This guide is for boutiques, gift shops and online sellers in the UK and USA who want to buy wholesale jewelry. It covers how to tell what a supplier is actually selling you, the rules that apply in each country, what to ask before you order, and which jewelry suppliers are listed in our directory.
Know what you are buying
Most problems with wholesale jewelry come from vague descriptions. “Gold” and “silver” can mean very different things. Ask every supplier to state the metal and finish for each item.
| Term | What it should mean | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Sterling silver (925) | An alloy of 92.5% silver | Is each piece stamped 925? What is used for clasps and findings? |
| Solid gold (9k, 10k, 14k, 18k) | Gold alloy of the stated karat all the way through | Karat, weight per piece, and whether it is hollow |
| Vermeil | In the US, sterling silver plated with at least 10k gold at a minimum thickness of 2.5 microns, under the FTC Jewelry Guides | Plating karat and thickness, and whether there is a nickel layer underneath |
| Gold-filled | A layer of gold bonded to a base metal, much thicker than plating; the FTC Guides set minimums for using the term | Karat and the proportion of gold by weight |
| Gold-plated or flash-plated | A thin gold coating over brass, copper or another base metal | Base metal, plating thickness, any protective coating |
| Stainless steel | Steel alloy that resists tarnish and rust | The grade, for example 316L, and whether it is plated |
Rules that apply
United States
- The FTC’s Guides for the Jewelry, Precious Metals, and Pewter Industries (16 CFR Part 23) set out how terms such as gold, vermeil, sterling and lab-grown diamond can be used without misleading customers. If you repeat a supplier’s description in your listings, you are responsible for it being accurate.
- Jewelry made for children faces lead limits and testing requirements under US consumer product safety law. If you sell children’s jewelry, ask the supplier for its test reports.
United Kingdom
- Under the Hallmarking Act 1973, items sold in the UK and described as gold, silver, platinum or palladium must carry a UK-recognised hallmark if they are over a minimum weight. The government’s guidance summary explains the rules; exemption weights are 1g for gold, 7.78g for silver, 0.5g for platinum and 1g for palladium. Since 2021, EU hallmarks are no longer automatically recognised in Great Britain.
- Jewelry that sits against the skin is subject to limits on how much nickel it releases. Ask suppliers which products have been tested and for the results.
Where wholesale jewelry comes from
- Manufacturers make the pieces, often in large jewelry-making centers abroad. Prices are lower, minimums are higher, and lead times are longer.
- Importers and wholesalers hold stock in the US or UK. You pay more per piece but can order smaller quantities and get them faster.
- Jewelry districts. In the UK, the Birmingham Jewellery Quarter and Manchester’s wholesale area have many trade suppliers. In the US, many jewelry wholesalers are based in New York and Los Angeles.
- Directories and trade shows let you compare several suppliers before you commit.
Questions to ask before you order
- What is the metal, plating and plating thickness for each style?
- Do you have test reports for nickel, lead or cadmium, where relevant?
- What is the minimum order, and is it per style or per order?
- How is each piece packed? Carded, bagged or boxed?
- How do you handle broken clasps, missing stones or tarnish on arrival?
- Do you sell samples or small trial orders?
When samples arrive, wear-test a few pieces for a week, check the stamps, and look at clasps and stone settings closely.
Buying from another country
If your supplier ships from abroad, the unit price is not your full cost. Add freight, any import duty, and in the UK, import VAT. Ask the supplier which shipping terms they quote: with DDP (delivered duty paid) they deliver with duties and taxes paid, while with other terms the carrier may bill you before releasing the parcel. For UK buyers, precious metal items over the exemption weights must be hallmarked before they are sold, which adds time and cost if they arrive unmarked.
Buying for a small shop
Jewelry trends change quickly. Spread your first order across many styles in small quantities rather than buying a lot of one design. Reorder what sells. Keep the supplier’s descriptions and test reports on file so you can answer customer questions and back up what your listings say.
Jewelry suppliers in our directory
These listings are in no particular order. Use the questions above with each one.
- Blake Brothers: wholesale sterling silver jewelry.
- Leia Jewelry Wholesale: a New York vendor of sterling silver, brass, stainless steel and fashion jewelry.
- Ocean State Creations: fashion jewelry for gift shops, boutiques and online stores.
- Royal Jewelry Wholesale: an Atlanta supplier of 10k and 14k gold and other fine jewelry.
- 925 Silver Jewelry: a sterling silver manufacturer based in Thailand.
See all listings in our Jewellery category.
Checklist
- Decide on your price range and materials: fashion, sterling or fine jewelry.
- Shortlist suppliers and check each business is real.
- Get written metal and plating details for every style.
- For the UK, confirm hallmarks on precious metal items over the exemption weights.
- Order samples and wear-test them.
- Start with small quantities across many styles, then reorder what sells.
