How to buy jewelry from China: a wholesale sourcing guide

To buy jewelry from China for resale, define the product specification, compare suppliers against the same brief, approve a physical sample, and agree how the bulk order will be checked before it ships. Your budget should cover development, testing, packaging and import costs as well as the jewelry itself.

This guide is for brands, retailers and wholesale buyers sourcing fashion jewelry or custom collections. It follows the order from the first inquiry to delivery. For a personal purchase, start with our jewelry buying checklist.

Choose the kind of order you need

An existing catalog style and a new design require different preparation. Identify which route fits your collection before comparing minimum quantities or delivery dates.

For a first collection, a smaller range can make sample review and inventory planning easier. Ask for quantities per style, color and size. A total of 500 pieces spread over many variations may be a very different production order from 500 identical pieces. Our wholesale buying guide covers assortment planning in more detail.

Find a supplier that can make your specific product

Factory websites, B2B marketplaces, trade shows and sourcing agents can all help you build a shortlist. A marketplace listing introduces a supplier; the next step is to establish who will make your order and how the work will be controlled.

Start with the operations your design needs. A simple chain necklace, an enamel pendant and a pavé ring raise different questions about production. Request examples of comparable construction and ask which steps happen at the quoted factory, which are subcontracted and who handles quality issues.

• Match the business name on the quotation, contract and payment instructions. Ask for an explanation of any difference.
• Request a visit or live discussion focused on the relevant production steps, including finishing and inspection.
• Check the scope and date of factory documents. A management certificate does not establish the material or coating on your particular order.
• Ask who will approve substitutions and resolve a rejected sample or a failed inspection.

A trader can coordinate several factories, while a manufacturer may control more of the work directly. Judge either arrangement by its transparency, product fit and ability to meet your written requirements. A supplier’s location alone cannot establish quality.

HonHo was founded in Dongguan in 2017 and works with stainless steel, brass and 925 sterling silver. We have in-house PVD and electroplating capabilities. Buyers can discuss a visit to the production and plating areas relevant to their project. The quotation should still identify the material, finish and work required for the specific design.

Send the same specification to each supplier

Two prices are comparable only when they cover the same product and services. Send a request for quotation, or RFQ, with a revision date. Ask each supplier to mark any exception instead of filling gaps with its own assumptions.

For example, a necklace brief should identify the chain construction, length, extension and clasp, rather than describe the item only as a “gold necklace.” Our chain types guide can help you name the construction. For quote comparison fields and a fuller cost breakdown, use the custom jewelry RFQ guide.

At HonHo, minimum quantities and sample charges depend on the material, style, finish and customization. We confirm the sample schedule after reviewing the brief and the production schedule after the sample and order details are approved. Include your planned quantity and launch date so we can discuss a workable option.

Approve a sample that can guide production

Review the physical sample against your RFQ. Check the dimensions, weight, edges, surface finish, stone placement and closure. For earrings, compare the pair. For a necklace, review how the pendant hangs and how the clasp connects to the chain.

Photographs help document appearance, but color can change with lighting and screens. Use a retained physical reference where color or texture is important. Agree on any acceptable variation and record it with the approval.

If a sample fails, describe each issue with a photo and a measurable requirement where possible. Ask what will change in the next revision, what it costs and when you can inspect it. Approving a bulk order while leaving an important sample problem unresolved makes the final acceptance decision harder.

Trying on a sample can help assess fit and comfort. It cannot establish chemical compliance or prove that the jewelry is suitable for every person with sensitive skin.

Ask for evidence that answers the right question

Factory review, product inspection and laboratory testing serve different purposes. QIMA’s jewelry inspection guidance separates workmanship and functional checks from laboratory tests for material and chemical requirements. Specify the evidence you need for your order.

X-ray fluorescence, or XRF, can measure composition and coating thickness under an appropriate setup, as described by Fischer’s XRF guidance. HonHo has an XRF instrument and can discuss coating-thickness checks on customer samples. Confirm the substrate, layer structure, measurement locations and reporting requirements before arranging the check.

On a necklace, a reading from the clasp should be identified as a clasp measurement. It should not be presented as a measurement of the chain. Also distinguish the specified thickness from an individual reading and any average based on defined samples. Thickness alone does not establish a fixed wear life or a nickel-release result.

For the U.S. market, children’s jewelry needs particular attention. The CPSC jewelry guidance explains that children’s products must meet the applicable children’s product requirements. Ask a qualified testing provider which requirements apply to your product and intended age group before production. Keep the relevant reports with the order record.

See HonHo’s quality-control process for the inspection and testing questions to discuss with our team.

Compare total cost and agree payment milestones

A low unit price can exclude items that another quote includes. Separate one-time development costs from recurring production costs, then compare the same quantity and delivery terms.

Divide the relevant total by the units you expect to sell when planning margin. Keep recoverable taxes and your accounting treatment separate from a simple cash budget. The wholesale jewelry pricing guide explains further cost drivers.

Record payment milestones alongside sample approval, production and inspection. There is no deposit split that makes every order safe. Confirm the payee and investigate changes to bank instructions through a previously verified contact channel.

For an eligible Alibaba Trade Assurance order, follow the platform’s current order and payment process. Alibaba’s payment guidance advises buyers to keep payment on the platform. Check the applicable coverage, evidence requirements and dispute deadlines for the order; do not assume every payment arrangement has the same protection.

Agree what happens before the order ships

Give the factory and inspector the final specification, approved reference and packing requirements. Agree on the inspection timing, sample selection and defect criteria. A sampling plan should fit the order and its risks; a familiar acceptance-quality-limit number should not replace a discussion of what a defect means.

For example, an incorrect chain length, a loose stone and a surface mark can require different checks and remedies. Define the severity and acceptance rules with the supplier. Keep safety-related requirements separate from cosmetic allowances.

• Confirm quantities by style, color and size, with no unapproved substitutions.
• Record appearance, dimensions and functional checks against the agreed references.
• Review required test reports and verify which products or samples they cover.
• Check individual protection, labels, carton counts and the shipping documents.
• Set out how rejected goods will be reworked, replaced or otherwise resolved, and whether reinspection is needed before release.

Before choosing a delivery quote, ask which party will handle customs clearance and which charges are included. Have a customs broker or the destination authority confirm classification, valuation, origin documentation and current duties for the actual product. A rate quoted for a different metal or shipment may not apply.

For U.S. imports, review the CBP guidance for new importers. The importer of record remains responsible for correct entry information and applicable charges even when using a broker. Have the commercial invoice, packing list and product description checked before shipment.

On arrival, reconcile the delivery with the order and retain packaging details, photographs and any affected samples if you find a problem. Send a specific discrepancy record within the agreed claim period. A clear order history makes a remedy easier to assess.

Questions before your first order

Should I place the full collection order with the first sample request?

Decide how much development and inventory risk your business can carry. A sample stage lets you resolve construction and finish questions before committing to the production quantity. Ask whether a trial order is feasible and how its price and minimums differ from a repeat order.

Will adding my logo make a catalog design exclusive?

Confirm exclusivity separately. State the design or tooling covered, the territories or sales channels, the duration and any purchase commitments in the agreement. Logo customization by itself does not tell you what rights the supplier is offering.

What should I include when asking HonHo for a quote?

Send your design reference, material, finish, quantity per style and color, destination and intended launch date. Include any required testing or packaging. You can use our custom jewelry inquiry form to share the brief and request sample and production terms for your collection.