Shipping Diamonds Internationally (From Canada to US)

[lin_ny]

Hi folks

Just looking for some advice on shipping diamonds internationally - specifically from Canada to the US.

My boyfriend and I plan to receive a diamond soon, have a look at it, and then ship it to Chris @ ERD probably next week or something to have it set. Last time I was return shipping a gemstone to the US, I could only insure it for $1000 max. It ended up arriving intact and didn't get lost - but I felt like I took a big risk and I was anxious from the minute it left my hands!

Does anyone have any idea which companies will insure for over $1000 shipping from Canada to the US? I've checked the websites of Canada Post, FedEx and UPS. From what I can tell, none of them will insure over $1k. DHL seems like a possibility, but I'd have to call them to be sure. I've already called the other companies when I shipped that gemstone back last summer... none of the reps were very helpful in helping me figure it all out.

Another option is just to have the vendor ship the stone directly to ERD - and then we get the completed ring and we don't have to worry about shipping anything to the US. Obviously this isn't ideal, as we wouldn't get to view the stone before having it set.

Advice? Thanks in advance.

ETA: This is not a super expensive diamond - around $2k.

 

[kenny]

www.malcaamit.com

They specialize in shipping diamonds internationally for the trade.
Not the cheapest, but probably the safest.

I happen to live near one of their offices in the US and they even have a room you can use that has a scale and gemlight for examining the goods before you leave the premises.

Here are their Canadian facilities:

Malca-Amit Canada Inc.
27 Queen Street East
Suite 702
Toronto, Ontario, M5C 2M6, Canada
Tel: +1 416 362 9643
Fax: +1 416 362 9771
[email protected]

Malca-Amit (NWT) Ltd.
Suite 111, 5109- 48th Street
Yellowknife, NT
XIA 1N5, Canada
Tel: +1 867 873-6305
Fax: +1 867 669-9994
[email protected]

Montreal:
Tel: +1 416 362 9643
Fax: +1 416 362 9771
[email protected]

Vancouver:
Tel: +1 416 362 9643
Fax: +1 416 362 9771
[email protected]

Calgary:
Tel: +1 416 362 9643
Fax: +1 416 362 9771
[email protected]

 

[lin_ny]

kenny - Thanks for your response! Unfortunately, I'm in Edmonton (no location here)... which is about a 3 hour drive from Calgary. My folks are in Vancouver though, so I could potentially ship it to them and then they could ship it out for us. Do you think it would be beneficial to move this thread to rocky talky? I wasn't sure where I'd get the most exposure.

 

[kenny]

Yes, RT is a better fit.

Malca Amit may still be able to help you still, but it would not be cheap.
IMHO it's at least worth a phone call.

 

[yssie]

Unless you go w/ a failsafe shipper like Brinks or Malca Amit like Kenny suggested this is a tough one in terms of third-party insurance.


I recently shipped some stones from the US to be set in NZ. It was a complete headache to figure out.

Jeweler's Mutual, which I believe serves Canada as well, will cover stones for shipping TO the int'l vendor, and setting BY the int'l vendor, IF the stones are already on your policy (and to be on your policy they must be set). They will not cover new stones that aren't already set in jewellery and on your policy for shipping TO or setting BY an int'l vendor. They will, however, cover new stones that aren't already set in jewellery and on your policy for shipping TO and setting BY an in-country vendor.
Jeweler's Mutual will NOT cover return shipping of the new piece from the int'l vendor to you. In fact, the new piece won't be insured at all until you get a US (well, Canadian I assume for you) appraisal.

I wound up calling my homeowners and they'll cover it all, no fuss - shipping to and from, new stones and old stones, new piece w/ NZ appraisal... so I'd recommend calling around a bit, but I would advise being very specific about your questions - outline the scenario event by event and have them confirm (in writing) what they would do should something happen at every step, and make sure you've got the name(s) of the rep(s) you talk to.


ETA: Doesn't ERD have a business acct w/ a shipper? FedEx for example will cover 50k w/ a business account, so if ERD has a business acct w/ FedEx they can just sent you the label...

 

[lin_ny]

Yes, RT is a better fit.

Malca Amit may still be able to help you still, but it would not be cheap.
IMHO it's at least worth a phone call.

Are we talking like half the price of the diamond or something? haha... sounds expensive either way. I will give them a call. Thank you again!

Unless you go w/ a failsafe shipper like Brinks or Malca Amit like Kenny suggested this is a tough one in terms of third-party insurance.


I recently shipped some stones from the US to be set in NZ. It was a complete headache to figure out.

Jeweler's Mutual, which I believe serves Canada as well, will cover stones for shipping TO the int'l vendor, and setting BY the int'l vendor, IF the stones are already on your policy (and to be on your policy they must be set). They will not cover new stones that aren't already set in jewellery and on your policy for shipping TO or setting BY an int'l vendor. They will, however, cover new stones that aren't already set in jewellery and on your policy for shipping TO and setting BY an in-country vendor.
Jeweler's Mutual will NOT cover return shipping of the new piece from the int'l vendor to you. In fact, the new piece won't be insured at all until you get a US (well, Canadian I assume for you) appraisal.

I wound up calling my homeowners and they'll cover it all, no fuss - shipping to and from, new stones and old stones, new piece w/ NZ appraisal... so I'd recommend calling around a bit, but I would advise being very specific about your questions - outline the scenario event by event and have them confirm (in writing) what they would do should something happen at every step, and make sure you've got the name(s) of the rep(s) you talk to.


ETA: Doesn't ERD have a business acct w/ a shipper? FedEx for example will cover 50k w/ a business account, so if ERD has a business acct w/ FedEx they can just sent you the label...

I will look into Jewelers Mutual. Perhaps we will look into finding someone who can design the ring in Canada - although I really do have my heart set on ERD.

By Homeowners do you mean your insurance company? I will have to look into that as well.

Thank you so much for the advice. Very helpful.

ETA: I emailed Chris about setting the diamond yesterday. Haven't heard back yet but when I do, I'll let him know my concerns with shipping. Perhaps he'll be able to help us out! Another good suggestion!

 

[Dreamer_D]

I have looking into this about a million times.

As a private citizen, not a jeweler, you can only get $1900 in coverage for a diamond, which means using FedEx ($1000 coverage) and adding insurance through shipsurance, a private postal insurer. This is how I ship things of smaller value from Canada to the US.

If you want more insurance then you need to contact ERD and ask them to send you a shipping label for FedEx and ask them to insure the diamond using their insurance. Most US jewelers are happy to help with this.

 

[lin_ny]

I have looking into this about a million times.

As a private citizen, not a jeweler, you can only get $1900 in coverage for a diamond, which means using FedEx ($1000 coverage) and adding insurance through shipsurance, a private postal insurer. This is how I ship things of smaller value from Canada to the US.

If you want more insurance then you need to contact ERD and ask them to send you a shipping label for FedEx and ask them to insure the diamond using their insurance. Most US jewelers are happy to help with this.

I'm glad I'm not the only one pining over this issue! They sure don't make it easy to ship this kinda stuff securely.

$1900 is pretty darn close actually. But I do like that ERD idea. Thank you!