How to Import Jewelry from China- The Complete Guide

China has an open trade policy that makes it the go-to source for affordable wholesale jewelry globally.

This guide summarizes everything you need to know on how to import jewelry from China.

Read it to gain useful insights for your business.

Why you should Import Jewelry from China

There are many reasons for importing jewelry from China.

· Low Prices

Unbeatable low-budget prices are quite synonymous with Chinese jewelry suppliers.

They can offer products cheaply because of the low exchange rate in China and the cheap labor force.

Raw materials are also relatively inexpensive and easily accessible in China, which adds to the low-cost advantage.

So if you want to stay competitive in your industry and beat competitors, then, by all means, import jewelry from China.

· Faster Lead-times

The Chinese are a diligent lot.

They make good of what they have, which is talent and motivation to work hard.

So if you import jewelry from China, you can almost be sure of immediate response to your calls and email inquiries.

Your order will also be shipped very soon.

Chinese suppliers can ship products within 24 hrs. after placing your order, if they have ready stock.

If not, they will begin production immediately and get your order ready for export within the shortest time possible.

· Friendly Suppliers

Chinese suppliers are said to be customer friendly and easy to negotiate with.

In most instances, they take over the cost of shipping your products from China to your destination.

These advantages further magnify when dealing with Chinese suppliers making the process much smoother and hassle-free.

· High-quality Jewelry

Contrary to popular opinion, the Chinese labor force is quite skilled with impressive technology and well-equipped factories.

As a result, many top jewelry industries and brands outsource their manufacturing to China.

This is because Chinese producers have proven to be more efficient and effective than those in other parts of the world.

To put it simply, you can easily find high-quality jewelry from China at competitive prices.

This is despite the constant thrashing of Chinese products,

Types of Jewelry you can Import from China

China offers many different styles of jewelry.

You can find designs ranging from minimalist to luxurious, classic to trendy.

Whatever type you want, you can be sure to find the right jewelry product in China.

Remember, all jewelry from China is made using various types of materials.

Luxury jewelry, also known as high-end jewelry, is made of precious stones and metals such as gold, silver, platinum, and diamond.

Some are made from pearls, rubies, emeralds, beads, crystals, and other precious materials, depending on need.

Jewelry made from the above materials is relatively costly, owing to the high cost of the materials they use.

You need to have customers with fine taste and an ability to spend generously to import luxurious jewelry like these.

If you want to knock off designs, your supplier can use alloy materials to provide you with similar designs but with inferior quality.

Apart from these, you can find trendy jewelry made from copper, zinc, aluminum, titanium, and zirconia.

These are pretty affordable and can fetch you a good profit when you resell them in your country.

Customers love these as they provide excellent value for money.

Stones and metals are not the only materials used in making Chinese jewelry.

Other materials used include Swarovski, coconut shells, seashells, and wood.

These are mainly used to make traditional or vintage jewelry designs.

They are quite trendy and popular in this day and age.

The types of jewelry you can find in China, regardless of material, include necklaces, rings, earrings, bracelets, wristwatches, and pendants.

These come in the form of men’s jewelry, kid’s jewelry, women’s jewelry, and findings.

The Cost of Jewelry from China

Jewelry from China is relatively cheaper than other parts of the world, and there are many reasons for this.

· Scale

China is a vast market. It is also the central production hub for most products in the world.

This makes it easy to scale.

· Specialization

Given the huge market of products in China, manufacturers are more focused on specialized production.

In jewelry production, for instance, different companies handle different tasks.

They are divided into specialized units where some deal with designing, some work on CAM designs, while others deal with casting.

The specialized production process gives scale and ensures quality with competitive pricing.

· Congregation

China’s government appreciates the benefits of scale and scalability.

Hence, they have the policy to concentrate on specific industries in certain cities.

For instance, Yiwu is the center for fashion jewelry, while Guangzhou is the center for semi-precious stones and fine jewelry.

You can easily design and prototype jewelry all in one street.

· Remuneration

Chinese laborers are paid according to their skill set and talent.

Sales are paid through commission.

This is a very efficient way of controlling labor as overheads are low and cost tightly controlled.

· Logistics Support

China has many ports that you can use to ship jewelry anywhere around the world cheaply and efficiently.

· History

China’s long history of jewelry craftsmanship has made available a pool of artisans and craftsmen.

These have great experience in everything from design and raw material selection to packaging and product display.

· Commission-based Marketing

Trained individuals do marketing of Chinese jewelry.

They work on commission hence eliminating marketing and stock overheads.

