Sourcing gold tie pins from China
Gold tie pins from China carry 2% UK duty when made of gold, or 4% for base metal clad with gold. Articles sold as gold need a hallmark unless exempt. Specify fineness, weight and the pin-and-clutch construction before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources gold tie pins.
Duty on gold tie pins
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, heading 7113 covers jewellery and its parts of precious metal or metal clad with precious metal. Gold tie pins fall within the other-precious-metal line; gold-plated silver and gold-clad base metal have different lines. The table shows product variants, with the gold code repeated for plain and stone-set designs. See silver cufflinks for wider heading context.
The supplied lines carry 2% duty for gold and silver articles and 4% for precious-metal-clad base metal from China. No anti-dumping or countervailing measures or suspensions are recorded. Confirm construction, including the head, shaft and clutch, before selecting the commodity code.
The tariff attaches ivory, CITES and seal-product import controls, Russia-related restrictions, and ivory and CITES export controls. Listed-species materials need the applicable CITES permit; seal materials imported into Great Britain for trade need a seal catch certificate. Ivory dealing is banned; ask your broker to confirm any exemption and required import reference. For goods from China, confirm requirements against the actual materials, origin and route, including export controls if returning stock.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plain gold tie pins | 7113 19 00 00 | 2% | None |
| Gold-plated silver tie pins | 7113 11 00 00 | 2% | None |
| Base-metal tie pins clad with gold | 7113 20 00 00 | 4% | None |
Specify the gold head, pin and clutch
Specify the gold fineness, colour, metal weight and dimensions of the decorative head. Identify the metal in the shaft, clutch, safety chain and solder separately. State whether the head is solid or hollow, name any stones and treatments, and agree engraving position, surface finish and individual packing.
Agree plating thickness where applicable, and distinguish gold, gold-plated silver and gold-clad base metal in the specification. A gold-coloured finish alone does not establish the construction. Articles described as gold need a hallmark unless exempt. Ask an assay office to confirm whether a weight exemption applies to the finished design, including any mixed-material components, before production.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 25 plain gold tie pins, illustrative order under 7113 19 00 00, invoiced at £2,500 free on board, with £150 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £2,650. Duty at 2% is £53. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £2,703, so it is £540.60. Import taxes total £593.60; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £53 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Metal and weight: check production samples against the agreed fineness and weight, including solder and separate fittings. Use laboratory or assay-office testing where needed.
Pin and clutch: check shaft straightness, head attachment and clutch retention. Fit samples through the intended tie fabric, check removal, and confirm that the fitted clutch covers the point.
Finish and stones: check colour consistency, scratches, burrs, engraving and plating wear. Inspect stone settings under magnification and check that stones remain secure during handling.
Marks and reports: check the hallmark or documented exemption basis, and match reports to the delivered materials. Check lead and cadmium on base-metal findings, and nickel release where parts have prolonged skin contact. Arrange quality inspection against the approved sample.
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What goes wrong
A matching surface colour can conceal a different metal construction or lower gold weight. Loose clutches lose pins, bent shafts catch fabric, weak joints detach the head, and rough edges snag the tie. Put the approved sample, component materials and functional checks into the order, then inspect production rather than relying on photographs.
A factory fineness stamp should not replace checking the hallmark or exemption basis before sale. Shipping from China does not itself rule out Russia-related import prohibitions. Ask for origin records and have your broker review the route before shipment. Avoid unspecified ivory, coral or other animal-derived decoration until its identity and applicable controls are confirmed.
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 gold tie pins from China?
Gold tie pins under 7113 19 00 00 carry 2%. Gold-plated silver carries 2%, and gold-clad base metal 4%. The supplied snapshot records no anti-dumping or countervailing measures.
Do gold tie pins need a hallmark?
Articles described as gold need a hallmark unless exempt. Ask an assay office to confirm the applicable exemption conditions for the finished article, including its weight and any mixed-material components.
Is a gold-plated tie pin the same as a gold tie pin?
Specify the underlying metal. Gold-plated silver and gold-clad base metal have separate tariff lines. Do not select a code from colour or the supplier’s product name alone.
What should I test on a tie-pin sample?
Check fineness, weight, shaft straightness, head attachment, clutch retention and fabric snagging. Check plating wear, engraving and stone security against the approved specification.