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Shipping ring to US for repairs from UK

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vlocci

Rough_Rock
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Mar 17, 2008
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I''m from the US, but am currently living with my fiance in England. We have been engaged for 4 month, I''ve owned her ring for 7 months.

We just found her main stone is a bit loose. I would prefer to send it back to the original jeweler who made it for repairs, as they have offered to do so without issue or cost. I trust them, and do not have a local contact who I feel comfortable leaving things with.

My concern is shipping the ring to the US from England and getting it back. I was planning on using DHL or Fedex, and the ring is currently insured under a personal insurance policy.

When the ring comes back to the UK, am I expected to pay customs duty? This seems illogical, as I am not buying it, but rather having it fixed.

What paperwork should I have the company fixing it include to make it clear that this is a repair, not a purchase?

Thanks,

Vin
 
You can send the ring back to the states for repair and you should only have to pay duty on any costs incurred by you during the repair. You have to call customs and get advice as there is a special code which needs to be on all of your paperwork.

This is the phone number you need to contact.... make sure you get a copy of the call log number.

0845 010 9000
 
Thanks!

I just called and it seems like a reasonable, yet confusing, process.

Does anyone have a preference on DHL vs. Fedex for international shipments?

Thanks

Vin
 
no real preferance really FedEx or DHL - both are far better than Parcel Far...Force. Tho PF wins on being able to send from the Post Office.

get the code from Customs, so you dont get hit for dutys - which you should have to pay.
 
forgot to add...

make sure the guys doing the repair know the correct code for sending back the repaired item, so you dont get hit for import duty on something you shouldnt have to pay duty on. again this can be found by calling the Customs office.
 
How long are you planning to be in the UK? If it is a while, maybe it would be worthwhile to find and cultivate a relationship with a more local jeweler that you trust? It seems like a lot of hassle to be shipping it back and forth, and it seems like it is more likely that something will go wrong while transporting it across the sea (loss, theft, customs mishap, etc with so many folks handling it not to mention being costly) than if you gave it to a trustworthly jeweler.

I find it difficult to believe that there are NO jewelers in all of England up to your standards...just my thoughts...maybe someone from the UK can chime in with a recommendation.

RZ
 
I have a jeweller in London who has done work for my brother's fiancee's family for years.

I took my e-ring to them as it needed some emergency surgery on the prongs after my fiance managed to catch two of them in his bag and twist them up badly.

They did a great job re-setting and the ring came back exactly as it had been. I was worried as I have a tsavorite - which is much more delicate than a diamond and it came back in perfect condition. They were one of the few jewellers in London who knew what my stone was, which gives me faith! I am super super picky on detail as any of the regulars here will know.

They have also resized my brother's e-ring (also from the US) and another friend's e-ring, plus did my brother's insurance appraisal and will be checking the prongs every 6 months for him.

They have a GG on site and are very well considered in the trade - they've done work for the royal family. Their prices are very reasonable as well (I think my brother paid £40 for a resize).

The name of the company is Richard Ogden - www.richardogden.com. They are based in Burlington Arcade in Mayfair, London.

For something as small as that I would not risk sending the ring back to the US - what if it disappeared? You might be covered by insurance - but an e-ring has value that money can't replace.

I would only go through the hassle for a really big repair. If you are over here for some time you'll need someone to check the prongs every 6 months anyway...
 
Be sure to clarify with your insurance agent in writing that you have insurance coverage for the jewelry item while it is in transit with a common carrier like Fed Ex or DHL because many policies do not provide coverage for this type of transport! Note that the "insurance" offered by common carriers is not adequate (!) for jewelry items regardless of what the dipstick at the front counter may tell you. Most of the trade relies on third party insurance carriers to provide coverage for items in transport.

Take the cost of shipping and the shipping delay into account and note that the transport codes are specific to avoid additional fees in the form of import / excise taxes. While the stateside jeweler has offered to provide the repair services without charge, shipping might not have been accounted for (?)
 
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