Precious metals, gemstones, jewelry and timepieces — high-value goods with strict hallmarking and valuation requirements
Jewelry falls under Chapter 71 (natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones, precious metals and articles thereof; imitation jewelry; coin). Watches and clocks fall under Chapter 91 (clocks and watches and parts thereof). Both are high-value categories that attract rigorous customs scrutiny, hallmarking requirements in many countries, and CITES restrictions on items containing ivory, coral or certain shell. ATA Carnets are strongly recommended for sample and exhibition shipments.
Import duty rates shown for the EU (from non-EU), UK (from non-UK), and USA (from non-USA). Intra-EU shipments have 0% duty.
| HS Code | Product description | EU duty | UK duty | USA duty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7101 | Pearls, natural or cultured, worked or unworked | 2.5% | 2.5% | Free–5.5% | Freshwater and saltwater pearls — origin declaration crucial |
| 7102 | Diamonds, worked or unworked | Free | Free | Free | Rough and polished diamonds. Kimberley Process Certificate required for rough diamonds. |
| 7103 | Precious and semi-precious stones (other than diamonds) | Free–3.5% | Free–3.5% | Free–13.5% | Rubies, sapphires, emeralds, amethysts, etc. |
| 7113 | Articles of jewelry of precious metal or clad with precious metal | 2.5% | 2.5% | 6.5% | Most common code for gold, silver, platinum jewelry. Sub-codes by metal: 7113.11 (silver), 7113.19 (gold, platinum). |
| 7114 | Articles of goldsmiths' or silversmiths' wares of precious metal | 2.5% | 2.5% | Free | Silverware, tableware, religious articles of precious metals |
| 7116 | Articles of natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones | 3.5% | 3.5% | Free–6.5% | Jewelry set with gemstones — higher EU duty than plain precious metal jewelry |
| 7117 | Imitation jewelry | 4% | 4% | Free–11% | Costume jewelry made of base metals, plastics, glass, etc. Higher EU duty than fine jewelry. |
| 9101 | Wrist-watches, pocket-watches with precious metal case | 4.5% | 4.5% | Free–51¢/piece | Watches in gold, silver or platinum cases. Note: watch movements inside may have additional sub-classifications. |
| 9102 | Wrist-watches, pocket-watches and other watches (not precious metal case) | 4.5% | 4.5% | Free–51¢/piece | Standard watches — stainless steel, titanium, ceramic, resin cases |
| 9103 | Clocks with watch movements | 4.5% | 4.5% | Free–30¢/piece | Small clocks with watch-type movement — travel clocks, alarm clocks |
| 9108 | Watch movements, complete and assembled | Free–4.5% | Free–4.5% | Free | For component-level watch assembly — Switzerland-origin parts often benefit from CH-EU EFTA free trade |
Duty rates are indicative based on standard MFN (Most Favoured Nation) tariffs. Actual rates may vary by country of origin and applicable trade agreements. Always verify with the official tariff database of the destination country.
No duty within EU. For B2C, applicable national VAT applies (Portugal 23% standard, 6% on books but not jewelry).
UK applies 2.5% on precious metal jewelry, 4% on imitation jewelry, 4.5% on watches. No preferential rate for EU-origin goods (UK-EU TCA excludes preferential tariffs for manufactured goods where value is determined by metal content rather than manufacturing value added).
Most precious metal jewelry: 6.5% import duty. Watches: complex — specific rates per movement type and value. Imitation jewelry: up to 11%. No EU-USA FTA, so standard MFN rates apply.
UAE applies 5% customs duty on jewelry imports. UAE is a major jewelry hub (Dubai Gold Souk) — commercial imports to UAE for re-export are common and should use free zone routes (JAFZA, DMCC).
Switzerland (not EU) has very low watch import duties as a major watch producer. Watch movement imports: generally 0%. Jewelry: low rates. CH-EU EFTA agreement provides 0% for EU-origin goods.