Safety of Jewelry from China

A common concern among customers and importers of Chinese jewelry is whether they are safe to wear.

Well, jewelry is a sensitive product.

A majority of jewelry pieces come into direct contact with the skin.

Besides, jewelry from China is unimaginably cheap.

So the broad concern over its safety is understandable.

However, you need to understand that nobody would be importing, let alone wear jewelry that isn’t safe.

Therefore, the fact that Chinese jewelry is widely popular in the global industry means that it is very safe.

Big brands like forever21 and Jcpenny outsource their jewelry to China.

This only means that they trust the quality standards of Chinese jewelers.

Also, China has a rich history of jewelry crafting.

The country houses some of the most talented and skilled artisans and craftsmen.

Also, the rich experience of Chinese jewelers is reason enough to trust their quality.

Most importantly, Chinese jewelry factories undergo serious audits to ascertain their capability and quality control measures.

Manufacturers must acquire the necessary certification for producing and exporting jewelry.

If you still have doubts, then know that Chinese jewelry passes through chemical tests that check the presence and level of reactive materials.

Any jewelry with harmful material cannot cross any of the Chinese borders to the world.

To put it simply, you can trust the quality and safety of jewelry from China.

Types of Jewelry Importers from China

When you set out to look for jewelry suppliers from China, you will realize that it is not a walk in the park.

However, things become easy when you know the type of jewelry that you want.

This is often based on the design and quantity of jewelry that you seek to import.

So before we find out how to source jewelry from China, let’s first learn of the types of jewelry importers.

– Importer with Specific Design Requirements

You fall into this category if you have your design and sample of the product.

Your only need is to find a manufacture that can create the perfect product for you.

For this type of importers, there two types: big brands and famous jewelry shops who order more than 2000 units per product.

Then there are small quantity importers who order less than 2000 pieces of each jewelry item.

If you’re looking to order less than 2000 pieces of each product, then you are better off sourcing from trading companies and jewelry wholesalers.

Those making orders above 2000 pieces for each item can contract factories and large trading companies.

For this category, you need to find very reliable jewelry manufacturers for your order.

Conduct a factory audit on the company and sign an NDA (non-disclosure agreement) to avoid design infringement.

Also, ensure strict quality control for the product to prevent quality and compliance issues.

– Importer with No Specific Design Requirements

These are importers with no specific style requirements.

They are more interested in what’s trending and selling in the current market.

These importers will often seek style recommendations from the suppliers and tend to buy in bulk.

If you’re this type of importer, you don’t have to worry about where to get your jewelry supplies.

Many manufacturers and suppliers in China have in-house designers that create new and striking designs every day.

They update their style selection frequently, allowing you to always have something new for your market.

Popular sources for hot and selling jewelry in China are Aliexpress and wholesale markets for low MOQ orders.

If importing large volumes, Alibaba and direct factories can be an ideal source for your jewelry.

– Importer looking for Stock Accessories

If you’re looking for low-cost, stock jewelry, then you fall into this category of importers.

Mostly, stock jewelry accessories are exported to low budget markets and developing nations.

They are primarily products rejected after production, custom jewelry abandoned by clients, or leftovers from custom clients.

You can earn handsome profits by importing stock of jewelry as suppliers sell them at throwaway prices.

There are many stock streets in Guangzhou, Yiwu, and Qingdao.

You have to visit these markets to find the right stock jewelry.

How to Source Jewelry in China

With the many suppliers available in China, choosing the right supplier requires patience and knowing what you want.

You have to vet the supplier and the quality of the jewelry that they offer.

While vetting, you need to talk to previous clients, check previous ratings and reviews.

This will help you determine if they will supply you with the quality and quantity of jewelry you need.

There are many ways and places to locate suppliers for jewelry your import from China.

Keep reading to find out.

Top Markets for Buying Wholesale Jewelry from China

One of the places from where you can source jewelry in China is the wholesale markets.

Note that the price and quality of jewelry in each of these markets vary significantly.

China has three main wholesale jewelry bases.

They are:

· Guangzhou Jewelry Wholesale Market

Factories and suppliers in the Guangzhou wholesale market deal in high-end and fashion jewelry.

Jewelry products found here are top quality and come at a relatively higher cost.

The minimum requirements are also slightly higher compared to other markets.

Popular markets here include Langang, Panyu, Liwan plaza, and Taikang road jewelry market.

· Yiwu Jewelry Wholesale Market

Yiwu is generally the biggest wholesale market in China.

You can find every sort of item here.

For jewelry importers, Yiwu is famous for its low MOQs and cheaper jewelry prices.

