A Guide to Buying Jewellery Online as an NRI

International orders from India to the UK, US or Canada typically take longer than domestic orders once customs clearance is factored in. If you're ordering for a specific event — a wedding, a festival like Navratri or Diwali — the safest approach is to order at least 3-4 weeks ahead, and treat any faster delivery as a bonus rather than something to plan around.

Bangles are the one category where sizing genuinely matters and can't be guessed from a photo. Most Indian jewellery brands, including ours, list bangle sizes in inches based on inner diameter — measure an existing bangle that fits well, or wrap a strip of paper around your widest knuckle and measure the circumference, then convert to diameter. Necklaces, earrings and rings (aside from fixed-size rings) are generally more forgiving, since chain lengths are usually adjustable.

Import duties on jewellery vary by country and are the buyer's responsibility, charged separately from the order total at checkout. As a general rule, budget for this rather than being surprised by it — duty rates and thresholds change, so checking your country's current customs allowance for jewellery imports before ordering is worth the five minutes it takes.

Because return shipping across international borders is slower and costs more than domestic returns, it's worth reading a brand's return policy specifically for international orders before you buy — not every policy treats domestic and international returns the same way. Photograph your order the moment it arrives, before trying anything on, so you have a clear record if an issue does come up.

Many NRI customers end up ordering from the same one or two Indian jewellery brands repeatedly, for weddings, festivals and gifts, once they've found one that ships reliably and sizes accurately. If a brand is transparent about shipping timelines, sizing, and customs upfront, that's usually a good sign for a long-term relationship rather than a one-off purchase.