How to Order Wholesale Jewellery in India: MOQ & Terms

Ordering wholesale jewellery runs on a few fixed terms: a minimum order per design or per bill, tiered pricing that drops as quantity rises, advance payment for new buyers, and a lead time of a few days for ready stock or one to three weeks for made-to-order. You send your shop type and the categories you want, the supplier shares a curated selection with rates, you confirm quantities and pay, and the goods are dispatched by courier. This guide covers each of those terms the way we handle them at Saloni Fashion Jewellery, a family-run manufacturer in Santacruz West, Mumbai.

What is the minimum order for wholesale jewellery?

Most wholesalers set a minimum order quantity, or MOQ. It usually works per design. You buy a design by the dozen or the half-dozen, not as single pieces. Some suppliers set a total order value instead, so your bill has to cross a set amount before they will ship. For chains sold by weight, the minimum is set in grams or kilos. Ask which of these applies before you plan your buy, because it changes how you spread your budget across designs.

The MOQ protects the supplier. Picking, checking and packing a small order takes the same time as a large one, and the margin on fashion jewellery is thin.

At SFJ we keep the first step simple. Message us with your shop type and the categories you want, and we send a curated selection with rates instead of a 900-item file. You can test a design in a small quantity first, then come back for depth once you see how it sells. For what to stock in a first order, see our guide on where to buy wholesale fashion jewellery in Mumbai.

Do wholesale jewellery suppliers send free samples?

Free samples are rare in fashion jewellery. The value of a single piece is low, and the cost of picking and couriering it is not, so most suppliers do not send stock for free. Be wary of anyone who offers a box of free samples with no conditions.

What you get instead is a sample order. You buy a few designs in small quantity at the normal wholesale rate, with the courier usually paid by you. You judge the plating, weight, stone setting and finish in hand, then place a larger order for the designs that work. Treat the sample order as the trial, not as a giveaway.

How is wholesale jewellery priced?

Wholesale pricing is tiered by quantity. The more units of a design you take, the lower the per-piece rate. Rates are quoted per design or per category, not as one flat list, because a plain stud and a bridal set do not sit at the same price.

Prices move with input cost. Brass, plating material and stones all shift with the market, so a rate you saw six months ago may not hold today. Ask for current rates each season, and again before a large order.

GST applies on top. Imitation jewellery sits under HSN 7117, and 3% is the commonly cited rate, though you should verify the current figure before you invoice. Your own retail markup is your call. For how margins work in a fashion jewellery shop, see our guide on how to start a fashion jewellery retail business in India.

How long does a wholesale jewellery order take?

Ready stock ships in a few days. If the designs you pick are in inventory, most suppliers dispatch within two to four working days of payment.

Made-to-order work takes longer. Bulk quantities, custom colour runs and designs made fresh usually need one to three weeks. Wedding season and the run-up to Diwali stretch this further, because the whole market is producing at once. If you need stock for a season, place the order three to four weeks ahead and confirm the dispatch date in writing before you pay. For which categories to stock in which season, see our fashion jewellery buying calendar.

How do wholesale jewellery payments work?

New buyers pay in advance. It is either full payment before dispatch or a part advance with the balance before the goods leave, and this is standard across the trade. UPI and bank transfer are the usual methods. Some suppliers take card. Keep the payment reference until the order arrives. Before paying a supplier you have not used before, run through how to avoid wholesale jewellery scams.

Credit terms come later. Once you have ordered a few times and paid on schedule, a supplier may start giving you 15 or 30 days. Advance is not distrust. Margins are small, and a wholesale order is picked and packed for you specifically, so it cannot simply go back on the shelf if it is not collected.

Who pays for shipping, and how is it packed?

The buyer usually pays freight. Goods move by courier or by transport company within India, and the charge is either added to your bill or paid on delivery. For a heavy consignment, a transport company works out cheaper than a courier. Each piece is packed in its own poly bag, then bubble-wrapped and boxed so nothing rubs or tangles in transit. For a full packing method for orders you ship on to your own customers, see how to pack fashion jewellery for shipping and storage.

International orders are possible but cost more. Freight is higher, transit is longer, and customs duty and clearance at the destination are the buyer's responsibility. Ask for a landed estimate before you commit.

Can I return wholesale jewellery?

Change-of-mind returns are not the norm. Fashion jewellery is bought to resell, and a supplier cannot take back stock that has been handled, so a design that simply did not sell for you is your risk to carry.

Manufacturing defects are different. Loose stones, a plating fault or a clasp broken on arrival should be replaced or credited. Check the parcel within a day or two of delivery and report faults with photos. Before you place a first order, ask the supplier for the defect policy in writing, so both sides know what is covered. Our guide on how to check imitation jewellery quality covers what to inspect on arrival.

How do I place a first wholesale order with Saloni Fashion Jewellery?

The steps are short:

• Message us on WhatsApp at +91 98705 89560 with your shop type and the categories you want.
• We send a curated set of designs with rates.
• You confirm the designs and quantities.
• You pay the advance.
• We dispatch and share the tracking details.

If you would rather see the range in person, our showroom is in Santacruz West, Mumbai, and visits are welcome with a little notice. You can also read our wholesale page for current terms and our FAQ for common questions before you write.

We treat every order the same way, whether it is one piece or one thousand. The terms above are how the trade works across Mumbai, not only at SFJ, and it is better to know them before you order than after. When you are ready, message us on WhatsApp at +91 98705 89560.