Suppliers here are friendly and easy to negotiate with.

If you want to explore the Yiwu market, you can physically visit the Yiwu district and explore the market.

Alternatively, you can search for Yiwu suppliers on the internet, local directories, or attend the Yiwu annual trade fair.

Remember, in Yiwu, you can only find small-time jewelry and accessories.

Compared to other markets, you can hardly find original jewelry in Yiwu, so you need to be wary of imitations.

The quality of Yiwu jewelry is also comparatively lower.

However, this does not mean that Yiwu jewelry is of low quality.

Instead, wholesalers here offer a variety of jewelry to meet the needs of low budget importers.

· Qingdao Jewelry Wholesale Market

If you are into traditional jewelry, Qingdao is the place to be.

It is located in northeast China, very close to Korea, and can be accessed by road, sea, or air.

Qingdao wholesale market is popularly known for Korean style jewelry.

These are known for their unique style and quality.

For those looking to establish their brand, Qingdao is also a good place to start from.

Suppliers here offer semi-manufacturing services.

You can create unique designs for your products and present them to suppliers for manufacturing at affordable prices.

Using a Sourcing Agent to Import Jewelry from China

If you cannot visit these markets in China, you will have to use a sourcing agent.

When using a China sourcing agent, you have to provide your product specifications and the quality you seek.

Meaning, before you try sourcing jewelry from China, you must know the type of jewelry you’re to source as well as the quality categories available.

To find a good sourcing agent, you can search online (google or trading forums).

From your findings, pick three or more providers.

Request for a quote from each of the companies and then compare them.

Pick the quote with the most suitable price and service package.

A good sourcing agent will identify and verify suppliers to help you get the best quality jewelry at competitive rates.

They will also handle the entire importation process from China.

If you’re a first-time importer of China’s jewelry, you should find a reliable sourcing agent to help.

Buying from Online Marketplaces

There are many B2B sites in China that you can tap like Alibaba, Global Sources, and made-in-China.

These are online marketplaces that link you with potential suppliers with just one click.

The sites provide you details on thousands of jewelry suppliers from China and the many jewelry products.

There are many jewelry categories that you can choose from, like men’s jewelry, women’s jewelry, children’s jewelry, wedding jewelry, etc.

When buying from Alibaba and other sites, remember to check and verify the site owners’ steps to ensure suppliers’ legitimacy.

Also, do due diligence on your end to make sure that the company or supplier you choose to work with is reliable and trustworthy.

Trade Shows

Apart from factories in China, sourcing agents, and online directories, you can also meet jewelry suppliers from trade fairs.

These give you the chance to meet potential suppliers face to face as well as see their products first hand.

There are many trade fairs held in China that you can purpose to attend.

Some are held outside China, where Chinese participants attend to market their products and services.

Meaning, you don’t have to visit China to attend these fairs.

You can visit any fair held near you and have a one-on-one interaction with Chinese jewelry suppliers.

Note, however, that trade shows in mainland China and Hong Kong have greater exhibitors.

So you might want to invest in that if you’re a large scale importer.

Popular jewelry fairs in China are the;

• Canton fair
• Shanghai international jewelry fair
• Shenzhen international jewelry fair
• Hong Kong international jewelry show
• Hong Kong FJA fair.
• Global sources fashion fair

Using Search Engines

Using search engines like google has become second nature to most importers today.

Their ability to give you thousands of choices from countless suppliers is a convenience that you don’t want to miss.

For small and first time importers of jewelry from China, using search engines is the first step to finding the right jewelry at the right price.

The key to finding the right product/supplier via search engines is to use the right keywords.

Do not use apparent terms that will have you filtering through millions of results.

Instead, be specific for better results.

If looking for gold jewelry, search “wholesale gold jewelry from China” and not just “wholesale jewelry.”

Tips for Finding the Best Suppliers for Jewelry in China

Choosing the best supplier to work with is not easy.

You can check the following aspects to ensure supplier reliability.

• Quality control systems in place
• Customers they’ve served before
• Export capability
• Responsiveness
• Whether they own the factory or a trading company
• If the images they provide are actual images or downloaded ones
• registration, address, and contact details
• legal certification

Negotiating MOQ and Prices with Jewelry Suppliers in China

Before you make an order for jewelry in China, you need to negotiate for the best possible deal.

Negotiation plays a crucial role when you import jewelry from China.

Before you settle on a price, you must talk to the supplier about possible reductions/discounts.

Remember that you will only get what you pay for when you import jewelry from China.

