Wholesale Jewelry from China
Jewelry is the category where the material is the product, and where a buyer can lose a market in one shipment. Plating that wears off in a month, a nickel content over the limit, or a design copied from a protected brand are all things that stop a range selling rather than slow it down.
The second characteristic is that metal prices move. Silver, gold and even the base metal underneath a plated piece are quoted against a rate, so a jewelry quotation is only meaningful with the metal content separated out and a date on it.
We buy jewelry for importers in Europe and North America across the Yiwu, Shenzhen and Qingdao clusters. The notes below cover the cluster map, realistic factory prices and the checks that decide whether a range survives a season.
Where the jewelry factories are
| Cluster | City | Strengths | Typical MOQ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fashion jewelry | Yiwu (Zhejiang) | Brass and alloy, plating, fast turnaround on trend pieces | 1,000 pieces |
| Silver and stone setting | Shenzhen (Guangdong) | Casting, setting, laser marking, 925 silver and moissanite | 200 pieces |
| Stainless steel | Dongguan (Guangdong) | Chains, rings, PVD finishes, water resistant pieces | 500 pieces |
| Pearls | Qingdao (Shandong) and Zhuji (Zhejiang) | Freshwater pearls, strands, earrings, settings | 300 pieces |
| Packaging and display | Dongguan and Wenzhou | Jewelry boxes, pouches, cards, display stands | 1,000 pieces |
The clusters specialise by material rather than by style. Plated fashion pieces, cast silver, steel and pearls are four different supply chains with different minimums, which is why a mixed range is quoted as several orders rather than one.
Price ranges you should expect
| Product type | Factory price range | MOQ | Lead time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold plated brass earrings | $0.80 to $4.50 | 1,000 pairs | 20 to 30 days |
| Stainless steel chain necklace | $0.60 to $3.20 | 500 pieces | 20 to 30 days |
| 925 silver ring with stone | $4.00 to $18.00 | 200 pieces | 25 to 40 days |
| Freshwater pearl strand, 7 to 8 mm | $8.00 to $60.00 | 300 strands | 20 to 30 days |
| Moissanite stud pair, half carat total | $25.00 to $90.00 | 100 pairs | 30 to 45 days |
Plating thickness is the whole argument
A flash plating measured in hundredths of a micron and a plating of one micron or more look identical on arrival and behave completely differently after a month of wear. Put the thickness and the plating method in the specification, and ask for a salt spray or tarnish test on production pieces.
Nickel release is a legal limit, not a preference
The European Union restricts nickel release from items in prolonged skin contact, and it is tested on the finished piece. A supplier who cannot name the test has not done it. The same applies to lead and cadmium on items sold into the United States.
Quote the metal separately, and date the quote
Silver and gold move with the market, so a piece quoted on one day can cost more three weeks later even with the labour unchanged. Ask for the metal content priced separately from the making charge, and treat the quotation as valid for a short window.
Design, marking and protected work
Hallmarking is required for precious metal in some markets, and the wording on gold plated items is regulated in others. Alongside that, we do not produce copies of protected designs or branded pieces, so send a design you own or a reference you have the right to use.
Product lines in this category
One page per product we source here, with its own specifications, minimums and inspection points.
- Steel chain necklaces: 304 or 316 steel, PVD gold finishes, soldered or open links
- Freshwater pearl strands: 7 to 8 mm, graded for lustre and surface, knotted strands
- 925 silver rings: sterling silver, hallmarked, cubic zirconia or gem set
- Moissanite studs: half carat total pairs, graded stones, prong set pairs
- Gold plated earrings: brass base, 14k or 18k plating, nickel release compliant
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum order for jewelry?
The factory minimum is in the table above, and it is lower on cast silver than on plated brass because the setup is smaller. Our own minimum is one piece, which is how most buyers start: one ring, one strand, one pair to look at before a range is committed.
How are freshwater pearls graded?
By size in millimetres, shape, lustre, surface and matching across the strand. Ask for the grading on the actual lot and a photograph under consistent light, because pearl grading is where two suppliers describe the same strand differently.
Do I need a certificate for silver?
A 925 stamp is a marking rather than a laboratory certificate, and for most silver fashion ranges a material declaration and an assay on request is enough. Certified stones are a different question and are supplied with their own report.
Can you photograph and pack the range?
Yes. Jewelry is small and high value, so photographing each piece and packing it into branded boxes is part of the order rather than an afterthought. Both are handled through product photography and our warehouse operation.
Do you keep a plating reference for repeat orders?
Yes. The plating thickness, the method and the colour are recorded against the part, because a repeat order plated on a different line can look identical in a photograph and behave differently after a month of wear. That record is what makes a reorder a repeat rather than a gamble.
Get a live quotation
Our minimum order is one piece, and mixed models are welcome. Send the design or reference and the quantity you have in mind, and we come back with factory options, real prices and MOQs within two business days.
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Request a quotation
Tell us the product, the target quantity and the port you ship to. We come back with factory options, real prices and MOQs within two business days.
