Sourcing Braille wristwatches from China
Braille wristwatches from China within heading 9102 carry £0.20 duty per watch across the supplied lines, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure recorded. Skin-contact metal parts must meet UK REACH nickel restrictions. Specify the tactile layout and test whether touching the hands changes the time. Cambridge China Bridge sources Braille wristwatches.
£0.20 per watch
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, the supplied heading 9102 lines charge £0.20 per watch from China. No anti-dumping or countervailing measures or tariff suspensions are recorded. This heading covers wristwatches and other watches outside heading 9101. For this guide, the relevant family is Braille wristwatches with non-precious cases.
The tariff attaches CITES import control. Protected-species leather straps can bring the watch within that control: items made from listed specimens require import permits. For a shipment from China, identify the strap species and confirm the applicable UK import and Chinese export documents with the customs broker before dispatch. The data also lists CITES export control and a cultural-object export licence measure; these are export entries.
Choose the code by movement and display, rather than the supplier's Braille label. Confirm the commodity code against the actual sample and specification. The table presents candidate lines, not a classification ruling. See the wider watch sourcing guide. All supplied lines use specific duty, so the illustrative order cannot be a percentage-duty example.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrically operated wristwatches with mechanical display only | 9102 11 00 00 | £0.20 per item | None |
| Other electrically operated wristwatches | 9102 19 00 00 | £0.20 per item | None |
| Mechanical wristwatches with automatic winding | 9102 21 00 00 | £0.20 per item | None |
| Other non-electrically operated wristwatches | 9102 29 00 00 | £0.20 per item | None |
Specify a dial that can be read by touch
Agree whether the watch has genuine Braille characters, raised hour markers or another tactile layout. Record the marker arrangement, hand shapes, cover-opening direction, crown position, strap fastening and movement reference. Ask intended users to read an unbranded sample by touch before approving the design; raised dots alone do not establish that the layout is usable.
For an opening-cover design, specify how the hands resist light finger contact and how the cover latches after reading. Agree smooth edges and accessible time-setting instructions. Great Britain's general product safety rules require safe consumer products. Confirm with the relevant authority which UK REACH nickel restrictions apply to skin-contact metal parts; request test evidence for the supplied case back, buckle and bracelet finish.
Inspection checklist
Tactile reading: check marker positions and distinguishable hand shapes against the approved sample. Read the dial without looking and check whether normal light contact moves the hands.
Cover and setting: open and close the cover repeatedly, check the hinge and latch, feel for sharp edges, and operate the crown while wearing the watch.
Movement and strap: compare timekeeping with a reference, check hand clearance, pull-check strap attachments and operate the buckle. Confirm the fitted movement and battery match the specification.
Materials and packing: match nickel test reports to the actual finish, check declared leather species and any applicable CITES documents, and inspect packaging for bent hands or damaged covers. Button cells should sit behind a case back requiring a tool to open.
What goes wrong
A watch can keep time yet fail its intended user. Similar-feeling hands, weak markers or an awkward cover make tactile reading unreliable. Hands that shift under finger contact give a wrong reading; a loose hinge or latch leaves the dial exposed. A visually acceptable sample does not reveal these problems.
Approve the reading method with intended users, then retain the sample as the inspection reference. Check tactile function after packing and handling, as well as before shipment. An opening cover also makes water-resistance claims worth checking carefully: request evidence for the finished design rather than accepting a movement supplier's claim.
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 Braille wristwatches from China?
The supplied heading 9102 lines charge £0.20 per watch from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure recorded. The duty is per watch, rather than a percentage.
Which commodity code covers a Braille wristwatch?
Classification depends on its movement and display. An electrically operated watch with mechanical display only is a candidate for 9102 11 00 00. Confirm the actual design before declaring it.
How do I check whether a Braille watch is usable?
Have intended users read the sample by touch. Check distinguishable hands and markers, cover operation and whether normal finger contact changes the hand position.
Do Braille watch straps need CITES permits?
Protected-species leather can require CITES permits. Identify the species and confirm the shipment documents with the customs broker; the tariff's CITES control is not a blanket permit requirement for every strap.