AuctionsNov 20, 2025
Vanderbilt Jewels Shine at Phillips Sale, Pink Diamond WithdrawnA 43-carat sapphire brooch from the Vanderbilt collection was the top lot of the Geneva sale.
MajorsJun 27, 2018
Temple St. Clair to Pay Government $796K+ in Customs Case
A former inventory manager for the jewelry brand blew the whistle on the company, claiming it was not paying what it should in import duties.
New York--Jewelry brand Temple St. Clair has agreed to pay the U.S. government nearly $800,000 after settling a suit involving failure to pay customs duties and inventory that was not properly marked.
A former inventory manager for the jewelry brand was the one who brought the case under the False Claims Act. The act allows whistleblowers, also known as relators, to file a lawsuit on behalf of the government to recover money an individual or business has avoided paying to the United States. If the government successfully recovers the money, then the whistleblower receives a portion of that recovery.
The ex-employee filed her complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against Temple St. Clair LLC and three individuals--jewelry designer and brand founder Temple St. Clair Carr; her husband and brand President Paul Engler; and Vice President of Sales Jamie McGrath--in June 2015.
The settlement was filed June 21. It and the original suit were unsealed the following day. (Suits brought under the False Claims Act are required to be sealed in order to protect the investigation.)
According to court documents, the whistleblower was responsible for preparing customs documents for the import and export of jewelry and loose gemstones during her time at Temple St. Clair. Her complaint outlined several schemes allegedly undertaken by the jewelry brand to evade or underpay U.S. customs duties.
In addition, the U.S. government filed a complaint-in-intervention, which allows a third party to join the plaintiff in a complaint, containing similar allegations.
The complaint alleges that between 2011 and 2017, Temple St. Clair LLC underreported the value of goods imported from Italy, Sri Lanka and Thailand; obtained duty-free treatment on some imported jewelry that didn’t qualify; and failed to declare to Customs and Border Protection jewelry brought into the U.S. for commercial purposes, thereby unlawfully avoiding payment of customs duties.
The complaint also stated that the company, “failed to affix permanent markings to jewelry manufactured in Sri Lanka or Thailand identifying the jewelry’s country of origin” when it entered the U.S., then sold the jewelry to retailers without any markings indicating country of origin.
(Title 19, U.S. Code, Section 1304 requires jewelry be permanently marked with the country of origin at the time of import.)
According to Sanford Heisler Sharp, the law firm that represented the whistleblower, the case is thought to be the first in New York in
which money was recovered for the U.S. government based on the defendant’s failure to properly mark its products with their country of origin.
Temple St. Clair LLC admitted to and accepted responsibility for failing to pay customs duties, both in court papers and in a statement emailed to National Jeweler Tuesday.
Engler said in the brand’s statement to National Jeweler: “For over 30 years, Temple St. Clair has designed, created and shipped tens of thousands of pieces of jewelry throughout the world, including to and from the United States, Europe, and Asia. Our global operations have required us to learn and adhere to multiple countries’ complex regulations regarding import duties and country of origin marking. Despite our careful compliance, United States Customs claimed that we had misinterpreted some regulations, and, in particular, a United States trade preference program.”
He said the allegations “represented a small piece of (their) business” and they cooperated with the investigation and found the government to be correct.
Engler added that the government found no evidence of intentional wrongdoing and that the brand, in addition to paying the money owed, will further identify and apply best practices and policies to make sure all future import duties are accurately calculated and paid.
“As we move forward with those initiatives, we have been and continue to be proud to support and nurture some of the best artisanal goldsmiths in the world and to bring timeless jewels of uncompromising craftsmanship and materials to our clients,” the statement concluded.
U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla awarded a judgment of $796,000 to the U.S. government, as well as post-judgment interest at the rate of 12 percent per year compounded daily.
In addition, Temple St. Clair agreed to affix permanent markings identifying country of origin to all its jewelry going forward.
Temple St. Clair LLC admitted to and accepted responsibility for failing to pay customs duties, both in court papers and in a statement emailed to National Jeweler Tuesday.
Engler said in the brand’s statement to National Jeweler: “For over 30 years, Temple St. Clair has designed, created and shipped tens of thousands of pieces of jewelry throughout the world, including to and from the United States, Europe, and Asia. Our global operations have required us to learn and adhere to multiple countries’ complex regulations regarding import duties and country of origin marking. Despite our careful compliance, United States Customs claimed that we had misinterpreted some regulations, and, in particular, a United States trade preference program.”
He said the allegations “represented a small piece of (their) business” and they cooperated with the investigation and found the government to be correct.
Engler added that the government found no evidence of intentional wrongdoing and that the brand, in addition to paying the money owed, will further identify and apply best practices and policies to make sure all future import duties are accurately calculated and paid.
“As we move forward with those initiatives, we have been and continue to be proud to support and nurture some of the best artisanal goldsmiths in the world and to bring timeless jewels of uncompromising craftsmanship and materials to our clients,” the statement concluded.
U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla awarded a judgment of $796,000 to the U.S. government, as well as post-judgment interest at the rate of 12 percent per year compounded daily.
In addition, Temple St. Clair agreed to affix permanent markings identifying country of origin to all its jewelry going forward.
