Sourcing fashion charm bracelets from China

UK duty on fashion charm bracelets

Heading 7117 covers imitation jewellery. For fashion charm bracelets, the relevant distinctions are base metal versus other materials, and hand-made base metal articles without glass parts versus other base metal articles. The repeated code in the table shows different bracelet variants within the same tariff line. See the wider base metal jewellery guide.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, all listed lines carried 4% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record shows no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspensions. It attaches CITES, cat and dog fur, and seal-product import controls. Cat and dog fur products cannot be imported. For CITES-listed materials, check the species and permit requirements. For seal materials, confirm the attached control and required documents with your customs broker before ordering.

Confirm the commodity code using the finished bracelet’s materials and construction. A loose charm or clasp should not automatically use the finished bracelet’s code. Check UK import duty and VAT when preparing the landed-cost calculation.

Specify the chain, charms and skin-contact finish

Write down the chain material, wearable length, adjustment range, clasp type, charm designs and positions, attachment method, and materials of beads or inserts. Specify the base metal and plating separately for the chain, clasp and each charm. Approve a physical sample showing the intended colour, weight and movement.

Confirm with the relevant authority which UK REACH restrictions apply to cadmium and lead in jewellery and nickel release from parts in prolonged skin contact. Request laboratory reports matching the actual bracelet components, base metals and finishes. A report for the chain alone does not establish the composition of its charms. Products should only be sold once compliance with product safety regulations has been demonstrated appropriately.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 200 fashion charm bracelets, illustrative only under 7117 19 00 90, invoiced at £300 free on board, with £200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £500. Duty at 4% is £20. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £520, so it is £104. Import taxes total £124; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £20 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Fit: measure wearable length and adjustment against the order, and check the clasp can be operated without catching adjacent charms.

Attachments: inspect jump-ring closure, charm loops and clasp joints; use the agreed pull check and look for detached or distorted parts.

Finish: compare plating and enamel with the approved sample; check sharp edges, exposed base metal, scratches and loose inserts.

Identity: match charm combinations, pack counts and component descriptions to the order and laboratory reports. Arrange quality inspection before dispatch.

What goes wrong

A sample may have tightly closed charm rings while the delivery has gaps. Other failures include clasp springs that stick, enamel that chips, mixed plating colours and charms that snag clothing. Record acceptance checks against the approved sample rather than relying on catalogue photographs.

A supplier may change a charm alloy or clasp while keeping the same design name. Require written approval before component substitutions and review whether the existing test reports still match. Treat an unspecified shell, wood or fur decoration as a material question to resolve before shipping.

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.