Sourcing Gold Bracelets from China

UK duty on gold bracelets

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, heading 7113 covers jewellery and its parts made of precious metal or metal clad with precious metal. Gold bracelets fall within 7113 19 00 00. Gold-plated silver bracelets use the silver line, while base-metal bracelets clad with gold have a separate line. The table repeats the gold code for different bracelet constructions.

Goods from China carry 2% duty on the gold and silver lines and 4% on the clad base-metal line. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspensions. It attaches restrictions on entry into free circulation, ivory import control, CITES import and export controls, seal-product import control and ivory export control.

Check the bracelet's underlying metal and construction before selecting a code. Ask your customs broker to confirm how the attached controls apply to the actual materials and origin, including any planned re-export. Use finding your commodity code, and see the gold chains guide for related jewellery.

Specify the alloy, bracelet structure and hallmark

Specify gold fineness and colour, whether the links or bangle are hollow or solid, finished weight and tolerance, wearable length, link width, clasp type and any safety catch. Identify the metals used in clasps, springs and solder. For stone-set bracelets, name the stones and agree the setting and finish against an approved sample.

Gold bracelets described as gold need a legally recognised hallmark unless exempt. Ask a UK Assay Office to confirm whether a weight exemption applies to the actual bracelet, including any qualifications for newer or mixed-material designs, or arrange assay and hallmarking before sale. A fineness stamp alone is not a complete hallmark.

For animal-derived charms or inlays, identify the species before ordering. CITES-listed specimens moving into or out of Great Britain require the relevant permit arrangements, including corresponding documentation from China. Listed ivory intended for sale needs an exemption registration or certificate. Seal products are generally barred from the market, with limited exceptions; an eligible Inuit-exemption import needs an accompanying seal catch attestation certificate.

Check origin records as well as the dispatch country. Russian-origin gold jewellery exported from Russia on or after 29 October 2022 is subject to an import prohibition even when shipped through China. Ask your broker to check the sanctions position before shipment if origin is uncertain.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative small-business batch of gold chain bracelets under 7113 19 00 00, invoiced at £30,000 free on board, with £800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £30,800. Duty at 2% is £616. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £31,416, so it is £6,283.20. Import taxes total £6,899.20; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £616 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Alloy and weight: test production samples for the agreed gold content, including findings and solder, and weigh them against the approved specification.

Links and clasp: inspect solder joints, operate the clasp and safety catch, and pull-test the assembly against an agreed method; check hollow links for dents and splits.

Finish and stones: check burrs, sharp edges, polish, colour consistency and loose settings; measure any agreed plating thickness and assess wear on samples.

Marks and skin contact: check the applicable hallmark and supporting records; obtain nickel-release testing for skin-contact parts and check lead and cadmium in base-metal findings. Record results through quality inspection.

What goes wrong

A bracelet can match the sample's appearance while using lighter hollow links, a different alloy or weaker solder joints. Clasps may close loosely, safety catches may snag, and thin links can deform during handling. Compare the production batch with the agreed weight, construction and functional checks.

A supplier's fineness stamp can be mistaken for a complete hallmark. Resolve assay and marking before sale, and keep the tested sample tied to its production batch. Undeclared animal-derived charms or uncertain origin can also leave import controls unresolved.

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.