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Jewellery

Export imitation (fashion) jewellery

Fashion and costume jewellery for boutiques and online sellers; the USA, UK, France and Spain lead.

Free to exportHS 7117
HS code
7117
Imitation jewellery of base metal, glass, plastic or other materials — necklaces, earrings, bangles, hair accessories.
Export policy
Free to export
Free to export under ITC(HS) Schedule 2.
Registrations
4
IEC, GST and those below
India’s exports, 2025-26
US$ 132 mn
to 112 countries

What is exported

Indian fashion jewellery includes oxidised metal, kundan-style, beaded, glass and resin pieces, made in Jaipur, Delhi, Mumbai, Rajkot and elsewhere. Buyers are fashion brands, boutiques and online sellers, often ordering small quantities of many designs. In 2025-26 India exported about US$ 132 million under HS 7117; the USA led, followed by the UK, France, Spain and the UAE.

Varieties, grades and forms

  • Brass and copper-alloy jewelleryGold-plated or oxidised necklaces, earrings and bangles — the core of the trade.
  • Kundan, polki-style and temple designsStone-studded bridal and festive sets, mostly for diaspora markets.
  • German-silver and oxidised tribal jewelleryBoho-style pieces for fashion retailers.
  • Bead, glass and fabric jewelleryHandmade fashion pieces using glass beads, thread and fabric.
  • Stainless-steel fashion jewelleryLow-allergy rings and chains, growing with online sellers.

Where it is grown or made

  • MaharashtraMumbai — design, plating and export houses
  • GujaratRajkot — imitation jewellery manufacturing cluster
  • DelhiDelhi — fashion and oxidised jewellery
  • RajasthanJaipur — kundan-style and tribal jewellery

Export packing

  • Each piece goes in a small zip-lock polybag (anti-tarnish where possible) on a printed card, then into boxes and 5-ply cartons.
  • Retail-ready packs carry the buyer's barcode and a metal-content label; EU and US buyers need test reports for lead, cadmium and nickel.
  • Small high-value orders usually go by air courier.

Who buys abroad

  • Fashion-accessory chains and department stores
  • Diaspora jewellery and bridal shops
  • Wholesalers in the Gulf and Africa
  • Online sellers and boutique brands

The quality buyers ask for

Nickel release
EU REACH: 0.5 µg/cm²/week for parts in prolonged skin contact and 0.2 µg/cm²/week for piercing posts (tested by EN 1811)
Lead
EU REACH: under 0.05% by weight in jewellery parts; USA: 100 ppm in children's jewellery substrate (CPSIA)
Cadmium
EU REACH: under 0.01% by weight in metal parts of jewellery
US voluntary standards
ASTM F2923 (children's jewellery) and ASTM F2999 (adult jewellery) used by US retailers
Plating
Plating type and thickness in microns; tarnish and sweat resistance (artificial sweat and salt-spray tests)
Construction
Stone setting strength, clasp and jump-ring pull tests

Certificates

  • Chemical test report (nickel, lead, cadmium)RequiredEU and US buyers will not list jewellery without a recent report from an accredited lab.
  • Children's Product Certificate (USA)Often askedRequired for jewellery made for children 12 and under, based on tests at a CPSC-accepted lab.
  • Social compliance audit (amfori BSCI or SMETA)Often askedAsked for by chain stores; home-based work must be documented.
  • ISO 9001Often askedQuality system for larger units.
  • Pollution control consentRequiredPlating units need State Pollution Control Board consent.

Shipping, storage and shelf life

Container load

High value, low weight: most orders go by air or courier in small cartons; each piece in a zip bag with anti-tarnish strip.

How it travels

Air freight and courier (including Postal/courier export routes for small e-commerce lots).

Storage

Keep dry and sealed; humidity tarnishes plating.

What goes on the pack and carton

  • Country of origin on the card or bag ('Made in India').
  • No claims such as 'silver' or 'gold' unless the metal content supports them; say 'gold-plated' or 'silver-tone'.
  • Children's jewellery in the USA: tracking label with maker, date and batch.
  • Small-parts choking warning where required.
Where to get it tested

Search the NABL directory for labs accredited for nickel release (EN 1811) and lead/cadmium in metals. For US children's jewellery, the lab must be on the CPSC list of accepted third-party labs; several have branches in Delhi NCR, Mumbai and Jaipur.

