A digital wrist watch enters the US duty-free. An ordinary quartz watch with hands pays a fixed amount per watch plus separate percentages on the case, the strap and the battery, and smartwatches are not watches at all for customs.
US: USITC HTS Revision 22 (2026) · UK and EU checked 2026-11-04 · Covers wrist watches. Smartwatches are classified as data transmission apparatus. Watch straps, movements and cases imported on their own have their own headings.
Not sure which one fits? The questions below narrow it down to one code.
Watches that mainly receive and transmit data, such as smartwatches, are classified as communication apparatus under heading 8517. Fitness bands that only count steps can differ, so check their main function.
Precious-metal cases go to heading 9101. Plated cases are not precious metal: a gold-plated steel case stays in heading 9102.
An electrically operated watch with only hands has a mechanical display; only numbers on a screen is an opto-electronic display.
| Code | What it covers | US | UK | EU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8517.62.00.90 | Smartwatches: apparatus for receiving and transmitting data | Free | 0% | 0% |
| 9101 | Watches with precious-metal cases (several lines) | Free – 3.1% + 11 specific-rate lines | 0.20 GBP / p/st | 4.50% MIN 0.30 EUR / p/st MAX 0.80 EUR / p/st |
| 9102.11 | Battery watches with hands only (several lines) | 8 specific-rate lines | 0.20 GBP / p/st | 4.50% MIN 0.30 EUR / p/st MAX 0.80 EUR / p/st |
| 9102.12.80.00 | Battery watches with digital display only | Free | 0.20 GBP / p/st | 4.50% MIN 0.30 EUR / p/st MAX 0.80 EUR / p/st |
| 9102.21 | Automatic mechanical watches (several lines) | 6 specific-rate lines | 0.20 GBP / p/st | 4.50% MIN 0.30 EUR / p/st MAX 0.80 EUR / p/st |
| 9102.29 | Hand-wound mechanical watches (several lines) | 14% + 12 specific-rate lines | 0.20 GBP / p/st | 4.50% MIN 0.30 EUR / p/st MAX 0.80 EUR / p/st |
General (MFN) duty rates. Lower rates may apply under trade agreements; extra duties may apply depending on the country of origin. UK and EU columns show the rate for the six-digit subheading.
| Product | Code | US | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quartz analog watch, stainless steel case, silicone strap | 9102.11 | 8 specific-rate lines | Battery watch with hands only. Ruling N234382 |
| Digital sports watch with an LCD display | 9102.12.80.00 | Free | Battery watch with an opto-electronic display only. |
| Smartwatch that pairs with a phone | 8517.62.00.90 | Free | Apparatus for receiving and transmitting data. |
| Automatic mechanical watch, steel case | 9102.21 | 6 specific-rate lines | Self-winding mechanical watch with a base-metal case. |
| 18k gold watch | 9101 | Free – 3.1% + 11 specific-rate lines | Precious-metal cases go to heading 9101. |
The wrist watch is an analog watch with a battery operated quartz movement which contains no jewels. The watch case is made of stainless steel and the strap is composed of silicone.
“The applicable subheading for Style CLM1018, wrist watch packaged in the watch box described above, will be 9102.11.45.”
Quoted word for word from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection rulings database (CROSS). A ruling binds only the goods it describes, but shows how CBP reads these headings.
Watches with base-metal or other non-precious cases are heading 9102; precious-metal cases 9101. The movement and display then pick the subheading.
Smartwatches that receive and transmit data are generally classified as communication apparatus under 8517.62, not as watches.
Many US watch lines charge a fixed amount per watch plus separate percentages on the case, the strap and the battery, so you need the value of each part.