Many factors come into play, such as the quality of the product, payment terms, and lead-times.

Your relationship with the supplier also matters.

Don’t forget that every supplier has a price limit below which they can’t go.

Don’t press them too hard to go below their price point; otherwise, you may end up on the negative side.

Suppliers that agree to go below their price floor may end up using low-cost materials, improper packaging, among other things.

Therefore, remember that your goal is to build a long-term relationship.

This is important, especially if you’re planning to grow your startup import jewelry from China business.

You should also remember that agreeing to pay a higher price on the first instance can be beneficial.

You could get significant price discounts based on the quantity of your order.

While negotiating with your suppliers, understand that coming to terms with them can be a never-ending process.

It’s quite common, and most importers anticipate this based on the Chinese way of doing business.

To successfully negotiate your way, begin by finding a reasonable price upfront.

This could be via email, skype, or phone.

Note that the price you negotiate for your first order is just a starting point.

After finding a price upfront, go ahead and ask the supplier for the target price.

Do this while keeping in mind possible long-term cooperation.

If you have a significant negotiation to put forth in the spirit of Guan Xi and to establish long-term relations, then strive to do it face to face.

An ideal place to do the talks would be at the factory, a supplier’s warehouse in China, or a trade fair.

In these places, you’re more likely to speak with the factory owner or executive management.

It would be easier to get your needs and concerns addressed here since you’ll be speaking with the decision-makers and not sales executives.

Labeling and Packaging Jewelry you Import from China

Whenever you ship jewelry from China, you need to take extra care while packing the products.

Jewelry is fragile; hence, it should be covered in bubble wraps and cardboard boxes to protect them from damage during shipping.

Your jewelry shipment should be properly sealed to avoid breakages, loss, and other related mishaps.

Precious jewelry usually has stringent labeling and packing requirements.

These need to be hallmarked before shipping.

Different countries have their hallmarking standards.

Customs authorities are prone to checking your jewelry imports, and they are likely to seize jewelry that does not adhere to the right labeling requirements.

Country of origin marking also applies to the jewelry you import from China.

Make sure to include this in your label to avoid issues with customs.

Importing jewelry from China involves a lot of investment.

Therefore, it is only natural to take proper care to ensure their safe delivery to the final destination.

How to Ensure the Quality of the Jewelry you Import from China

After placing an order for jewelry in China, don’t forget to arrange for quality control before shipping.

This is because once the goods are shipped; you won’t have the chance to reject them over quality issues.

In this case, notify your supplier and shipping agent about the quality inspection.

Let them know when and where the inspection will take place and who will be performing it.

Common Quality issues with Jewelry from China

Some defects that are common with jewelry from China are:

· Broken Links

You may find a broken chain in some of the items like necklaces, wristwatches, and bracelets.

If you’re importing metal jewelry, make sure to check for this issue, as it happens easily.

· Missing Stone

Beaded jewelry may miss a stone or more due to careless handling or workmanship.

· Improper Stone Setting

This is common with beaded jewelry and those made of precious stone.

It could be due to careless manufacturing or miscommunication when providing your order requirements.

· Worn Material

Importers of metal jewelry tend to face this issue a lot. Some manufacturers may produce jewelry using worn metals, making the final product look weary.

· Unsafe Materials

Some materials may cause allergies and skin irritation due to excess of lead, cadmium, and nickel.

· Poor Electroplating

Cracking, dulling, oxidation, and blistering of jewelry often occur as a result of inappropriate electroplating.

How to Avoid Quality Problems with Jewelry from China

You can avoid the above problems with jewelry by taking the following measures:

· Prevention

As seen above, some of the defects you may encounter with jewelry from China are due to miscommunication.

To prevent such instances, you must communicate your requirements clearly when placing your order.

Let the supplier know your choice of material and design requirements.

Also, make it clear that you won’t accept any defective products.

Avoid verbal communication when stating your order requirements.

Written communication, such as emails, written contracts, etc., is usually more effective and easy to reference.

· Inspection

Inspection is critical in ensuring that your jewelry is up to standards.

It also helps to avoid losses and issues with customs authorities during clearance.

For issues that occur during production, avoid them by scheduling pre-production inspections.

Visit the factory and verify the environment and work conditions.

This way, you can gauge the manufacturer’s capability to meet your order as per your specifications.

Scheduled inspections during the production process also make manufacturers take your order seriously.

· Samples

Samples can help you verify the quality of the product before mass production and avoid unnecessary hassle.

They can also help ascertain the capability of the manufacturer to meet your design specifications.

