Buying Gold Jewelry in Aruba

Buying gold jewelry in Aruba is the easiest jewelry purchase to get right, because gold is priced on two numbers you can check: weight and purity. Aruba’s downtown stores carry deep gold inventories. Moreover, the plain chains and bracelets are competitively priced, because there is no sales tax and plenty of competition. However, the souvenir streets carry plated pieces at prices that look like gold. In the end, the difference is the hallmark and the scale.

Karat and hallmark

• 14k / 585: 58.5% gold, harder, cheaper, and the everyday choice.
• 18k / 750: by comparison, 75% gold, richer colour, and softer.
• 10k / 417: common in US-market pieces, and likewise the lowest gold content that can legally carry the name gold in the US.

Look for the stamp inside the clasp or band. In short: no hallmark, no purchase. The GIA publishes plain guidance on precious-metal marks.

Pricing by weight when buying gold jewelry in Aruba

Ask the store to weigh the piece and quote the gold value: weight × purity × the day’s price per gram. Then ask for the making charge on top. A plain machine-made chain should carry a modest making charge, whereas handmade, designer or Italian pieces carry more. If the store will not break the price down, another one will.

What Aruba is competitive on

Chains, bracelets and simple pendants in 14k and 18k. By contrast, designer gold (Roberto Coin, David Yurman, Cartier and the like) sells at list price through the brands’ authorised retailers, and several Aruba jewelers are exactly that. Therefore, the saving there is sales tax only.

Tax and customs

Prices include Aruba’s 7% turnover tax, and the register adds no sales tax. Afterwards, US residents declare on return with an $800 exemption. For details, read our tax guide.

Where to go for buying gold jewelry in Aruba

See the gold jewelry page and the style gallery for representative pieces. Alternatively, ask us for today’s best options for what you want.