I THINK the duty is 10% but a quick Googling did not turn up anything to verify that...only a vague reference to 10% on finished goods plus the VAT (12%).

I know this is unsolicited, but I would advise against giving her expensive jewelry here. You can give it to her in the States, but over here ALOT of people would kill her over that $500. You may be bringing her some very unwanted attention. A friend gave his fiance a $6,000 engagement ring...she wisely put it in a bank safe deposit box and never wore it in the Philippines.

 

the local term for safe deposit box in the Philippines is Pawnshop.

There will be thousands of new "safe deposits" done,a few weeks after x-mas when the beloved is back in his country...

 

Just keep it in your pocket out of the box as you pass through customs If they find it tell em its for your wife from your mother who just passed away. Most of the time they dont really care

Cheers

 

Here is my two cents

Nobody really checks tourist coming in a country. Only heard of that issue coming into America. I was in the jewelry business for a while and carried jewelry all over the world and never claimed it and never had a problem. But a very few have had problems.

But the advice of derivative_guru is right the Philippines is not a place to wear or even carry expensive items. It is not worth risking your girl.

 

thanks guys for the advice, so they dont make you walk through a detector when you arrive or 'wand' you? rhoody, i always love your sense of humor it enlightens this forum. and teacher i will try your advice as you were in the business it sounds like for quite awhile. if anyone hasnt started it yet then let me by telling all you nice folks merry xmas amd ill hold my breath through customs.

 

or you can wear it befor you pass the customs

 

If possible do wear it because you will be wanded and they will want to see what is setting it off. Of all of the airports I had been through the Manila domestic airport was the most strict. They were the only ones who discovered my wads of cash and I just shrugged it off and gave that "what's the big deal" expression and I was passed through. If you act as though it is yours they will have no reason to question you about personal jewelery. Is there not a minimum amount of gifts that is allowed without paying any duty? I guess I never brought anything in I thought was very expensive to give it a bother since my plan is usually to purchase things there. The gold is usually more pure and I would believe a little bit cheaper. Teacher, is not asian gold and jewelery products usually a better buy then what we get in the West?

 

I would not declare I would hid it. why bother to declare if you don;t have to I see

Why reprt it if you don't have to for what is a vaild reson. I have gone through a lot of cpuntries and either bought or taken things in and never declare.

 

Having a wife and 2 daughters and having to travel frequently, I was constantly carrying jewelry gifts back to the Philippines some of considerably higher value. Always stuck it in the bottom of my carry on or brief case and never had a problem.