Benefits of exporting this product

Where to register

  • GJEPC (Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council)Costume and fashion jewellery is listed under GJEPC in DGFT Appendix 2T; take the RCMC there.gjepc.org ↗
  • EPCH / Plexconcil (by type)Artistic hand-made jewellery is listed under EPCH, and plastic bangles and plastic imitation jewellery under Plexconcil.epch.in ↗

Quality and checks

  • EU REACH limits nickel release from items in contact with skin, and lead and cadmium in jewellery. Get your metal and plating tested.
  • USA: children's jewellery must meet CPSC lead limits and testing rules; California Proposition 65 also applies to adult jewellery.
  • Plating thickness and tarnish tests if the buyer specifies them.
How to start small

Light, high-value pieces suit courier and air shipments, so you can start with small online or boutique orders. Build a design range, test the base metal for nickel and lead, register with GJEPC, and use courier export or postal export routes for the first orders.

Where new exporters go wrong

  • Nickel or lead failures found by EU or US market checks, leading to recalls and lost buyers.
  • Copying designs from known brands — design and trademark claims abroad.
  • Plating that tarnishes within weeks; buyers send whole lots back.

Documents this product needs

Schemes that apply

Sources (6)
  1. Department of Commerce, Export Import Data Bank — India's exports of HS 7117 by country, 2025-26
  2. DGFT — Appendix 2T: Export Promotion Councils and the products under each
  3. DGFT — ITC(HS) export policy search (Schedule 2)
  4. European Chemicals Agency — Understanding REACH
  5. US Consumer Product Safety Commission — business guidance
  6. GJEPC — official site

Trade data

Indian imitation (fashion) jewellery exports in numbers

From the Department of Commerce’s TradeStat, country by country. US$, Indian financial years (April–March).

Exports in 2025-26
US$ 132 mn
-1.2% a year on average, 2020-21 to 2025-26
Change from 2024-25
↓ -3.5%
US$ 136 mn → US$ 132 mn
Buyer countries
112
Average export price
US$ 19.02
per kg · 6,922 tonnes shipped · US$ 26.38 the year before
United States of America: US$ 33.1 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 14 mnFrance: US$ 10.2 mnSpain: US$ 8.6 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 5.3 mnNetherlands: US$ 4.7 mnItaly: US$ 4.7 mnAustralia: US$ 3.8 mnGermany: US$ 3.6 mnBangladesh: US$ 3.5 mnCanada: US$ 3.3 mnMalaysia: US$ 2.6 mnSaudi Arabia: US$ 2.5 mnMauritius: US$ 1.2 mnJapan: US$ 1.1 mnChina: US$ 980kNepal: US$ 980kSri Lanka: US$ 940kUnited States of America: US$ 33.1 mnUnited States of AmericaUnited Kingdom: US$ 14 mnUnited KingdomFrance: US$ 10.2 mnSpain: US$ 8.6 mnSpainUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 5.3 mnUnited Arab EmiratesNetherlands: US$ 4.7 mnItaly: US$ 4.7 mnAustralia: US$ 3.8 mnAustraliaGermany: US$ 3.6 mnBangladesh: US$ 3.5 mnBangladeshCanada: US$ 3.3 mnMalaysia: US$ 2.6 mnSaudi Arabia: US$ 2.5 mnMauritius: US$ 1.2 mnJapan: US$ 1.1 mnChina: US$ 980kNepal: US$ 980kSri Lanka: US$ 940kIndia
Where Indian imitation (fashion) jewellery goes — among our 30 countries, 2025-26
2020-21: US$ 140 mn1402020-212021-22: US$ 168 mn1682021-222022-23: US$ 153 mn1532022-232023-24: US$ 144 mn1442023-242024-25: US$ 136 mn1362024-252025-26: US$ 132 mn1322025-26
India’s imitation (fashion) jewellery exports, year by year · US$ million

The price cycle

India’s average export price per kg each year (total value ÷ total quantity). Highest in 2020-21, lowest in 2025-26 — a 160% swing between them. Keep this swing in mind when you quote.

2020-21: US$ 49.43 per kg49.432021-22: US$ 22.31 per kg2022-23: US$ 19.87 per kg2024-25: US$ 26.38 per kg2025-26: US$ 19.02 per kg19.022020-212021-222022-232023-242024-252025-26
Average export price of Indian imitation (fashion) jewellery · US$ per kg · dotted = year in between not available

What next: a projection from the trend

The past trend carried forward — not a forecast by any authority. Sudden changes in policy, prices or demand are not in it.

2020-21: US$ 140 mn2020-212021-22: US$ 168 mn2021-222022-23: US$ 153 mn2022-232023-24: US$ 144 mn2023-242024-25: US$ 136 mn2024-252025-26: US$ 132 mn2025-262026-27: US$ 131 mn (US$ 118 mn – US$ 146 mn)1312026-272027-28: US$ 128 mn (US$ 113 mn – US$ 144 mn)1282027-28
India’s imitation (fashion) jewellery exports and projection · hollow bars = projection, line = likely range
By 2027-28: US$ 128 mn

Likely range US$ 113 mn to US$ 144 mn.

