Sourcing watch glasses and lens blanks from China
Clock and watch glasses and similar glasses, and curved glass blanks for corrective or non-corrective spectacles, not optically worked, from China pay 0% UK duty on both lines of heading 7015, with no anti-dumping duty. Sapphire crystals are not glass and are classified elsewhere. Watchmakers and optical labs check glass type, dimensions, curvature, coatings and surface quality.
0% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 October 2026, heading 7015 covers clock or watch glasses and similar glasses, glasses for non-corrective or corrective spectacles, curved, bent, hollowed or the like, not optically worked, and hollow glass spheres and their segments for making such glasses. Both lines carried 0% on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure.
Watch cases are covered in our watch cases guide, and sunglasses in our sunglasses guide. Optically worked lenses and synthetic sapphire crystals are other headings, so confirm the commodity code.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glasses for corrective spectacles, not optically worked | 7015 10 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Watch and clock glasses and other similar glasses | 7015 90 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specifying glasses
Specify material (mineral glass, hardened glass), diameter, thickness and curvature (flat, domed, box), edge profile, anti-reflective or other coatings, and surface defect limits. Spectacle blanks for corrective lenses feed into a regulated product, so the finished lens maker's requirements apply.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 10,000 domed mineral glass watch crystals under 7015 90 00 00, invoiced at £3,000 free on board, with £100 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,100. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,100, so it is £620. 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
Dimensions: measure diameter, thickness and dome height against the drawing.
Surface: check scratches, bubbles and coating defects under light.
Fit: fit samples into your cases with the gasket. 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 glass orders fail on fit and surface. Diameters are off so glasses do not seat, coatings are uneven, and scratches appear from poor packing.
Cambridge China Bridge sources watch and optical components for UK makers from small lots; see small orders.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on watch glasses from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 October 2026, clock and watch glasses under heading 7015 carried 0% from China.
Are sapphire watch crystals in heading 7015?
No. Synthetic sapphire is not glass and is classified elsewhere.
Are finished spectacle lenses in heading 7015?
No. Heading 7015 covers blanks not optically worked; finished lenses are other headings.
What should I check on watch glasses?
Diameter, thickness, dome height, coatings and surface defects, and fit in your case.