Sourcing base-metal fashion necklaces from China
Base-metal fashion necklaces from China carry 4% UK duty across the relevant tariff lines. Confirm with the relevant authority the applicable UK REACH restrictions on cadmium and lead in jewellery and nickel release from parts in prolonged skin contact. Specify the chain, clasp, base metal and plating before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources base-metal fashion necklaces.
UK duty on base-metal fashion necklaces
Heading 7117 covers imitation jewellery, including base-metal necklaces whether or not plated with precious metal. Hand-made necklaces without glass parts fall within 7117 19 00 10; other base-metal necklaces fall within 7117 19 00 90. The table shows necklace examples sharing these codes. For wider heading context, see the base-metal fashion earrings guide.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, both relevant lines carry 4% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspensions recorded. The tariff attaches CITES, cat and dog fur, and seal-product import controls. For CITES-listed decorations, confirm the permits with the authorities in Great Britain and China. Cat and dog fur imports are banned. Seal products for sale require the indigenous-community exemption and a seal catch certificate.
Confirm the materials, glass content and manufacturing method before choosing the code. Animal-derived decorations need a separate control check with your customs broker before ordering. Use finding your commodity code to organise the classification evidence.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hand-made base-metal chain necklaces, without glass parts | 7117 19 00 10 | 4% | None |
| Machine-made base-metal chain necklaces | 7117 19 00 90 | 4% | None |
Specify the chain, clasp and plating separately
State the base metal of the chain, pendant, clasp and connecting rings separately. Specify chain length, extender length, link shape, pendant dimensions and acceptable tolerances. Record the plating metal, colour, protective coating and agreed durability checks. Keep an approved physical sample, including the clasp and retail packaging.
Confirm with the relevant authority the applicable UK REACH restrictions on cadmium and lead in jewellery components and nickel release where parts remain against skin. Ask for laboratory reports matching the necklace's actual metals and finishes, including its clasp and connecting rings. A report for an unplated chain does not establish the performance of a differently plated finished necklace.
Before placing a consumer necklace on the Great Britain market, the importer must ensure it is safe under normal or reasonably foreseeable use. Consider sharp edges, detachable decorations and the intended wearer when agreeing the product specification.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative small mixed-style batch of individually packed base-metal necklaces under 7117 19 00 90, invoiced at £2,012 free on board, with £63 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £2,075. Duty at 4% is £83. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £2,158, so it is £431.60. Import taxes total £514.60; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £83 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Dimensions: measure the chain and extender separately, check pendant dimensions, and compare the finished hanging position with the approved sample.
Fastenings: operate clasps repeatedly, inspect connecting-ring closure, and check pendant attachments against the agreed pull test.
Finish: compare plating colour across the chain, clasp and pendant; inspect rubbing points, exposed base metal, burrs and loose glass decorations.
Evidence and packing: match test reports to the supplied materials and finishes, count styles separately, and check individual packing for tangled chains or scratched pendants.
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What goes wrong
A supplier may match the pendant photograph while changing the chain alloy, clasp or plating subcontractor. The result can be a colour mismatch, a weak closure or chemical evidence that no longer matches the goods. Require written approval before substitutions and compare production samples with the retained sample.
Photographs can hide open connecting rings and thin plating at contact points. Loose packing lets pendants scratch neighbouring chains. Agree separate packing and check fastenings and finish before shipment, then repeat those checks when the delivery arrives.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For own-brand ranges, see sourcing for brands.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on base-metal necklaces from China?
The relevant lines, 7117 19 00 10 and 7117 19 00 90, both carry 4% duty in the supplied tariff snapshot. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty or suspension is recorded.
What chemical tests should I request for fashion necklaces?
Request cadmium and lead testing for the jewellery components and nickel-release testing for prolonged skin-contact parts. Match the reports to the actual chain, pendant, clasp, base metals and plating.
Is a nickel-free statement enough for a plated necklace?
Ask for matching test evidence. Confirm the applicable nickel-release requirements for skin-contact parts with the relevant authority; a supplier's material description alone does not demonstrate the finished necklace's performance.
What should I put in a necklace specification?
Include component metals, chain and extender lengths, pendant dimensions, clasp design, ring closure, plating and protective coating. Agree tolerances, fastening checks and individual packing against a retained sample.