Trend
-2.8% a year
Fit (R²)
0.35 — weak, read with care
Based on
6 years of official figures

Method: a straight line through the logarithm of yearly exports (log-linear regression); range = ±1 standard error.

Biggest buyer countries

By value in 2025-26. Change is against 2024-25.

Name2025-26Change
1United States of AmericaUS$ 33.1 mn-7.6%
2United KingdomUS$ 14 mn-3.5%
3FranceUS$ 10.2 mn+9.8%
4SpainUS$ 8.6 mn+5.4%
5United Arab EmiratesUS$ 5.3 mn-7.3%
6NetherlandsUS$ 4.7 mn-8.4%
7ItalyUS$ 4.7 mn-24.6%
8AustraliaUS$ 3.8 mn+11.5%
9GermanyUS$ 3.6 mn-28.1%
10BangladeshUS$ 3.5 mn+113.3%
11NigeriaUS$ 3.5 mn+5.1%
12CanadaUS$ 3.3 mn+20.4%

Where demand is rising and falling

Only countries that buy at least US$ 1 million or 1% of India’s exports of this product. Change from 2024-25 to 2025-26.

High demand

  1. Hong KongUS$ 570k → US$ 1.7 mn+201.8%
  2. BangladeshUS$ 1.7 mn → US$ 3.5 mn+113.3%
  3. MalaysiaUS$ 2 mn → US$ 2.6 mn+33%
  4. PortugalUS$ 2 mn → US$ 2.5 mn+26.5%
  5. PolandUS$ 1.5 mn → US$ 1.8 mn+22.8%
  6. CanadaUS$ 2.7 mn → US$ 3.3 mn+20.4%
  7. BelgiumUS$ 1.4 mn → US$ 1.6 mn+13.8%
  8. AustraliaUS$ 3.4 mn → US$ 3.8 mn+11.5%

Low demand

  1. ThailandUS$ 4.5 mn → US$ 630k-86%
  2. Saudi ArabiaUS$ 4.2 mn → US$ 2.5 mn-41%
  3. GermanyUS$ 5 mn → US$ 3.6 mn-28.1%
  4. ItalyUS$ 6.2 mn → US$ 4.7 mn-24.6%

Which forms sell, and at what price

India’s exports by 8-digit tariff line, 2025-26. Average price = total value ÷ total quantity (TradeStat): the average of every shipment on that line, not the price of any one deal.

Tariff lineValue 2025-26ChangeQuantityAverage price
Other imitation jewellery for personal adornment(other than artware)7117 90 90 · Jewellery, imitation, of other than base metal, whether or not plated with precious metalUS$ 89.6 mn-3.5%2,733 tonnesUS$ 32.78 per kgwas US$ 37.36
Others-of-other imitation jewellery of base metal whether or not plated with precious metal7117 19 90 · Jewellery, imitation,, of base metal, whether or not plated with precious metalUS$ 26 mn+10.5%2,266 tonnesUS$ 11.48 per kgwas US$ 17.06
Jewellery, imitation,, of base metal, whether or not plated with precious metal — bangles7117 19 10US$ 8 mn+0.1%1,470 tonnesUS$ 5.42 per kgwas US$ 7.66
Jewellery set with imitation pearls or imitation or synthetic stones7117 90 10 · Jewellery, imitation, of other than base metal, whether or not plated with precious metalUS$ 7.8 mn-33.7%436 tonnesUS$ 17.78 per kgwas US$ 45.80
Cuff links and studs of base metal whether or not plated with precious metal7117 11 00 · Jewellery, imitation, cuff links and studs, of base metal, whether or not plated with precious metalUS$ 200k-25.9%18 tonnesUS$ 11.23 per kgwas US$ 22.56
Jewellery, imitation,, of base metal, whether or not plated with precious metal — german silver jewellery7117 19 20US$ 150k+7.1%0.3 tonnesUS$ 510.20 per kgwas US$ 236.49

The world market

Each country’s own recorded exports and imports in UN Comtrade, 2023 (the latest year nearly every country has reported).

