Buying Gemstones Online Safely: Certificates, Shipping and Duties
How to verify a lab report, what import duties apply in the EU, UK, USA and Asia, and the red flags that separate trusted gem sellers from the rest.
Verify the report
GIA, GRS, SSEF, Gübelin and IGI all offer online report checks. Match the report number, weight and measurements to the stone you receive.
Duties and VAT
Loose gemstones enter the USA duty-free under most HTS codes. EU buyers pay import VAT (19–25% depending on country) and UK buyers pay 20% VAT. We show the estimate at checkout and can ship DDP so there are no surprises on delivery.
Red flags
Be careful with 'natural' stones at a tenth of market price, no treatment disclosure, stock photos instead of photos of the real stone, and no return policy.
Featured stones
Royal Blue Ceylon Sapphire
3.12 ct · Oval · Sri Lanka
Cornflower Blue Sapphire
2.05 ct · Cushion · Sri Lanka
Yellow Ceylon Sapphire
4.02 ct · Cushion · Sri Lanka
Pigeon Blood Mozambique Ruby
2.03 ct · Oval · Mozambique