How to Find Jewelry Suppliers in China

China plays a central role in the global jewelry supply chain. The country boasts a large-scale production capacity, experienced workers, robust industrial clusters, and a well-developed cross-border logistics system. Due to this, China remains one of the primary sourcing centers for jewelry companies worldwide.

According to the latest data from The Observatory of Economic Complexity, in 2024, China exported $1.03B of Imitation jewellery nes. This confirms that China remains highly competitive in jewelry production and global supply.

But for most overseas buyers, the hard part is how to determine reliable jewelry suppliers. In this article, EJET Procurement will share some steps to help you find trustworthy jewelry suppliers in China.

Identify Your Product Requirements

Before searching for suppliers, you need to define your product requirements. Clear specifications will help you avoid misunderstandings, reduce unnecessary costs, and select the right type of factory from the beginning.

Material requirements

Material requirements decide the jewelry supplier level and the factory's technical skills. Different materials need different supply chains and processes. You do not need to understand every technical detail, but you should know the basic categories below.

• Gold / Precious Metals: Work with licensed factories that can handle metal registration and testing.

• Silver (925 / S999): Choose suppliers with stable plating quality, consistent samples, and strong polishing ability.

• Stainless Steel: It is good for fast-fashion sellers because the MOQ is low and production is fast.

• Alloy / Inlay Jewelry: Requires suppliers with solid electroplating and stone-setting processes.

Choosing the wrong material category often leads to repeated communication and delays. A professional sourcing partner like EJET Procurement can help pre-screen suppliers, verify certificates, and conduct factory audits based on your requirements.

Product positioning

Different business models need different types of jewelry suppliers. Brands, wholesale buyers, and fast-fashion sellers have different standards.

Your business model directly determines the type of jewelry suppliers you should work with. Clear positioning helps you avoid factories that do not match your target quality or production scale.

Where Do Jewelers Get Their Supplies

There are many channels in the jewelry supply chain, but not every channel is suitable for your business. EJET Procurement summarizes them by authenticity, cost, and suitability.

B2B e-commerce platform

1. Alibaba (International Station)

2. 1688 (China Domestic Sales Platform)

3. Made-in-China

4. Global Sources

E-commerce platforms are very easy to use, namely, easy search. They are suitable for beginners because of their wide selection of products. And buyers can easily and quickly compare from jewelry suppliers' capacities like MOQ, prices, and styles.

The disadvantage is that many trading companies pretend to be factories. They do not have stable quality control, which results in significant price differences and difficulty in determining the true craftsmanship. Considering the pros and cons, this type of platform is suitable for resale and small sellers. They can buy wholesale jewelry supplies by quickly finding sources of goods.

Trade show

1. Hong Kong International Jewelry Fair

2. Shenzhen International Jewelry Exhibition

3. Guangzhou Trade Fair (Canton Fair)

4. Yiwu Jewelry Exhibition (Small and Fast Fashion)

The above industry exhibitions are not the full list. Trade shows allow buyers to verify suppliers on-site, review product quality in person, and speak directly with factory representatives.

Exhibitors are mostly real factories or large traders. Therefore, it's easier to find some top wholesale jewelry suppliers. Many international and professional buyers almost always attend the exhibition on-site to find a reliable partnership.

China Sourcing Agent

This model is becoming increasingly popular among overseas buyers. Because it's easy and efficient for buyers to run their business. China sourcing agents can help buyers find long-term stable jewelry suppliers and reduce risks.

Their services include verifying factories, compare samples, track orders, completing inspections, and manage risks.

Take EJET Procurement as an example, we are an experienced China sourcing agent. Our job is to help customers navigate key wholesale jewelry markets in China and build a strong partnership with reliable jewelry suppliers. We bridge every step of the sourcing process with efficiency, transparency, and accountability.

Inquire now, and use EJET Procurement's professional capabilities to reduce your trial-and-error cost by 70%.

