To ensure as smooth and pain-free an experience as possible, we calculate all applicable customs, taxes and duties at checkout and add them to the total cost of the order. In doing so, we take on the responsibility of shipping logistics and customs clearances (using the DDP shipping arrangement) so you don't have to. Most importantly, it means your item/s will be with you as quickly as possible.
US Reciprocal Tariff - 10%
Beginning April 5, 2025, the U.S. imposed a 10% Reciprocal Tariff on most imported goods - including ours - to match the average duties U.S. exporters face abroad, aiming to level the playing field and spur trade negotiations.
Tariff-Line Duty
All imports are classified under a specific Harmonized System (HS) code, which determines the tariff-line duty applied at U.S. customs.
Items over 100 years old (HS Code 9706900000)
In the USA, tariff-line duty does not apply when purchasing antiques aged over 100 years old. We declare these items as 'Personal adornment, over 100 years old', providing a signed and dated Antique Declaration form. Georgian and Victorian jewelry (around 40% of our inventory) falls into this category.
Items under 100 years old (HS Code 7113.11 and others)
For items under 100 years old you will be liable to pay tariff-line duty on imported goods. Jewelry from periods other than Georgian and Victorian (around 60% of our inventory) falls into this category.
Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF) - 0.3464%
Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF) is a user fee collected by U.S. Customs and Border Protection on most import entries to cover the cost of processing shipments. It’s assessed at the time of entry summary as an ad valorem charge of 0.3464% of the declared merchandise value—subject to a minimum of $32.71 and a maximum of $634.62 per entry.
FedEx Advancement Fee - 2%
The FedEx Advancement Fee (also called the Disbursement or Duty Handling Fee) is an administrative charge applied whenever FedEx pays import duties and taxes on your behalf to expedite customs clearance. It’s calculated as the greater of 2% of the total duties and taxes advanced or a fixed minimum of $13.00 per shipment.
FedEx Currency Conversion Fee - 2.3%
The FedEx Currency Conversion Fee is a small exchange‐rate surcharge applied whenever FedEx converts duties and taxes from USD into another currency. On our site it’s charged at 2.3% for USD → GBP to cover FedEx’s cost of purchasing foreign currency when the customs-paperwork currency differs from your billing currency.
Please note:
- If you are ordering from the USA you will most likely be asked by FedEx, our trusted international courier, to provide your Social Security Number (SSN)/EIN Number or Federal Tax ID once your package arrives at US Customs. This information will not be passed on to any third party other than US customs and border protection.
- Customers in the USA might be charged additional, shipment-related fees, in the region of $40.00-$80.00, that can vary from state to state. The AJC cannot take responsbilitiy for these fees.
- Please provide this information to FedEx at your earliest convenience to ensure that your items clear customs and are safely delivered as soon as possible.
- If this requested information is not duly provided your items will be returned to us as FedEx will only hold parcels for a maximum of seven days.
- Please let us know if you are contacted by US Customs requesting supporting documents.
- Please note we have no authority over the US Customs department.