Are there Customs Duties on Black Pearls?
Loose Pearls* You may bring in as many loose Tahitian black pearls as you wish, as long as your declare them. The pearls are subject to seizure should you fail to declare them. Set Jewelry All Tahitian black pearl jewelry, whether set in gold, silver, white gold or platinum, is subject to the following duty fees. Each traveler is allowed an $800 exemption. Note: families traveling together may combine their duty exemption. After the exemption, the first $1,000 is subject to a 3% duty, and any value thereafter is subject to a 5.5% duty. For Example: If a married couple, traveling together, purchases a Tahitian black pearl jewelry necklace for $3,000 (U.S. dollars), the first $1,600 would be exempt (that’s the $800 exemption times two), followed by $1,000 at 3% (or $30), and the remaining $400 would be subject to 5.5% (or $22). So the total duty for the necklace would be $52, and the 10 loose pearls they bought, and declared, are free. *Note: This information is for U.S. residents buying
