A boutique buyer in Barcelona ordered 400 silver rings, agreed on a price that looked 12% cheaper than other quotes, and was delighted until the courier called: EUR 380 in duties, clearance fees and storage, due on her doorstep. The cheaper quote was FOB; she had assumed it was delivered. Jewelry factory shipping standards are where a "good price" quietly evaporates. This is how Incoterms actually apply to small wholesale jewelry parcels, and how to choose between DDP and FOB without being surprised.
The two shipping terms you will actually use
FOB (Free On Board)
The factory delivers the parcel to the port or airport and loads it. From that moment, risk, freight, insurance and import duties belong to you. FOB is cheaper on the quote, but you need a freight forwarder, an importer-of-record, and the time to handle customs. It fits buyers who already run regular imports and know their HS code.
DDP (Delivered Duty Paid)
The factory handles export clearance, international freight, import duties, taxes and last-mile delivery to your door. You pay one landed price. DDP is more expensive on paper but removes the surprise. It fits first-time importers, boutiques without a forwarder, and any order under 30 kg where the admin cost of FOB outweighs the saving.
| Cost / risk item | FOB | DDP |
|---|---|---|
| Factory freight to airport | Factory | Factory |
| International air/sea freight | You | Factory |
| Export customs (origin) | Factory | Factory |
| Import duty + VAT (destination) | You | Factory |
| Insurance in transit | You arrange | Factory arranges |
| Last-mile delivery | You | Factory |
Packaging standards that protect your goods
Jewelry is small, high-value and easy to scratch. Our outgoing packing standard, which we recommend buyers demand from any factory:
- Each piece individually bagged in a mini ziplock with anti-tarnish strip, SKU sticker up.
- Inner carton divided by foam; no two pieces touch metal-on-metal.
- Outer double-wall export carton, sealed with security tape, marked "JEWELRY — NO HOOK" on all sides.
- Desiccant sachets per carton to keep silver from tarnishing in transit.
- Commercial invoice, packing list and certificate of origin inside a waterproof pouch on the carton.
Cartons over 20 kg are palletised. We ship express (DHL, FedEx) for orders under 30 kg and air freight for 30–200 kg; sea freight becomes the rational choice above 200 kg.
Documents you should receive
Every jewelry export should arrive with: commercial invoice (with correct HS code — 7113.11 for silver, 7113.19 for gold), packing list by SKU, certificate of origin, and for moissanite, the GRA certificates inside the parcel. Missing documents are the reason parcels get held in customs for weeks. We ship the full set with every order.
Transit times buyers should plan around
Express air (DDP door to door): 4–7 working days to EU / US. Standard air freight: 7–12 working days including clearance. Sea freight LCL: 28–38 days to West Coast US, 30–45 days to EU. Plan your Q4 orders against these numbers — sea freight booked after mid-September will not land before Christmas.
Which term fits your business
First-time importers / under 100 pcs: choose DDP. The landed price is the price; no surprises, no forwarder setup.
Regular boutiques (100–1,000 pcs): start DDP, then switch to FOB once you have a forwarder and an EORI / importer number. The saving on freight usually pays back the admin within two orders.
High-volume brands (1,000+ pcs): FOB sea freight, with your own forwarder. This is where unit freight cost drops enough to matter. Keep DDP for rush reorders.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is DDP more expensive than FOB?
DDP looks more expensive on the quote, but it includes duties, taxes, freight and insurance. For first-time importers the all-in DDP price is usually lower than FOB plus hidden customs fees.
What HS code applies to sterling silver jewelry?
Sterling silver jewelry imports under HS 7113.11. Gold jewelry under 7113.19. The correct code determines duty rate; wrong codes are the most common cause of customs holds.
Do you insure the parcel in transit?
Yes. We ship with full cargo insurance covering 110% of invoice value on both DDP and FOB terms. FOB buyers must file their own claim if the parcel is lost; DDP buyers are reimbursed by us.
How long does express DDP take to the US or EU?
Door-to-door, 4–7 working days to major US and EU cities. Remote postcodes add 1–2 days. We share the tracking number the day the parcel leaves our bench.
Can I split one order into DDP and FOB shipments?
Yes. Rush reorders often go DDP express while the main bulk order goes FOB sea freight. We split cartons and documents per shipment at no extra handling fee.
Key takeaways
- Choose DDP as a first-time importer; switch to FOB once you have a forwarder.
- Demand individual anti-tarnish bagging, foam-divided cartons and full export docs.
- Use the correct HS code — 7113.11 for silver, 7113.19 for gold.
- Plan sea freight by mid-September for Q4; express DDP is your rush fallback.
Next step: ask for a DDP quote to your postcode. Sample parcels ship DDP express in 5 business days; MOQ 20 pcs per SKU.
Related: production capacity, factory tour, private label, and all buying guides.
For HS classification of jewellery in customs and export documentation, the WCO Harmonized System nomenclature is the authoritative nomenclature.
Authoritative References
For buyers who need to verify the technical and regulatory basis of this guide, the following independent institutions publish authoritative reference data:
- eCFR Title 19 - U.S. Customs regulations for tariff classification and import documentation.
- European Commission - EU customs, tariffs and trade compliance resources.
