Shipping to the US: How We Get Your Order to Your Door Fast

Published: June 5, 2026 | Reading Time: 7 min Part 13 of the Zalkari 50-Day Silver Guide Series

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If you've ever ordered something online from a brand based overseas, you know the feeling. You place the order, you get a confirmation email, and then... nothing. No real sense of when it'll arrive. Maybe a tracking number that doesn't update for a week. Maybe a surprise customs fee you didn't see coming. By the time the package actually shows up, you've half forgotten you ordered it.

We don't want that to be your experience with Zalkari. So this post is just us being straightforward about how shipping to the US actually works for us — what to expect, how long it really takes, what happens with customs, and what we're doing to make the whole thing feel less like a gamble.

Where Your Order Ships From

Let's start with the honest answer, because we think it's better than pretending otherwise: your order ships from our production facility in India. We talked about this in more depth in our post on where Zalkari jewelry is made (https://www.zalkari.us/blogs/news/where-is-zalkari-jewelry-made) — our pieces are crafted in-house, and that's also where they ship from.

This matters for one practical reason: it affects transit time. A package crossing from India to the US has more distance to cover and more steps in the process than something shipping from a warehouse in New Jersey. We're not going to dress that up. What we can do is be clear about what that actually means for delivery timing, so there are no surprises.

How Long Does Shipping Actually Take

This is the question everyone actually wants answered, so here it is straight.

For standard shipping, you're typically looking at somewhere in the range of 7 to 15 business days from the time your order ships to the time it arrives at your door. International shipping timelines vary depending on customs processing, the specific carrier handling the last leg of delivery in the US, and occasionally factors outside anyone's control — weather, holiday volume, customs backlogs.

For expedited shipping, where it's available, transit times are meaningfully shorter — typically in the 3 to 6 business day range, since express couriers handle the shipment more directly and customs clearance tends to move faster for tracked express shipments.

A few things affect where you'll land within those ranges. The destination matters — major metro areas on the coasts tend to clear customs and get final-mile delivery slightly faster than more remote areas. The time of year matters too — shipping volume spikes around major US holidays like Christmas, Valentine's Day, and Mother's Day can add a few days to normal transit times industry-wide, not just for us. And customs processing matters — most shipments clear without any issue or delay, but customs does sometimes hold packages for additional review, which is outside our control once a package leaves our hands.

We'd rather tell you 7 to 15 days and have your package arrive in 9 than tell you 3 to 5 days and have you checking your mailbox in frustration on day 6.

What Happens With Tracking

Every order ships with a tracking number. Once your package is in transit, you'll be able to follow its progress — first through the international leg, and then once it enters the US, through the domestic carrier handling final delivery, typically USPS for the last leg of standard shipments.

One thing worth knowing: international tracking sometimes has gaps. A package can show movement, then go quiet for a day or two while it's in transit between facilities or moving through a customs checkpoint, then pick back up again. This is completely normal for international shipments and usually doesn't mean anything has gone wrong — it just means the package is between scan points. If your tracking hasn't updated in more than a few days and you're concerned, reach out to us and we'll look into it.

Customs, Duties, and What You Might Owe

This is the part that causes the most anxiety for international online shopping, so let's address it directly.

When a package crosses into the US from another country, it goes through customs. Depending on the value of your order and current import regulations, there's a chance a customs duty or fee could apply. The rules around this have shifted over the past year or so, and the thresholds under which packages typically clear without additional duties have been an area of ongoing change in US trade policy.

Here's our approach: we price and ship in a way designed to minimize the likelihood of unexpected charges on typical orders. For the vast majority of orders, what you pay at checkout is what you pay, full stop. In the rare cases where customs does apply an additional charge, it would be billed by the carrier upon delivery, not added secretly to your order total after the fact.

If you ever do receive an unexpected charge from a carrier, contact us. We want to know about it, both so we can help you and so we can keep an eye on whether shipping policies are shifting in ways that affect our customers.

Why We Ship the Way We Do

You might reasonably ask: if shipping from India adds time compared to a US-based warehouse, why not just set up US fulfillment?

