It’s Your Duty
One of the best reasons to shop for diamonds in the Caribbean is price. Not only do many of the stores boast discounted pricing, but the real savings for international travelers come in the form of duty-free shopping. Depending on where you live, you can save up to 10 percent in duties (that is, taxes), a good sum on a sizable buy. Something to remember, though: duty-free status only applies in the country of purchase. Still, the U.S. (as well as the U.K., Canada, and E.U.) allow for a certain amount of duty-free items to be brought home.
American families can combine their personal exemptions, and even if you exceed your limit, the amount of duty you would pay at the airport would be much less than the standard tax in your state. Don’t let the potential for small tariffs on the return trip turn you away from the diamond shopping experience. For citizens of Canada, the U.K. and E.U., regulations vary, and different countries in the Caribbean have different agreements with the U.S. as well, so wherever you’re traveling from, just make sure to check your personal exemption before you go.
Don’t forget, too, that stores in the Caribbean will allow for some haggling. Walk out of the store to think about it if you must. Visit other stores, keeping in mind that many are part of the same company. And a big tip: if you are not on a cruise (or in town on a smaller ship), wait for all the big ships to leave port and then go shopping, since stores will work a little harder to please you when they know you are not making a quick and often frenzied decision.