marymm|1463937804|4034824 said:If you're mailing via USPS First Class International Registered Mail, insurance/liability is limited to a pay-out of $42.56 regardless of the declared value of the item or the amount of insurance you purchase. http://pe.usps.com/text/imm/immc3_009.htm
Per the USPS Country Conditions for Mailing for France - http://pe.usps.com/text/imm/fh_005.htm#ep1162625 - "platinum, gold, and silver; precious stones; jewelry; watches; and other valuable articles are prohibited in Priority Mail Express International shipments to France (including Corsica and Monaco)."
If the value is $2499 or less, it appears you can ship jewelry/gemstones to France via Global Express Guaranteed (GXG), although items containing nickel is prohibited. If you send it via GXG and declare it as a gift, the value is limited to $72.00. https://www.usps.com/international/gxg.htm
Each person has to make their own calculations regarding stone/jewelry value and risk of loss when it comes to international shipping, and the USPS rules vary depending on the destination country ...
MollyMalone|1464176544|4036110 said:Unless the piece is relatively inexpensive, shipping via the US Postal Service is the only viable option. UPS will not knowingly accept jewelry items with a declared value of more than $500:
https://www.ups.com/media/en/terms_service_int_pr.pdf
And the maximum declared value possible with FedEx for us consumers is $1000. FedEx transport of more expensive pieces is possible via its Declared Value Advantage program -- but that's a contracted service available only to pre-approved merchants & even they can't use it to ship to France:
http://images.fedex.com/us/services/pdf/FedEx_Jewelry_Shipping_Program.pdf
"Declared value" isn't worthless, I.e., limiting you to reimbursement of the cost of shipping. ETA Even vendors with their own 3rd party insurance policy elect to participate in FedEx's Declared Value Advantage program. Rather, the declared value is the uppermost limit of liabilty FedEx and UPS is willing to assume. Meaning you cannot expect them to pay out *more* than the declared value if the item is lost in transit. See, e.g., the explanation of declared value on second page page of FedEx Jewelry Shipping link in my post above & Definitions section heremarymm|1464188745|4036142 said:And keep in mind the FedEx max declared value of $1000 is just that: value of the article. Per FedEx "Declared value is not insurance, and FedEx does not sell insurance." http://www.fedex.com/us/small-business/updates/January-2011/shipping-jewelry.html
Unlike vendors with third-party insurance who can readily ship via UPS and FedEx domestic/international mail, consumers really cannot safely ship via FedEx and UPS due to carrier limitations and lack of insurance. If a consumer chose to ship via FedEx/UPS and the parcel was lost, there would be no coverage for the item (though the consumer might be refunded the cost of shipping).