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02 February, 2026
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Top 10 925 Sterling Silver Jewellery Manufacturers Wholesalers and Suppliers in the UK
How to Start an Online Jewellery Business in the UK: Step-by-Step Guide
The UK online jewellery market is a great opportunity for retailers and wholesalers like you in the UK. Yet, for every successful boutique brand, there are various options available to choose from. But you should be wary of choosing one because of poor design and because they underestimated the specific regulatory rigour of the British market.
Selling jewellery pieces in the UK requires you to have an understanding of laws that hold penalties for non-compliance.
This guide moves beyond generic advice and provides you with the practical, operational roadmap for building a compliant, profitable, and scalable online jewellery business in the UK. Also, it covers everything from registering your sponsor mark to deciding on suitable packaging.
Before you buy a single chain, you must understand the Hallmarking Act of 1973. These are the most critical legal laws for any UK jeweller.
The Law: You cannot describe any item as "Gold," "Silver," "Platinum," or "Palladium" unless it is hallmarked by one of the four UK Assay Offices (London, Birmingham, Sheffield, or Edinburgh).
The Exemptions: There are weight thresholds below which hallmarking is optional:
Silver: Under 7.78 grams
Gold: Under 1.0 gram
Platinum: Under 0.5 grams
The Trap: Various wholesalers try to dropship silver rings from overseas directly to UK customers. If that ring weighs 8 grams and arrives without a UK hallmark, this is not legal to sell.
Actionable Step: If you plan to sell items above these weights, you must register with an Assay Office. Also, this involves paying a registration fee (typically around £60+VAT) to create your unique Sponsor’s Mark (your maker's mark). Apart from that, you will then need to factor in the time and cost of sending your stock to the Assay Office for testing and marking before it goes to your customer.
Your sourcing strategy defines your margins and your logistical headaches.
Option A: UK Wholesalers (The Reliable Route) Sourcing from established UK trade suppliers eliminates import duty complexities and often solves the hallmarking issue (many sell pre-hallmarked goods).
Where to look: Focus on the Birmingham Jewellery Quarter and Hatton Garden trade directories. Suppliers like W J Sutton (for chains and findings) and Betts Metal Sales (for raw materials) are industry staples.
Pros: Fast shipping (often next-day), high quality, and legal compliance.
Option B: Importing & Private Label Manufacturing abroad (e.g., India, Thailand, Italy) offers better margins but higher complexity.
The Reality: You act as the importer of record. You must pay import VAT (20%) and duties upon arrival. Crucially, you must send these goods to an Assay Office before selling them.
Expert Tip: Some Assay Offices (like London) have facilities at major logistics hubs (like Heathrow) to streamline this process for importers.
Option C: Dropshipping (The High-Risk Route) Dropshipping precious metals into the UK is logistically difficult due to hallmarking laws. If you dropship, stick to base metals (brass, stainless steel) or items strictly under the weight exemption thresholds to avoid legal exposure.
Sole Trader vs. Limited Company: Most indie jewellers start as Sole Traders for simplicity. However, registering as a Limited Company protects your personal assets if the business faces debts.
VAT Registration: You only need to register for VAT if your taxable turnover exceeds £85,000 (frozen until 2026). However, voluntary registration allows you to reclaim VAT on your startup costs (stock, packaging, laptop), which can be significant.
Insurance: Standard business insurance won't cut it. Look for "Jewellers Block" policies or specific craft insurance that covers stock in transit and at home. Companies like T H March specialize in this sector.
In 2025, the "unboxing experience" is your primary marketing tool. UK consumers are particularly sensitive to sustainability.
The "Eco" Standard: Plastic-free is the baseline. Sourcing FSC-certified cardboard boxes and recyclable inserts is essential.
Suppliers: Look at UK-based leaders like Tiny Box Company or Pollards & Talbots for recycled and aesthetic options. Westpack is another industry favourite that ships to the UK with transparent eco-credentials.
Branding: Custom-printed boxes (hot foil stamping with your logo) elevate perceived value. If you can't afford custom printing yet, high-quality branded stickers or tissue paper are a cost-effective alternative.
Your website must replace the physical experience of trying on jewellery.
Platform: Shopify remains the gold standard for jewellery due to its robust inventory management and integrations with UK shipping apps (Royal Mail, DPD). Etsy is excellent for handmade, lower-volume items, but charges transaction fees that eat into margins as you scale.
Visuals: Invest in a macro lens or hire a professional photographer. You need three key shots:
White Background: For clarity.
Lifestyle/Model: To show scale (crucial for earrings and necklaces).
Detail/Macro: To show the quality of the setting and hallmark.
Starting an online jewellery business in the UK is a journey of balancing creativity with strict compliance. The barrier to entry is higher than in other e-commerce niches, but this is an advantage it filters out non-serious competitors. By securing your Sponsor's Mark, sourcing responsibly from trusted UK hubs or verified international partners, and delivering a premium, sustainable unboxing experience, you build more than just a shop; you build a trusted brand with longevity.
