Shipping $50,000 worth of diamonds from China to New York. What could go wrong?
Everything. Unless you follow this guide.
The Three Shipping Options
Option 1: Brink's / Malca-Amit (Specialized Carriers)
Cost: 1.5-2.5% of declared value
Insurance: Included up to $10M
Transit Time: 3-5 days
Best For: Shipments over $100k
Option 2: FedEx Priority / DHL Express
Cost: $150-300 flat rate + 0.5-1% insurance
Insurance: Up to $50k (requires separate policy for higher values)
Transit Time: 2-4 days
Best For: Shipments $10k-100k
Option 3: Hand Carry
Cost: Airfare + courier fee ($500-2000)
Insurance: Personal travel insurance (limited coverage)
Transit Time: 24-48 hours
Best For: Urgent orders or very high value ($500k+)
Insurance Red Flags
Read the fine print. Most policies exclude:
- Mysterious disappearance (no forced entry)
- Undeclared value (you must declare full value)
- War, terrorism, or civil unrest
- Improper packaging
All shipments over $20k use Brink's or Malca-Amit with full insurance. We never use regular couriers for high-value goods.
Customs Declaration Strategy
Declare the FULL value. Undervaluing to save on duties is illegal and voids your insurance.
Correct HS Code for lab-grown diamonds: 7104.21.00 (Synthetic gemstones)