India applies 10% BCD + 5% IGST = ~15.5% effective on most jewelry. Gold bars carry specific tariffs. India's hallmarking authority (BIS) requires BIS hallmarks on gold jewelry sold commercially.
Declare the full retail or intrinsic value — customs offices globally apply intense scrutiny to jewelry and watch shipments due to undervaluation being a major area of fraud. Undervalued jewelry is systematically selected for examination.
ATA Carnet for samples and exhibitions: jewelry samples, trade fair pieces and exhibition stock should always travel under an ATA Carnet. An ATA Carnet avoids paying full import duties in each country and ensures the goods return to Portugal without duty complications.
Hallmarking: the UK, UAE, India and several other countries require imported jewelry to carry locally accepted hallmarks. UK hallmarking via the Assay Office is mandatory for jewelry over minimum fineness sold commercially in the UK. Factor in hallmarking time and cost.
CITES: ivory, coral (certain species), tortoiseshell and some shell materials are CITES-regulated (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species). Antique pieces containing these materials require CITES export certificates. Modern pieces should not contain these materials.
Rough diamonds require a Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) certificate — a multilateral agreement preventing the trade of conflict diamonds. Without the certificate, rough diamonds will be seized.
Insurance: insure to full declared value for every shipment. Carriers typically cap liability at €30/kg for standard services — entirely inadequate for jewelry. Use specialist high-value parcel insurance from Shipsurance or a specialist broker.
Separate invoice for jewelry: if shipping jewelry with other goods, keep separate commercial invoices. Mixed consignments where jewelry value dominates can complicate customs classification of the whole shipment.
What HS code should I use for gold jewelry?
Most gold jewelry (necklaces, bracelets, rings, earrings) of 14-carat, 18-carat or 24-carat gold is classified under HS 7113.19 — articles of jewelry and parts thereof, of precious metal other than silver. If the jewelry is set with gemstones, HS 7116.20 may be more appropriate. If the piece is made of silver, use 7113.11. For watches, use Chapter 91 regardless of whether the watch case is gold.
Do I need an ATA Carnet to bring jewelry samples to an exhibition?
Yes — strongly recommended for all commercial jewelry sample trips. An ATA Carnet (administered by ICEP/AICEP in Portugal) acts as a 'passport' for goods: you declare items at export, present the Carnet at each country's customs, and return the goods to Portugal without paying import duties in each destination country. This avoids the complex and often slow duty refund procedures that apply if you pay import duty and then export the items again.
What is the Kimberley Process Certificate and when do I need it?
The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) is an international certification system for rough diamonds designed to prevent the trade of conflict diamonds ('blood diamonds'). All shipments of rough (uncut, unpolished) diamonds must be accompanied by a KPCS certificate issued by the Portuguese authority (AT) certifying they are conflict-free. Cut and polished diamonds, and diamonds set in finished jewelry, do not require KPCS certificates.
What is the difference between HS 7113 and 7116 for jewelry?
HS 7113 covers jewelry made primarily of precious metals (gold, silver, platinum) — think a plain gold ring or silver chain. HS 7116 covers articles made of natural or cultured pearls, precious stones, or semi-precious stones — so a ring set with a diamond or a pearl necklace would typically fall under 7116. This distinction matters because EU import duty is 2.5% for 7113 but 3.5% for 7116.
How do I ship watches from Portugal without paying UK duty?
There is no preferential duty rate for EU-origin goods shipped to the UK post-Brexit under the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) for watches. UK import duty on watches is 4.5% regardless of EU origin. For high-value consignments, consult a UK customs broker about valuation and eligibility for specific tariff headings. Swiss-origin watches also pay 4.5% UK duty — there is no UK-Switzerland FTA preferential rate for watches.
Get instant quotes from DHL, UPS, FedEx, DPD and GLS — door-to-door with customs documentation support.
Get a Free Quote →