU destinations and the United Kingdom apply VAT of between 19% and 25% on imported gemstones and jewellery, with a small additional duty (typically around 2.5%) on finished jewellery; loose gemstones commonly attract duty at 0%. VAT and duty are collected by the courier prior to delivery.
The UAE applies duty and VAT of approximately 5% each on both loose gemstones and finished jewellery. Shipments of significant value may require clearance through an independent customs broker rather than the courier directly - we will advise you in advance if this applies to your order.
Australia applies GST of 10% plus a smaller customs duty on shipments over a minimum value threshold, along with an import processing charge. Rates elsewhere across Asia-Pacific vary by country - Singapore and Hong Kong, for example, apply comparatively low or no duty on gemstones, while other markets differ considerably.
Duty, VAT, and tariff rates are set by each country’s government and are revised from time to time, occasionally with little notice. The guidance above reflects our general experience with recent shipments, not a guarantee of the rate you will be charged - we recommend confirming current rates with your local customs authority before placing a significant order, and we are always glad to advise based on what we have seen most recently.
For trade partners placing recurring orders, we can advise on the most efficient documentation and shipping structure for your jurisdiction as part of onboarding through Business Partnerships.
We invite you to experience the beauty, heritage and craftsmanship of Sri Lanka through gemstones chosen with knowledge, integrity and care.
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