The honest answer is that it's something we're actively working toward, but it's not a simple switch. Our manufacturing — the actual making of the jewelry, the testing, the hallmarking — happens in our facility in India, where our craftsmanship and quality control processes are built. Shifting fulfillment to the US would mean either shipping inventory in bulk ahead of time, which works for high-volume, predictable items but is harder for a varied catalog, or building out a second set of operations from scratch.

In the meantime, what we can control is being upfront about timelines, packaging orders carefully so they arrive in the same condition they left in, and making sure that if something does go wrong in transit, our return and replacement process makes it right without a fight. We'd rather set expectations honestly and meet them than promise something faster and have you disappointed.

Packaging — How Your Jewelry Arrives

Sterling silver jewelry traveling internationally needs more than just a padded envelope. Every piece is packaged individually to prevent pieces from shifting, tangling, or scratching against each other during transit — which matters more over a longer shipping distance, where a package goes through more handling steps.

If you've read our guide on storing silver jewelry (https://www.zalkari.us/blogs/news/how-to-store-silver-jewelry), you'll know that silver tarnishes faster when exposed to air, moisture, and certain materials like rubber or unfinished paper. We keep that in mind in how we package pieces for shipping too — so what arrives at your door looks the way it should, not dulled from weeks in transit.

What to Do If Your Order Is Delayed

Sometimes, despite everyone's best efforts, a package takes longer than expected. If your order is past the estimated delivery window, here's what actually helps.

Check the tracking number first — sometimes there's an update that didn't trigger a notification, especially around the customs clearance step.

If tracking hasn't moved in more than 5 business days, reach out to us directly with your order number. We can check on the shipment from our end and, if needed, follow up with the carrier.

If a package is genuinely lost, which is rare but does happen occasionally with any international shipping, we'll work with you on a replacement or refund. You shouldn't be out the cost of jewelry that never arrived, and that's not a policy we hide in fine print.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Zalkari shipping take to the US? Standard shipping typically takes 7 to 15 business days. Expedited options, where available, are typically 3 to 6 business days. Actual times can vary based on customs processing and seasonal shipping volume.

Will I have to pay customs fees or import duties? For most orders, no additional fees apply beyond what you pay at checkout. In rare cases where customs applies a charge, it would be billed by the carrier at delivery, not added to your order afterward. If this happens, contact us.

Does Zalkari ship from the US or from India? Orders ship from our production facility in India, where our jewelry is made and quality-tested. We're transparent about this because it's part of being upfront about timelines and the craftsmanship behind each piece.

What if my tracking number isn't updating? Gaps in international tracking are normal, especially during customs processing, and usually resolve within a few days. If there's no update for more than 5 business days, contact us with your order number and we'll look into it.

What happens if my order arrives damaged or doesn't arrive at all? Contact us with your order number. For damaged items, we'll arrange a replacement or refund. For lost packages, we'll work with you directly — you won't be left covering the cost of an order that never arrived.

Shop Zalkari — Ships With Care to the US

Every piece is crafted from certified 925 sterling silver (https://www.zalkari.us/blogs/news/what-is-925-sterling-silver) and packaged carefully for its journey to you, wherever in the US you are.

Sterling Silver Rings (https://www.zalkari.us/collections/rings) — minimalist bands and stackable styles

Sterling Silver Earrings (https://www.zalkari.us/collections/sterling-silver-earrings) — hypoallergenic studs, hoops, and drops

Sterling Silver Necklaces (https://www.zalkari.us/collections/sterling-silver-necklaces) — dainty layering chains and pendants

Sterling Silver Anklets (https://www.zalkari.us/collections/sterling-silver-anklets) — our most popular everyday category

Sterling Silver Bracelets (https://www.zalkari.us/collections/bracelets) — cuffs, chains, and charm styles

Birthstone Jewelry (https://www.zalkari.us/collections/birthstones) — genuine gemstones in certified 925 silver settings

Moissanite Jewelry (https://www.zalkari.us/collections/moissanite) — moissanite stones in verified sterling silver

Real 925 sterling silver, shipped with care, and a return policy that has your back.

Previous: Why We Use Only 925 Hallmarked Sterling Silver (https://www.zalkari.us/blogs/news/why-we-use-only-925-hallmarked-sterling-silver) — Day 12

Next: Our Return Policy Explained: Easy, Hassle-Free US Returns — Day 14 (publishing June 6, 2026)