Shipping, explained.

All orders ship from our United States studio. Parcels are hand-packed in archival foam, photographed before dispatch, and insured at the full declared value. You get tracking the moment the label scans.

Dispatch timeline

• Order before 1pm MST, Mon–Fri: ships same day.
• Order after 1pm or weekends: ships next business day.
• Custom-cut / commissioned pieces: dispatch timeline emailed at order confirmation.

United States

Service	Rate	Transit (after dispatch)
USPS Priority (lower 48)	$8 · free over $100	2–4 business days
USPS Priority Express	$28	1–2 business days
UPS Ground (heavy specimens)	$14	3–5 business days
Alaska · Hawaii · US Territories	$22	3–7 business days
Signature required (over $1,000)	included	—

International

Region	Standard	Express	Transit
Canada · Mexico	$16	$38	3–7 days
UK · EU	$28	$54	5–9 days
Australia · NZ	$28	$58	5–9 days
Japan · Korea · Singapore · Taiwan	$26	$52	5–9 days
Hong Kong · Macau · Greater China	$24	$48	5–9 days
Rest of world	$36	$68	7–14 days

Express service in all regions uses DHL Express, fully tracked. Standard uses local postal partners after USPS handoff.

Free shipping thresholds

• US orders over $100 — free USPS Priority (lower 48).
• International orders over $250 — free standard service to all listed regions.
• Subscription dispatches — always free, regardless of tier or destination.

Insurance

Every shipment is insured at the full declared purchase value. If a parcel is lost in transit or arrives damaged, we replace or refund within 48 hours of you confirming — no insurance claim required from you. We handle the carrier paperwork on our end.

For orders over $1,000, signature on delivery is required at no additional cost.

Customs, duties & taxes (international)

Import duties, VAT, and any local taxes are determined by the recipient's country and are the buyer's responsibility. We don't under-declare or mark as gift — every parcel ships at full commercial value with accurate HS codes (typically 7103 for cut stones, 2530 for rough specimens).

Approximate landed costs:

Region	Typical duty + tax	Notes
UK	~20% VAT + ~£12 handling	VAT charged on stones over £135; below that, no duty.
EU (most countries)	~19–25% VAT	IOSS-eligible orders ≤€150 ship with VAT prepaid.
Canada	5–13% GST/HST + ~CA$10 handling	Duty-free for unmounted stones under USMCA.
Australia	10% GST	Duty-free for stones; GST collected on entry.
Japan	~10% consumption tax	Generally duty-free for cut stones.
UAE / GCC	0% on jewelry stones	Some emirates apply 5% VAT.

These are estimates. Your local customs office sets the final amount. If duties feel unexpectedly high, email us — we can usually help by adjusting paperwork or, in extreme cases, accept the parcel back as a return.

Tracking

You get the tracking number by email the moment the label scans. Updates push to your email as the parcel moves through the network. If a scan stalls for more than 72 hours, we proactively chase the carrier — you don't have to ask.

What we don't ship

• To PO boxes for orders over $500 (carrier insurance won't cover).
• To freight forwarders without prior approval (please email first).
• To countries under active US export sanctions.

Common questions

Will my parcel be marked as a gift?

No. We declare full commercial value with accurate HS codes. Under-declaring puts your insurance void and the carrier license at risk. If duties are a concern, see the customs table above for typical rates and email us before ordering.

Can I combine multiple orders into one shipment?

Yes — if the orders are placed within 24 hours of each other and the second hasn't shipped yet. Email hello@thestoneatlas.com with both order numbers and we'll combine + refund the duplicate shipping.

What if I'm not home for delivery?

Orders over $1,000 require signature — the carrier will leave a notice and you can reschedule, redirect to a depot, or schedule a different day. For smaller orders, the carrier follows their default — usually a safe-drop or hold-for-pickup.

Do you offer expedited shipping for time-sensitive gifts?

Yes — USPS Priority Express (US, 1–2 days) and DHL Express (international, 2–4 days). Available at checkout. Order before 1pm MST for same-day dispatch.

What's your holiday cutoff?

For Christmas delivery: order by Dec 15 (US standard), Dec 19 (US express), Dec 5 (international standard), Dec 14 (international express). We post exact dates on the homepage each November.

Questions? Email hello@thestoneatlas.com — we reply within one business day.