More on Majors
The Latest
CollectionsNov 20, 2025
Rebecca Rau Jewels Debuts With ‘Then & Now’ CollectionRau is a fourth-generation art and antique dealer from M.S. Rau gallery whose first jewelry collection merges artifacts with modern design.
Policies & IssuesNov 20, 2025
RJC Names New Executive DirectorFormer De Beers sustainability leader Purvi Shah will take over the role in February 2026.
Brought to you by
Impacting Tomorrow TodayHow Jewelers of America’s 20 Under 40 are leading to ensure a brighter future for the jewelry industry.
WatchesNov 20, 2025
LVMH Takes Minority Stake in Citizen Group-Owned Movement Maker La Joux-Perret is based in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, and makes solar quartz as well as mechanical watch movements.
Weekly QuizNov 20, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
GradingNov 20, 2025
Julia Griffith Joins SSEF as Head of EducationShe previously taught at Gem-A and is the founder of The Gem Academy.
CollectionsNov 19, 2025
Larkspur & Hawk Celebrates 25 Years With Helena Bonham Carter CampaignThe British actress and her daughter modeled pieces from the brand’s new “Palette” capsule for its “Once Upon a Time” holiday campaign.
Brought to you by
Roseco Releases New Full-Line CatalogRoseco’s 704-page catalog showcases new lab-grown diamonds, findings, tools & more—available in print or interactive digital editions.
TechnologyNov 19, 2025
Google Has a New Form for Reporting ‘Review Bombing’ Attacks Plus, the tech giant shares the steps retailers should take if they believe they’re a victim of a review extortion scam.
IndependentsNov 19, 2025
Houston Jeweler Keith Shaftel Retires, Next Generation Steps In Danny and Gaby Shaftel are now Shaftel Diamonds’ CEO and chief operating officer, respectively.
TrendsNov 19, 2025
Midas Chain Releases 2025 Holiday Style GuideThe jewelry manufacturer’s seasonal offering features its new “Melodie” bangles, as well as mini stud earrings and layering pieces.
Events & AwardsNov 18, 2025
NYC Jewelry Week 2025: 12 Must-See EventsWith more than 140 activations taking place in New York City now through Nov. 23, these 12 events are can’t-miss moments.
Events & AwardsNov 18, 2025
A Giant, Bejeweled Moldy Berry Is on Display in LAThe artwork is part of an exhibition featuring works by Kathleen Ryan, an artist known for her gemstone-studded rotting fruit sculptures.
SourcingNov 18, 2025
Another Diamond Company CEO Steps DownMark Wall, president and CEO of Canadian mining company Mountain Province Diamonds, will vacate his position next month.
CrimeNov 17, 2025
Police Searching for 2 Suspects in Murder of Father, Son Jewelers Faustino Alamo Dominguez and his son, 25-year-old Luis Angel Alamo, were gunned down following an armed robbery at their jewelry store.
GradingNov 17, 2025
IGI Announces New President of North AmericaTiffany & Co. veteran Jeffrey Bennett has stepped into the role.
Policies & IssuesNov 14, 2025
U.S., Switzerland Reach Deal That Drops Tariff to 15%The Swiss government announced the deal, which cuts the tax on Swiss imports by more than half, on social media Friday morning.
AuctionsNov 14, 2025
Napoleon’s Diamond Brooch Blows Away Auction Estimates A buyer paid $4.4 million for the piece, which Napoleon wore on his hat for special occasions and left behind when he fled Waterloo.
FinancialsNov 14, 2025
Richemont’s Q2 Jewelry Sales Up 12%Plus, how tariffs and the rising price of gold are affecting its watch and jewelry brands.
CollectionsNov 14, 2025
Piece of the Week: Silvia Furmanovich’s ‘Butterflies in Flight’ Jewelry BoxFurmanovich designed the box to hold Mellerio’s “Color Queen,” a high jewelry collection consisting of 10 rings.
Events & AwardsNov 14, 2025
JCK Names New Event DirectorJennifer Hopf, who has been with JCK since 2022, will lead the execution of the long-running jewelry trade show.
IndependentsNov 13, 2025
127-Year-Old New Orleans Jeweler to CloseAdler’s Jewelry is set to close its two stores as 82-year-old owner Coleman E. Adler II retires.
IndependentsNov 13, 2025
Green Lake Jewelry Works to Move to New Seattle StudioFounder Jim Tuttle shared how a dedication to craftsmanship and meaningful custom jewelry fueled the retailer’s double-digit growth.
MajorsNov 13, 2025
Vahan Jewelry Founder Leon ‘Sacha’ Der Calousdian Dies at 85The third-generation jeweler is remembered as a passionate creative with a love of art, traveling and sailboat racing.
CrimeNov 12, 2025
Father, Son Jewelers in Chicago Victims in Double Homicide JSA and Cook County Crime Stoppers are both offering rewards for information leading to the arrest of the suspect or suspects involved.
AuctionsNov 12, 2025
‘Mellon Blue’ Diamond Sells for $7M Less Than It Did a Decade AgoA buyer paid $25.6 million for the diamond at Christie’s on Tuesday. In 2014, Sotheby’s sold the same stone for $32.6 million.
AuctionsNov 12, 2025
Historic Rolex Oyster Fetches $1.7M at Sotheby’sMercedes Gleitze famously wore the watch in her 1927 swim across the English Channel, a pivotal credibility moment for the watchmaker.
