Navigating watch value breakdown for US customs

[Pragmatics]

I've been living in Denmark for the last few years and will be moving back to the US with a Rolex GMT and two Pateks.

I've read about "watch worksheets" that ask for a breakdown of movement, case and bracelet. One person suggested picking a number out of the air for the 3 components and others have suggested doing it as accurately as possible, while another suggested just wearing it.

For a stainless-steel GMT for example, what dollar value or percentages should be assigned to movement, case and bracelet given that I paid dealer retail. Is there a standardised set of numbers or percentages for this or is it deliberately vague? I've read a couple of guides but they weren't a lot of help. What's the best way to go? I appreciate any thoughts.

(I did run a search for "customs" here but didn't get an answer.)

[Incroyable12]

Couldn't you just bring them all with you in your personal carryon?

Customs is only an issue if you intend to ship them over and even then there are certain tricks that dealers use.

[Pragmatics]

Originally Posted by Incroyable12

Couldn't you just bring them all with you in your personal carryon?

Customs is only an issue if you intend to ship them over and even then there are certain tricks that dealers use.

Yes I could and I guess that's part of the question. I've generally erred on the sign of caution when passing through customs but I get that they'd be lots of people who'd just wear it through. If you combine the two Pateks, the valuation of the collection is quite significant.

From what I read, customs wants you to declare everything but then there's the real world.

[Incroyable12]

Originally Posted by Pragmatics

Yes I could and I guess that's part of the question. I've generally erred on the sign of caution when passing through customs but I get that they'd be lots of people who'd just wear it through. If you combine the two Pateks, the valuation of the collection is quite significant.

From what I read, customs wants you to declare everything but then there's the real world.

You could wear two watches and keep one in your bag.

US Customs rarely checks arriving US citizens in my experience and even then it's mostly for agricultural products.

[JDA0779]

I reckon wear one , one in the bag and one resize for wifey or partner to wear. :)

[Jocke]

But if you moving back to US that is your personal items and you will pay nothing. At least it works so here.
We call it moving goods.

[Tensai]

Interesting question.

Are customs fees technically owed on those watches? Perhaps yes.

Would most people declare those items? 99% no. Wear them in.

I only use those "watch sheets" when I need to FedEx watches into USA, so they definitely travel through customs clearance.

Personally, I would stay in Denmark. So much nicer than USA in its present state

[rover26c]

When did you purchase the GMT and two Pateks? If it’s more than six months, you don’t have to declare it in the customs declaration. My understanding is that if you’d recently purchased these watches, I.e. this week or two weeks ago then would need to declare it.

[beshannon]

Originally Posted by Pragmatics

I've been living in Denmark for the last few years and will be moving back to the US with a Rolex GMT and two Pateks.

https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Artic...language=en_US

https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Artic...language=en_US

[Pragmatics]

Thanks all.

I can't seem to reply to individual posts because when I hit post, it says I can't yet post links even though I'm not.

besghannon - thanks for the links. We use a corporate mover who is supposed to do all this but they have no idea how to report value.

rover26c -I've owned them more than 12 months, so it should be ok if that is the test

Tensai: yes, I figure the 99% probably wouldn't worry but I try to play a straight bat with customs

[Tim Plains]

I wouldn't declare anything. Pack them in your suitcase, you owned them before moving to Denmark, mail any receipts to the US.

[inadeje]

I would send the boxes via ground/sea transportation (cheap) and wear 1, one in hand luggage and one on partner. If traveling alone, two in hand luggage. It isn’t unusual to travel with a watch roll with 2 watches in it. People travel with 4 pairs of sneakers for a trip…why not two watches?

[Marcjvr]

I declared an old used DD once I acquired abroad on a trip and I can tell you customs could not have been nicer to deal with. They thanked me for declaring it, apologized they had already taken so much of my time (20 mins max) and sent me on my way without having to pay a cent.

So in my experience I found them to be very reasonable and so if you have any doubt, just ask them and they will work with you.

[dannyp]

I'd carry all on my wrist/in hand luggage for peace of mind alone.

I'm no expert, but I'm guessing that customs cares the most about purchases made abroad for the purpose of avoiding U.S. taxes or items being bought in for the purpose of resale.

Seems pretty easy for the OP to prove that neither of those are the case, but if it were me, I'd carry copies of purchase receipts, either paper or electronic. Or something else that demonstrates date of purchase and payment of any/all local taxes.

Finally, while unlikely an issue here, make absolutely certain that none of the watches are on exotic skin straps that are illegal/require special permission to import. If there's any question on that, at the very least, I'd want to separate them so that only the straps could potentially be confiscated if I found out upon presentation that I wasn't allowed to bring them in.

[beshannon]

Originally Posted by Tim Plains

I wouldn't declare anything. Pack them in your suitcase, you owned them before moving to Denmark, mail any receipts to the US.

Some people are not interested in advice on how to violate Federal laws

[Calatrava r]

Customs duties only applies to stuff you buy abroad. In your case, you already own the watches so there are no duties owed anywhere. Just provide proof of purchase.

[dannyp]

Originally Posted by Calatrava r

Customs duties only applies to stuff you buy abroad. In your case, you already own the watches so there are no duties owed anywhere. Just provide proof of purchase.

