Jewellery imported into the US must be marked with its country of origin, for example "Made in India", in a way the end buyer can see. For small pieces that cannot be marked themselves, customs usually accepts marking on the card, tag, pouch or box the piece is sold in.
The EU and UK do not have a general origin-marking rule for jewellery, but the origin must be stated on customs documents and must not be misleading if it appears on the product.
How the US rule works
- The mark must be legible, in English and as permanent as the article allows.
- It must reach the "ultimate purchaser", which for retail jewellery means the shopper.
- If the piece is sold on a card or in a box, the card or box can carry the mark.
- If you repack goods in the US, the new packaging must keep the origin mark.
- Goods that arrive unmarked can be held at customs and may face extra duties until marked.
Other markets
Gulf countries commonly require origin on the label, often in Arabic. Canada requires origin marking on some product categories and checks it at entry. In every market, the commercial invoice and certificate of origin must show India as the origin, and if you claim a trade preference, the origin must meet that agreement's rules.
Getting it right at packing
Put "Made in India" on every card, tag or pouch, and on the outer cartons. Check spelling and placement on the approved packaging sample, then at packing. Do not let anyone print "Designed in" wording that could make origin look unclear. Our guide to labelling requirements for imported jewellery covers the other details that go on the card.
What this means for a buyer
Origin marking is simple once it is in the packaging artwork, and expensive to fix at the port. Creston & Co works for buyers only, for a fixed fee agreed in writing. We check origin marks, labels and carton markings before goods leave Rajkot and coordinate documents with your forwarder. Start with a free sourcing review.