· Production Reports

For large orders, it would be helpful if you request status reports for every production phase.

The manufacturer can send you pictures and videos of the manufacturing process.

This way, you can rest easy knowing that everything is going on well.

If you see a problem at this point, it is also easy to rectify and avoid defects in the final output.

· Proper Design

Sometimes, the problem may generate from the poor design of the jewelry.

If you are ordering custom jewelry, ensure that you communicate the design specifications.

Who can Conduct Quality Control

You can take care of quality control for the jewelry you import from China.

This is if you can travel to China to oversee the process.

If not, you can let the manufacturer handle it supposing your relationship is based on trust.

Otherwise, send somebody from your staff to conduct the quality control

If the above two options don’t work for you, hire a 3^rd party quality control company or agent to do this.

You will only provide them with your quality requirements.

The agents will then perform quality control and product inspections.

They will take videos and images of the product to present to you alongside the inspection report.

Compliance Requirements for the Jewelry you Import from China

You should always subject final jewelry products to quality tests and inspections to avoid shipping defective products.

Physical and chemical tests help determine the quality of jewelry.

They check for colorfastness, strength, sharp points, edges, and presence of hazardous components in materials.

As you can see, quality control is essential when you import jewelry from China.

Inspections and compliance testing are particularly critical.

You will need to present the inspection reports, test, and compliance certificates to customs during import clearance.

Compliance testing also assures you that the jewelry you import from China is of good quality and durable enough to promote customer satisfaction.

However, keep in mind that every country has its testing and compliance requirements.

Therefore, when importing jewelry from China, it is essential to know and understand your country’s specifics first.

The table below shows the different compliance standards for each region you may import jewelry from China to.

Paying for Jewelry, you Import from China

Chinese businesses have advanced a great deal over time.

Unlike before, where you could only pay via western union, today Chinese suppliers accept various international payment methods.

The payment terms are also quite flexible.

Depending on your supplier, you have the option of paying all costs (100%) upfront.

This is best if you share mutual trust with the suppliers.

In other instances, you can pay a certain percentage (70%) of the total cost upfront and then finalize (30%) payment once they deliver your jewelry.

Alternatively, you can pay a small percentage (30%) when ordering goods.

You can then pay another percentage (40%) when production is underway and clear the remaining bit (30%) once goods are delivered.

All these, as I have said, will depend on your supplier and the contractual terms.

No matter the terms of sale, there are several ways to make payments to Chinese suppliers.

For suppliers who request payment via credit card, it is usually safe to use 3^rd party processors like PayPal.

This way, you safeguard sensitive information, and you can even request the processor to hold payment if issues emerge with the delivery.

If the contract requires payment via bank transfer, use a business account rather than a personal bank account.

It is safer this way.

There are other internationally acceptable payment methods that you can use with Chinese suppliers.

These include a letter of credit (L/C), bills of exchange, escrow, and cash.

Please note that each of these payment options comes with benefits and risks.

What matters is that you keep a record of all your transactions if you need to file a dispute in the future.

Best way to Ship Imported Jewelry from China

When you’re satisfied with the quality of your jewelry products, the next step is to arrange for shipping.

You have four options in shipping jewelry from China.

When you choose which methods to use, remember to consider your jewelry shipment’s total volume and weight.

· Postal Mail

If shipping from online marketplaces like Alibaba and Aliexpress, we advise that you use postal mail.

China Post and EMS are the most popular postal mail delivery services from China.

These offer greater security and tracking services for your shipment from China.

Shipping via post is also considerably cheaper.

The only disadvantage of this form of shipping is speed.

It is very slow compared to air freight and international express shipping.

When you use postal mail, you can expect to receive your packages in 7-30 days, depending on your destination.

· Express Shipping

Many courier companies like FedEx, UPS, and DHL are available to deliver jewelry shipments from China to any world destination.

When shipping small packages of high-value jewelry, I recommend using the express shipping method.

Although costly, it is speedy, safe, and highly reliable.

Like China post, you can also track your shipment when using express delivery services.

Shipping time for express delivery is usually between 5-8 days depending on your location.

· Airfreight

If you want fast shipping and your package is 500 kg and above, Airfreight may be the ideal shipping option for you.

Airfreight from China is almost as quick as express shipping. Delivery takes about 2-10 days.

The only difference is that you have to clear with customs for air freight.

Courier companies, on the other hand, often take care of customs clearance for express packages.

· Sea Freight

Sea shipping is ideal when you want to transport a huge amount of jewelry from China.

Unlike air freight and express shipping, cargo ships can c