Which Kind of Jewelry Suppliers Is Right for You

So how to find suitable suppliers? The best suppliers for different types of buyers are completely different!

EJET Procurement divides suppliers into four groups:

How Do I Find Legit Jewelry Suppliers in China

When choosing a supplier, be alert to any of the following:

• The company address is "commercial and residential apartment"

• The product image is completely consistent with other merchants

• Video factory inspection has been consistently declined

• The quotation is much lower than the material cost (typical scam tactic)

• Claiming to specialize in producing 14K gold, but unable to provide material certification

• The number of factory employees clearly does not match the quantity of products

• No photos of production equipment (inlay table, CNC machine, polishing machine)

Note that the jewelry industry has a high incidence of fake or shell factories. This situation makes overseas buyers more vulnerable to fraud. Therefore, EJET provides a six-step screening process for jewelry suppliers.

Firstly, qualification verification needs to be checked.

Start by checking basic qualifications. Look at the business license, physical address, and whether a real factory exists. Review certificates and compliance documents, including material reports, testing reports, and environmental standards.

Some precious metal categories may also require international certifications.

The next necessary step is sample evaluation.

A sample evaluation is necessary. Check if the stone inlay is firm. Confirm whether the plating thickness meets the standard (recommended ≥ 0.03–0.05 μm).

Look at the polishing quality and whether the surface is smooth. Check allergy risk by verifying nickel content. Finally, make sure letters and logos are clear.

Samples are the only reliable way to understand the real workmanship of a supplier. A trustworthy supplier will never refuse to send samples.

Thirdly, inspect the factory.

Factory inspection is the next important step.

EJET's procurement experts recommend checking the size of the production workshop.

Confirm whether all processes are done in-house. For example, check if electroplating is outsourced and whether inlay work is completed internally.

You should also check the number of machines, such as polishing machines, vacuum plating furnaces, inlay tables, and laser engraving machines. Make sure the number of workers matches the production capacity.

Look at the material storage area and see if it is well-managed, especially for silver ingots and gold bars.

Fourthly, negotiation and contract signing are important.

After selecting suitable jewelry suppliers, it is important to pay attention to the contract, especially the MOQ, payment method (recommended to be phased), and plating thickness, embedding firm standards in the contract. 

It should also cover delivery times, compensation rules for delays or quality issues, packaging requirements, and logo printing or engraving specifications.

Fifthly, monitor production and quality inspection

Production monitoring and QC are often overlooked by overseas buyers. Important QC checkpoints include mid-term inspection to prevent shortcuts in semi-finished products.

Buyers should also test plating thickness using XRF instruments. Finished products must go through AQL sampling. Packaging integrity checks and optional tests should also be included.

Last is risk management.

Buyers need to avoid making large one-time payments. And it is recommended to keep 20% of the final payment until after inspection. Avoid a large number of SKUs in the early stages of cooperation. Avoid jewelry manufacturers with fluctuating prices. Eliminate placing orders without contracts or samples. Keep all records, including WeChat chats, PIs, and testing reports.

FAQ

How to determine whether a Chinese jewelry supplier is reliable?

Look at its factory qualifications, production system, sampling efficiency, compliance certification, and long-term customer types.

Contact us now. EJET Procurement will assist you in quickly screening reliable supply chains. Then, recommend reliable jewelry suppliers and key audit points for you.

How to ensure consistency between bulk quality and sample?

You need a clear and complete process. This process should include sample records, incoming material checks, plating standards, sampling rules, and final QC. Each step helps make sure the final products match what you approved.

EJET Procurement can assist you in establishing a "stable and replicable" QC process or recommend factories that strictly adhere to international standards. So, seeking professional China sourcing agents like EJET Procurement can significantly reduce your trial and error costs.

We offer market guides and buying agent services, especially in the Yiwu wholesale market. A one-stop China sourcing service will be provided by EJET Procurement, including Factory screening, sample evaluation, quality inspection, logistics, and risk control help you quickly and conveniently achieve ideal products in reality.