The signature threshold
GLD's own page requires a signature on every domestic order of 599 USD or more, which can add a delivery attempt if nobody is home the first time.
Fine jewelry
How long does GLD take to deliver?
GLD's own shipping page gives a clean two-part answer: 1-2 business days to process an order, same-day if it lands before the 1pm EST cutoff, then one of three named US tiers — Economy, Express or Superfast — each with its own published window. Above 599 USD, a signature is required on delivery.
GLD's own wording, read 2026-08-31Live ground quote, 2026-08-31Signature over 599 USD
Three named tiers, one cutoff
Beating the 1pm EST cutoff is what actually buys a same-day ship on GLD's own page.
Processing, then one of three tiers
GLD's own shipping page, read on gld.com 2026-08-31, states orders take “1-2 business days” for processing before shipment, and that orders placed “before 1 PM EST (Mon-Fri)” may ship the same day on the faster domestic and international options.
| Tier | Transit once shipped | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Economy (free) | 6-11 business days | Alaska/Hawaii: 11-17 business days |
| Express | 3 business days | Same-day ship before 1pm EST cutoff, no PO Box |
| Superfast | 2 business days | Fastest US option, no PO Box |
What the carrier half actually quotes
We ran a small padded jewelry box — 6 × 4 × 2 in at 0.5 lb, close to a chain or a single piece in its retail box — from Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922 to Beverly Hills, CA 90210 on 2026-08-31, to see what GLD's own tier names translate to on an ordinary lane.
| Carrier | Service | Price | Quoted transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| USPS | Priority Mail | $14.40 | 2-3 business days |
| UPS | 2nd Day Air | $16.76 | 2-3 business days |
| UPS | 3 Day Select | $16.40 | 3-4 business days |
| USPS | Ground Advantage | $9.44 | 7-8 business days |
| FedEx | Ground Economy | $10.48 | 8-9 business days |
GLD's own free Economy tier, at 6-11 business days, sits close to what USPS Ground Advantage and FedEx Ground Economy quoted on this lane — the two slower, cheaper services rather than the two-day options above them.
What adds time or restricts a tier
No PO Box on the fast tiers
Express and Superfast both need a street address on GLD's own page; Economy is the only tier that does not carry that restriction.
Crossing a border
GLD's own page tables international Priority at 4-8 business days and Expedited at 2-5 business days, and makes the buyer the Importer of Record, responsible for duties and taxes; customs clearance itself typically takes about 1 business day.
Where these figures come from
- GLD, Shipping — the 1-2 business day processing window, the 1pm EST cutoff, the Economy/Express/Superfast US tiers and their windows, the Alaska/Hawaii Economy window, the 599 USD signature threshold, the international Priority/Expedited tiers, and the customs and Importer of Record notes. Read 2026-08-31.
- SMKlog production quote engine — live carrier transit windows for the jewelry box and lane described above. Captured 2026-08-31.
GLD revises its own shipping page and carrier assignments without notice. Treat the figures above as what was published and quoted on the dates shown, and check GLD's own checkout for the estimate on a specific order.
GLD delivery, asked plainly
How long does GLD take to deliver?
GLD's own shipping page, read 2026-08-31, states orders take 1-2 business days to process, then one of three US tiers takes over: Economy runs 6-11 business days, Express 3 business days, and Superfast 2 business days. Our own quote on 2026-08-31 for a comparable small jewelry box returned carrier transit as fast as 2-3 business days and as slow as 8-9 business days, depending on the service picked.
What is GLD's order cutoff time?
1pm EST, Monday through Friday, according to GLD's own shipping page. An order placed before that cutoff can ship the same day on the faster domestic and international options.
Which GLD tier is fastest?
Superfast, at 2 business days once it ships, per GLD's own page. Both Superfast and Express exclude PO Box delivery, so a street address is required for either.
Does GLD require a signature?
Yes, above a threshold. GLD's own shipping page states all domestic orders of 599 USD or more require a signature on delivery.
What does a live carrier quote look like for a box this size?
Our own quote on 2026-08-31 for a 6 x 4 x 2 in, 0.5 lb jewelry box from Berkeley Heights, NJ to Beverly Hills, CA returned USPS Priority Mail at 2-3 business days and UPS 2nd Day Air at 2-3 business days on the fast end, down to USPS Ground Advantage at 7-8 business days on the slow end.