World imports
US$ 7.26 bn
2023
India among exporters
#8
of 147 countries
India’s share of world exports
1.5%
US$ 145 mn
Left for others to win
US$ 9.76 bn
exported by other countries

Top exporters — your competitors

  1. 1ChinaUS$ 4.65 bn 46.9%
  2. 2FranceUS$ 903 mn 9.1%
  3. 3China, Hong Kong SARUS$ 878 mn 8.9%
  4. 4ItalyUS$ 670 mn 6.8%
  5. 5GermanyUS$ 431 mn 4.4%
  6. 6ThailandUS$ 305 mn 3.1%
  7. 7USAUS$ 209 mn 2.1%
  8. 8IndiaUS$ 145 mn 1.5%
  9. 9SingaporeUS$ 141 mn 1.4%
  10. 10SpainUS$ 124 mn 1.3%

Biggest buyers in the world

  1. 1USAUS$ 1.04 bn 14.3%
  2. 2FranceUS$ 615 mn 8.5%
  3. 3GermanyUS$ 479 mn 6.6%
  4. 4United KingdomUS$ 380 mn 5.2%
  5. 5China, Hong Kong SARUS$ 346 mn 4.8%
  6. 6JapanUS$ 336 mn 4.6%
  7. 7ChinaUS$ 308 mn 4.2%
  8. 8ItalyUS$ 292 mn 4%
  9. 9Saudi ArabiaUS$ 242 mn 3.3%
  10. 10SpainUS$ 230 mn 3.2%

Opportunity: what these countries buy from the world, and from India

Each country’s own recorded imports in UN Comtrade, latest year it has reported. The long light part of each bar is demand other countries are filling today.

United States of AmericaUS$ 987 mnIndia 2.2% · gap US$ 965 mn
FranceUS$ 610 mnIndia 1.9% · gap US$ 598 mn
GermanyUS$ 481 mnIndia 1.8% · gap US$ 472 mn
ChinaUS$ 392 mnIndia 0.5% · gap US$ 390 mn
United KingdomUS$ 380 mnIndia 4.8% · gap US$ 362 mn
JapanUS$ 331 mnIndia 0.3% · gap US$ 330 mn
ItalyUS$ 315 mnIndia 1.9% · gap US$ 309 mn
Saudi ArabiaUS$ 276 mnIndia 1.8% · gap US$ 271 mn
SpainUS$ 257 mnIndia 4.2% · gap US$ 246 mn
NetherlandsUS$ 210 mnIndia 2.3% · gap US$ 205 mn

TradeStat’s 2023-24 quantities are double-counted, so that year is left out of the price. Sources: TradeStat — Export Import Data Bank, Department of Commerce · UN Comtrade database (United Nations Statistics Division) · Figures taken 29 October 2026.

Step by step

How to export imitation (fashion) jewellery

China dominates the world trade in imitation (fashion) jewellery by volume, with India, Thailand and South Korea among the other suppliers. India's strength is ethnic and handcrafted designs — kundan, oxidised silver-look, beaded and enamel pieces — that sell to the Indian diaspora and to boho and festival fashion buyers. Demand follows fashion cycles and online retail. Openings are in design-led small collections, nickel- and lead-free pieces that clear EU and US chemical rules, and private label for online brands.

  1. 01Design a range

    Build a collection with photos, prices and minimums by design and colour.

  2. 02Choose safe materials

    Use nickel-free, lead-free and cadmium-free alloys and solders; get supplier declarations.

  3. 03Test samples

    Test each metal and plating combination before the buyer does.

  4. 04Produce and plate

    Cast or stamp, set stones, plate and lacquer if needed.

  5. 05QC and pack

    Check finish, stones and clasps; pack in anti-tarnish bags on branded cards.

  6. 06Ship and collect

    Ship by air or courier with invoice and packing list; take advance from new buyers.

Meet buyers

Trade fairs

Questions

Questions about exporting imitation (fashion) jewellery

Is 'nickel-free' a legal term?
The EU sets a nickel release limit, not a zero rule. Say 'nickel-free' only if tests show no meaningful release; otherwise state that it meets the EU limit.
Which council covers fashion jewellery?
GJEPC covers imitation jewellery; EPCH or PLEXCONCIL may apply depending on the material. See the products page.
Why did the buyer's test fail on lead?
Often from solder, cheap brass or glass stones. Test each component, not only the finished piece.
Can I sell on Amazon or Etsy abroad?
Yes, through e-commerce export. The marketplaces still require compliance with EU and US chemical rules and may ask for test reports.
How do I stop tarnish in transit?
Use proper plating thickness, an e-coat or lacquer, and pack each piece in an anti-tarnish bag with silica gel.
Sources (5)
  1. GJEPC — official site
  2. EPCH (Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts) — official site
  3. ECHA — substances restricted under REACH (Annex XVII list with conditions)
  4. US CPSC — Business guidance for manufacturers and importers
  5. NABL — search for accredited testing laboratories

Who buys Indian imitation (fashion) jewellery

All countries →