Buying Moissanite and Lab Grown Diamond Jewellery in Switzerland

Switzerland is the odd one out among the European markets we ship to, and every difference runs the same way: it is not an EU member, so the assumptions that apply in Germany, France, the Netherlands and Ireland do not carry across.

1. VAT and the weight-based duty

Two charges apply on import, and the second works unusually.

• Swiss VAT is assessed on the value of the goods including transport. There is a threshold below which the tax amount is not collected because it costs more to administer than it raises — note that this is based on the tax owed, not on the goods value.
• Customs duty in Switzerland is generally levied per kilogram of gross weight rather than as a percentage of value. This is genuinely unusual internationally.
• Carrier clearance charges apply as everywhere.

The weight-based system is good news for jewellery buyers. A ring in a small box weighs very little, so the duty component tends to be modest even on a high-value piece — unlike ad valorem systems where duty scales with what you paid.

Rates and thresholds change, so confirm with the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security rather than relying on any retailer’s summary, this one included.

2. Precious metals control

Switzerland takes this seriously — unsurprisingly, for a country whose watch industry depends on precious metal credibility.

A federal precious metals control regime, administered through the Central Office for Precious Metals Control and regional assay offices, governs how articles of gold, silver, platinum and palladium are marked and traded. In broad terms, articles are required to carry a fineness mark and a responsibility mark identifying who stands behind it, with official assay available and specific additional requirements applying to watch cases.

For a private buyer importing a ring for personal wear:

• An overseas maker’s 585 or 750 stamp is a fineness mark, and is normal.
• The regime bears principally on trading and commercial import rather than on personal use.
• If resale through a Swiss professional is a consideration, the marking position is worth checking in advance.

The rules here are technical and specific. If marking matters to you, check with the Central Office directly rather than working from a general summary.

3. Returns and consumer protection

As above: no general cooling-off right. What you do have is the Code of Obligations position on defective goods and misdescription, and the Federal Act against Unfair Competition covering misleading commercial practices.

Situation	Where you stand
Changed your mind, stock item	Seller’s policy only — no statutory right
Changed your mind, custom piece	Almost always excluded
Defective on arrival	Warranty for defects applies
Karat or stone not as described	Misdescription — a clear position
Overseas seller, no Swiss presence	Rights exist; enforcement is harder

Delivery timing

Ask for production and transit separately. For our work: about seven to eight days on the bench, then 10–12 days standard transit or 6–8 expedited.

Swiss customs clearance is efficient and domestic delivery is fast and reliable, so real times are often at the better end of those ranges. Allow a week of slack against a fixed date.

Ring sizing

Switzerland commonly uses the European system based on inner circumference in millimetres — size 54 meaning a 54 mm circumference. Some retailers also quote the French convention, which differs by 40.

Given that ambiguity, give the workshop the inner circumference or diameter in millimetres directly rather than a bare number. A resize on an imported piece means a second customs clearance, and this is the cheapest possible way to avoid one.

Checklist for a Swiss buyer

1. Remember EU consumer rules do not apply — read the seller’s returns policy carefully.
2. Ask whether VAT and customs are prepaid or payable on delivery.
3. Give your ring size in millimetres, not as a number that could be either convention.
4. Confirm the fineness marking you will receive: 585, 750 or 925.
5. If future resale through a Swiss professional matters, check the marking position first.
6. Get production and transit quoted separately.

General information about importing into Switzerland, not legal advice. Rates, thresholds and precious metals rules change — check the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security and the Central Office for Precious Metals Control before relying on any of it.

Frequently asked questions