Sounds like the OP is a U.S. citizen who was living abroad at the time of purchase. Probably why it seems to matter when the purchase was made.

This seems like it could be one of those relatively complex situations that's uncommon enough that it wasn't specifically considered when writing the customs regulations.

[lear60man]

Originally Posted by dannyp

Sounds like the OP is a U.S. citizen who was living abroad at the time of purchase. Probably why it seems to matter when the purchase was made.

This seems like it could be one of those relatively complex situations that's uncommon enough that it wasn't specifically considered when writing the customs regulations.

'Sounds like'. That is a very important distinction. Place of purchase will mandate his route going forward. A simple call to the CBP where he will be entering will clear it up. I do this all the time at work, if I have a question, I call and get the officers initials. If I do run into an issue, I simply say 'Officer XY said to do it this way when I called him yesterday.' Works 99.99% of the time.

Pro tip for everyone, declare everything if required. CBP is interested in money laundering and drugs, not a few watches from a common traveler. I played chicken with a CBP officer in Bangor on a $700 watch. When push came to shove, he couldn't process any form of payment or write a receipt. But I declared it and wasnt afoul of any laws.

[Roger Lococco]

Originally Posted by dannyp

Sounds like the OP is a U.S. citizen who was living abroad at the time of purchase. Probably why it seems to matter when the purchase was made.

This seems like it could be one of those relatively complex situations that's uncommon enough that it wasn't specifically considered when writing the customs regulations.

I believe they will apply a 12-month rule for his purchases.


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[VogelPhoenix]

Originally Posted by Pragmatics

I've been living in Denmark for the last few years and will be moving back to the US with a Rolex GMT and two Pateks.

How long have you owned the watches? I don't think customs will be interested in personal property owned for more than a year.

[asiparks]

I moved back from SE Asia to the US , with a mix of watches that had travelled out there with me, plus a few I'd picked up out there. About 9 total, mix of IWC, Blancpain, Rolex GS and Seiko. All owned for at least a couple of years. Along with my camera gear, computers, furniture and clothing etc they were just personal items. Customs expressed absolutely zero interest in following up or made any requests for POP.
That was almost 3 years ago, so call CBP as suggested, just to make sure.

[garyk]

Several years ago we were returning to the US from Switzerland where we had bought my wife a new Omega Seamaster. I convinced her to simply wear it home without declaring it. We get into NY and the officers escorted us away from Customs into another room. My wife is sweating bullets but it turns out she had brought a sandwich in her bag and when asked if she had food had answered she did. She was so mad at me but this was so funny...plus they took the sandwich...

[Incroyable12]

In my experience the tax refund offices at European airports also don't care whether or not you've used what you've bought when you go get your VAT refunds.

Technically you're not supposed to open up the package.

[Pragmatics]

I appreciate all the input. I still can't seem to use the quote function so thank you to all who provided input.

I have owned the watches more than a year but all of them were purchased here in Denmark. I tend to do the right thing going through customs but it sounds like over 12 months ownership is a decider on how they'll be treated.

From what I read, if I declare them, I need to work out what value to assign to the movement, the case and the bracelet all separately. Customs do overcomplicate things some times. Thanks also to those who provided links to customs.

We have a corporate mover who supposedly manages all this but even they are rolling their eyes at valuing parts of the watches separately. To make matters more interesting, the insurance valuations for market price is off the charts to difficulty in sourcing these watches. Naturally this number is way higher than the receipts I hold for buying at retail.

[Wee-Willie]

"Don't touch my bags if you please...Mr Customs Man".... with thanks to Arlo Gutherie

[faimag]

This sounds weird. Most countries allow their natives to move back from abroad without any taxation (at least once in your lifetime, and provided you lived abroad for more than a period of time). Otherwise, your situation would not just be about watches. If you got a bunch of original Arne Jacobsen lamps while in the DK, is the US going to tax you for them too? Or a table from IKEA?! Or whatever else you bought while in DK where, incidentally, VAT is 25%, i.e. higher than anywhere else in the world. And so on...

The movers always need an itemized value estimate for all your stuff for insurance purposes, say if your container is damaged or lost at sea...

But you don't need to include in that list what you take on your person. I would travel with the watches on me, in a 3-watch roll or something. The most I have ever carried with me is 12 watches in a ballistic Pelican travel case (I put all boxes and papers in the container.) As long as they don't look brand new, unworn, with stickers, etc., I don't see a problem.

ps: When you left the US, did you declare what you were taking with you to DK?!

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Pragmatics

I appreciate all the input. I still can't seem to use the quote function so thank you to all who provided input.

I have owned the watches more than a year but all of them were purchased here in Denmark. I tend to do the right thing going through customs but it sounds like over 12 months ownership is a decider on how they'll be treated.

From what I read, if I declare them, I need to work out what value to assign to the movement, the case and the bracelet all separately. Customs do overcomplicate things some times. Thanks also to those who provided links to customs.

We have a corporate mover who supposedly manages all this but even they are rolling their eyes at valuing parts of the watches separately. To make matters more interesting, the insurance valuations for market price is off the charts to difficulty in sourcing these watches. Naturally this number is way higher than the receipts I hold for buying at retail.

I hope the move went (or is going well)