From 50p to £150: How to Build a Profitable Jewellery Brand with China Factory Designs

 

Why China Jewellery Is a Big Opportunity

China’s jewellery factories design and produce huge ranges of rings, necklaces, bracelets and earrings for global brands, from simple fashion pieces to premium designs. Production costs are low, so you can buy very cheaply, rebrand under your own name and sell at much higher prices in your local market.

At One Way Export, we specialise in connecting you with these factories, so you do not need to speak Chinese or understand the local market to get started.

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Realistic Cost and Selling Price Examples

The exact price depends on material, design and quantity, but the numbers are very attractive for brand builders.

• Entry‑level fashion jewellery

  • Materials: alloy or stainless steel with basic plating or stones.

  • Typical factory price: from around £0.50–£2 per piece on bulk orders.

  • Possible retail price: £8–£15 if the design and branding look professional.

• Mid to higher‑quality fashion jewellery

  • Materials: better plating, 316L stainless steel, 925 silver, higher‑grade stones or more advanced designs.

  • Factory price: £10–£30 per piece for more complex or premium pieces.

  • Possible retail price: £60–£150+ under a strong brand, especially online or in boutique positioning.

One Way Export can help you calculate realistic landed costs (including shipping, duty and packaging) and set target retail prices so your margins stay healthy.

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Pros: Why This Business Model Works

When done correctly, importing jewellery from China and selling under your own brand is one of the highest‑margin product models.

• Very strong profit margins

  • Many successful brands sell jewellery at 3–5 times their real cost once they have a clear style and good private‑label setup.

  • Example: buy pieces for around £0.50, all‑in landed maybe £1, and retail at £10; or buy higher‑end pieces at £20–£30, all‑in around £40, then retail at £120–£150.

• Huge design choice

  • Chinese manufacturers release new styles constantly and can also work from your own sketches or moodboards.

  • You can test many designs in small batches, then scale the winners.

• Easy to private‑label and brand

  • Factories can add your logo to tags, boxes, pouches and even stamp or engrave it on the jewellery itself.

  • One Way Export can coordinate custom packaging, logo placement and brand identity across suppliers.

• Small, light and cheap to ship

  • Jewellery is low weight and high value, so international shipping and storage costs are relatively low per item.

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Cons: Risks and What to Watch Out For

There are real risks that you must control if you want long‑term profit and a strong brand.

• Quality and consistency

  • Poor plating, weak clasps or cheap stones can lead to returns and bad reviews.

  • Samples, clear specifications and quality checks before mass production are essential; One Way Export can help set up this process with the factory.

• Copy designs and IP issues

  • Some suppliers show designs very similar to big brands, which may create legal risk in Europe or the UK.

  • Safer to work on generic or custom designs; we can help you focus on original or customised pieces instead of direct copies.

• Import duties and paperwork

  • You must handle HS codes, customs declarations, duties and VAT correctly.

  • One Way Export can guide you on documentation and work with freight partners so the process is smoother.

• Brand and reputation risk

  • Jewellery is worn on the body; if it tarnishes quickly or causes allergy, customers react strongly.

  • Picking the right materials (for example stainless steel or 925 silver) and being honest in descriptions protects your brand; we can help you specify materials with the factory.

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How Much Could You Earn? Business‑Mode View

Below are simple example scenarios to show what is possible if you manage costs and branding properly.

Example 1 – Low‑cost, high‑volume fashion line

• Order: 1,000 pieces at £0.50 factory cost → £500.

• Add shipping, duty, packaging: total cost ~£500.

• Landed cost: about £1 per piece.

• Retail price: £10 per piece through your website and marketplaces.

If you sell all 1,000 pieces:

• Revenue ≈ £10,000.

• Gross profit before ads, fees and overhead ≈ £9,000.

One Way Export can help you choose suppliers, negotiate price, and design packaging so this type of model is realistic, not just theory.

Example 2 – Smaller volume, higher‑end line

• Order: 200 premium pieces at £30 factory cost → £6,000.

• Landed cost after shipping, duty and packaging: about £40 per piece.

• Retail price with strong brand look: £150 per piece.

If you sell all 200 pieces:

• Revenue ≈ £30,000.

• Gross profit before overhead ≈ £22,000.

We can help structure this as a boutique brand with limited collections, better photography and packaging, so customers are comfortable paying higher prices.

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How One Way Export Helps You Build the Brand

Turning cheap jewellery into a serious brand needs more than just a factory; it needs a system. One Way Export can support you in key areas:

• Product and supplier sourcing

  • We help you find reliable jewellery factories in China (for example in Guangzhou, Yiwu, Shenzhen) that match your budget and quality level.

  • We assist with sampling, design selection and negotiation so you do not overpay.

• Brand and private‑label setup

  • Support with logo placement on jewellery, tags, boxes and pouches.

  • Advice on creating a consistent look and collection structure so your store feels like a brand, not a random mix.

• Quality control and compliance

  • Guidance on materials (stainless steel vs alloy, 925 silver, nickel‑free) to reduce returns and allergy issues.

  • Coordination of inspections or checks before shipment, depending on order size.

• Shipping, import and scaling

  • Help choosing shipping options (air, sea, courier) depending on order volume and urgency.

  • As your sales grow, we can help you reorder, expand collections and add new categories like watches or accessories.

With the right designs, clear brand positioning and a strong supply chain, jewellery from China can genuinely go from 50p cost to £150 retail. One Way Export is here to connect all the pieces so you can focus on selling, marketing and building your name.