Jewelry and Customs: Allowances, Receipts, and What Really Matters When Entering the Country

Jewelry and Customs: Allowance limits, receipts, and what really matters when entering the country. In short: When entering the EU from a non-EU country, you may bring goods duty-free worth up to €430 if you are traveling by plane or ship. By land or inland waterway, the limit is €300; for travelers under 15, the limit is generally €175.

As of: September 2026. By Phil Oberlaender, Corelune Jewellery, Düsseldorf.

The mistake almost always happens in the same sequence: vacation in Turkey or Dubai, bought a gold bracelet for €600, walked through the green exit at the airport. If this is noticed, it will cost you import VAT plus customs duty plus a fine, depending on the case.

What are the allowance limits?

The word "allowance limit" (Freigrenze) is important, not "tax-free allowance" (Freibetrag). If you exceed the limit, the entire value of the goods is subject to customs duty, not just the excess amount. For a €500 bracelet, you pay duty on the full €500, not on €70. Furthermore, the limit cannot be split among several people if it concerns a single item.

What you should arrange before departure

If you take your own expensive jewelry with you, customs could theoretically assume upon your return that you bought it abroad. In practice, this rarely happens, but for conspicuous pieces or multiple similar items, the question may arise. Two methods help:

• Carry a purchase receipt, most easily as a photo on your phone.
• For very valuable pieces, apply for a "non-assessment certificate" (Nichterhebungsbestätigung) from customs before departure. Form 0329, free of charge, takes a few minutes at the airport.

The practical way out

Most customs problems on vacation arise because people take expensive jewelry on their trips. This is rarely a good idea anyway, because hotel rooms, beach bags, and pool loungers are the three most common places where jewelry is lost. Chlorine and saltwater attack gold-plated fashion jewelry, and sunscreen gets stuck in the links.

If you want to wear something on your wrist during your vacation, you are better off with waterproof stainless steel. A stainless steel bangle for about €22 will withstand seawater and pool chlorine, and if it gets left in the sand, the loss is manageable. At Corelune, most pieces cost between €15 and €40, which hardly touches the allowance limit even with several items. You can find the right selection under waterproof jewelry.

If you did buy something

Go through the red exit and declare it. The tax burden for jewelry is approximately 22 to 24 percent of the value of the goods, i.e., 2.5 percent customs duty plus 19 percent import VAT. Those who declare voluntarily pay exactly that. Anyone caught pays more and risks criminal tax proceedings. For goods with a value under €700, customs may apply a flat rate of 17.5 percent, which is usually cheaper.

Further reading: Jewelry in carry-on or checked luggage and Jewelry care in the summer.

What do you get in which price category?

The price range for jewelry is wide, and the extra cost does not always translate into quality. Sterling silver starts at about thirty euros, solid gold only in the triple digits, and the entire fashion jewelry market lies in between. There is no material value in this price range, but you get a piece that can handle everyday life.

When should you take off jewelry?

Stainless steel handles water without any problems, yet there are situations where taking it off is the wiser decision. Saunas and heat do not harm the material, but they accelerate wear on coated parts. If you rarely take off the piece anyway, you should at least make an exception before sleeping.

What goes wrong most often when buying jewelry?

There are three points where people regularly make the wrong decision regarding jewelry. "Bought too cheap" usually means glued instead of set; "bought too expensive" often means paying for the brand name instead of the substance. The rule of thumb is: buy for the lifestyle you have, not for the one you imagine.

A concrete example from our range: Heart Pendant Necklace Gold in Stainless Steel, Mini from €42.95.

Material, dimensions, and prices at a glance

Showering, swimming, and sports do not bother stainless steel; it does not tarnish. For reference, the values from the Corelune assortment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to declare worn jewelry upon entry?

No, provided you already owned it before the trip. Personal jewelry you are wearing counts as travel supplies and does not fall under the allowance limit. It only becomes a problem if customs has doubts and you cannot present proof. A photo of the receipt on your phone is usually sufficient.

Does the 430-euro limit apply per person or per family?

Per person. A married couple therefore brings a total of €860 duty-free, but only if they have multiple individual items. A single piece of jewelry worth €700 cannot be split between two people; it will be taxed in full.

What about jewelry from Switzerland?

Switzerland is not an EU member, so the standard non-EU rules apply. By land, this is €300. If you go shopping by car, you will quickly reach this limit with jewelry. Conversely, you can have the VAT refunded when leaving Switzerland, which lowers the purchase price but does not waive the customs duty requirement in Germany.

How do I recognize a reputable jewelry shop?

By complete information regarding material, dimensions, and shipping origin, by a clearly stated return policy, and by an accessible imprint (legal notice). If material specifications are missing or health-related promises are made, you should be cautious.

View waterproof jewelry for your trip

About the author

Phil Oberlaender runs Corelune Jewellery in Düsseldorf and has worked with stainless steel jewelry daily since 2024: quality checks, complaints, and everyday wear tests. The information in this article comes from our own product range and feedback from customers. Where Corelune does not offer something, it is stated as such.

Which categories are suitable for this topic?

Specifically, this looks as follows:

• Sea and Beach Jewelry

Two pieces provide a 20% discount, five pieces up to 35%. Shipping costs are waived for orders over €59. Two coordinated pieces offer more styling options than a single one.

View Sea and Beach Jewelry at Corelune

At Corelune: Free shipping from €59, 14-day return policy, shipping from the Netherlands.

→ View Sea and Beach Jewelry at Corelune