Sourcing watch cases and parts from China
Watch cases and case parts from China, stainless steel, titanium, bronze and precious metal cases, backs, bezels and crowns for microbrands and watchmakers, pay 0% UK duty on all four lines of heading 9111, with no anti-dumping duty. Precious metal cases sold in the UK as gold, silver or platinum must be hallmarked. Buyers check tolerances, water resistance and finish.
0% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 17 November 2026, heading 9111 covers watch cases and parts thereof, split into precious metal, base metal and other cases, and parts. All four lines carried 0% on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure.
Complete watches are covered in our watches guide and gold and silver case watches guide, and straps in our watch straps guide; confirm the commodity code.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watch cases of precious metal or metal clad with precious metal | 9111 10 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Watch cases of base metal, whether or not plated | 9111 20 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Other watch cases | 9111 80 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Parts of watch cases | 9111 90 00 00 | 0% | None |
Hallmarking and specification
Gold, silver, platinum and palladium articles sold in the UK under those descriptions must be hallmarked under the Hallmarking Act 1973, subject to its weight exemptions, so plan precious metal cases around UK assay office hallmarking.
Specify the material grade, case dimensions and tolerances for your movement and dial, crystal type and gasket, crown and case back design, water resistance rating and test method, finishing (brushed, polished, PVD), and engraving. Approve first articles fitted with your movement before production.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 2,000 316L stainless steel watch cases for a UK microbrand under 9111 20 00 00, invoiced at £30,000 free on board, with £400 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £30,400. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £30,400, so it is £6,080. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Fit: check movement and dial fit, crown alignment and case back threads on samples.
Water resistance: pressure-test sample cases with gaskets fitted.
Finish: check brushing and polishing lines, PVD colour and engraving under magnification. See our quality inspection guide.
Working out your own order? Send us the product on WhatsApp and we reply the same working day: WhatsApp us
What goes wrong
Watch case orders fail on tolerances, sealing and finish. Movements do not sit correctly, gaskets fail pressure tests, polishing leaves waves on edges, and a lower grade of steel is used.
Cambridge China Bridge helps UK watch microbrands find case makers and approve first articles; see product development.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on watch cases from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 17 November 2026, all four lines of heading 9111 carried 0% from China.
Do gold watch cases need hallmarking?
Precious metal articles sold in the UK under those descriptions must be hallmarked, subject to weight exemptions.
How do I check water resistance?
Pressure-test sample cases with gaskets fitted, to the rating and method in the specification.
Are complete watches in heading 9111?
No. Heading 9111 is cases and case parts; complete watches are headings 9101 and 9102.