How U.S. Tariffs Are Affecting the Crystal Industry (and What It Means for You)
The U.S. has recently introduced new import tariffs on many countries. While this might sound like a far-off trade policy issue, it has very real effects on everyday products — including the crystals and minerals you love.
Unlike food or clothing, crystals can’t simply be produced anywhere. The U.S. does have some deposits, but they are small, scattered, and often lower in quality than what collectors, healers, and jewelers are looking for. Many crystal-rich areas here are also in protected lands — national parks, Native lands, and wilderness areas — where mining isn’t possible. Even when crystals are found, like quartz in Arkansas, the mining that happens is usually small-scale, tourist-driven, or industrial, not the large-scale production needed for decorative and collectible stones.
That’s why the majority of the world’s crystals come from Brazil, India, China, Madagascar, and South Africa. And it’s why our industry is especially vulnerable to new tariffs — we simply can’t replace these supply chains domestically.
Adding to the challenge, the $800 “de minimis” rule ended on August 29th, 2025. This rule once allowed shipments under $800 to enter the U.S. duty-free. While far from perfect — and often misused by major international retailers shipping to the U.S. — it at least gave small businesses a fighting chance to stay competitive by importing smaller batches without duties. With its removal, every shipment will now face tariffs, no matter the size, closing off one of the few advantages independent importers had.
Why Crystals Are Impacted More Than Most Industries
No local alternatives: Crystals like amethyst, emerald, and aquamarine don’t naturally occur in the U.S. in large enough quantities to meet demand.
Tariffs over 50%: Some major crystal-producing countries now face tariffs of 50% or more, dramatically increasing import costs.
Limited U.S. lapidary work: Even if stones are imported rough, the U.S. lacks the infrastructure and skilled labor to process them at scale.
How This Affects Crystal Prices
Here’s the reality:
Large companies can use duty-free warehouses to stockpile inventory and ride out tariff spikes, keeping prices steadier.
Small businesses like Beyond Bohemian don’t have the budget to buy years’ worth of stock or pay for specialized storage. That means we feel the impact much more directly.
Some crystal businesses with very high markups may absorb some of the costs for now. For us, long-term, maintaining our current pricing isn’t sustainable. And with the Denver Gem Show happening soon, many buyers and sellers will likely see these new price realities show up for the first time on a large scale.
What Beyond Bohemian Is Doing
We want to be transparent about how this affects you, our community:
Current inventory → Prices are staying the same while we sell through stock already on hand.
Future shipments → Almost all new imports will face higher costs, which may mean higher prices on some products.
Product selection → Our inventory may narrow as certain crystals become too expensive to source responsibly.
But here’s our promise:
✅ If tariffs come back down (and history shows they often do), we’ll lower prices again.
✅ We will never raise prices just to squeeze more profit. Our mission is to provide ethically sourced crystals with a net positive impact on people and planet.
Why This Matters
We know price increases are never fun. But here’s the truth:
By supporting Beyond Bohemian, you’re not just buying a crystal. You’re supporting:
Fair wages for artisanal miners
Ethical, transparent sourcing
Small business resilience in a tough global market
✨ Final Thought
Tariffs may change, but our values won’t. We’ll keep our crystals accessible, ethical, and impactful — and we’ll always keep you informed along the way.