Silver jewelry imported into the United States is generally classified under HTS heading 7113, with finished pieces usually under 7113.11.50. Since the $800 duty-free de minimis allowance ended for most shipments, every order needs a proper customs entry and full duty payment, and Chinese-origin goods carry additional tariffs on top of the base rate. The simplest route for a small brand is DDP, where the supplier handles clearance and duty. This guide covers classification, duty, documents and common mistakes.
Part of our Jewelry Import Guides by Country
If you last imported silver jewelry into the United States before 2025, everything you know about the process is out of date. The $800 duty-free threshold that underpinned an entire generation of jewelry e-commerce is gone, and every parcel now requires a formal or informal customs entry regardless of value.
This guide covers what US import compliance for sterling silver jewelry looks like now: classification, duty, documentation, and the specific mistakes that cause shipments to sit in customs. Deechy Jewelry Manufacturing & Design offers DDP shipping to the United States, so duty and clearance can be included in the delivered price, and the notes below cover what US buyers need to know either way.
The De Minimis Rule Is Gone
Section 321 of the Tariff Act allowed shipments valued at $800 or less to enter duty-free with minimal processing. That exemption was suspended for China and Hong Kong in May 2025, extended to all countries in August 2025, and codified as an indefinite suspension by CBP regulation in June 2026. Statutory elimination is scheduled to follow in July 2027.
The practical consequence for jewelry brands is direct. A model built on splitting orders into sub-$800 parcels to avoid duty no longer works. Every shipment needs a customs entry with HTS classification, verified country of origin, and full duty payment. Landed cost has to be calculated properly, and it has to be built into your retail pricing rather than discovered after the fact.
The upside, for brands that plan properly, is that this change hurt drop-shippers far more than it hurt wholesale buyers. Consolidating into fewer, larger shipments spreads fixed clearance costs across more units. A brand importing 800 pieces in one shipment now has a structural cost advantage over a competitor shipping 40 parcels of 20 pieces.
Classifying Sterling Silver Jewelry
Silver jewelry is classified under Chapter 71 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule. The relevant heading is 7113 — articles of jewelry and parts thereof, of precious metal — and within it, subheading 7113.11 covers jewelry of silver.
| HTS subheading | Covers |
|---|---|
| 7113.11.10 | Rope, curb, cable, chain and similar articles in continuous lengths, for use in manufacturing jewelry |
| 7113.11.20 | Silver jewelry valued not over $18 per dozen pieces or parts |
| 7113.11.50 | Other silver jewelry (the line most finished wholesale goods fall under) |
| 7117 | Imitation jewelry — base metal, no precious metal content |
| 7115 | Semi-manufactured articles and findings |
Two classification traps are worth naming. First, the $18-per-dozen valuation break in 7113.11.20 is per dozen, not per piece — an easy mistake that produces the wrong line. Second, gold vermeil over sterling silver is still classified as silver jewelry, not gold jewelry, because the base metal is silver. Plated base metal, by contrast, belongs in 7117 and carries a different duty treatment entirely.
Most-favoured-nation base duty rates within heading 7113 generally sit in the low-to-mid single digits as a percentage of declared value. However, the base rate is only one layer. Additional tariffs applicable to Chinese-origin goods have changed repeatedly since 2025, and the effective rate you pay is the base rate plus whatever additional measures are in force on your entry date. Do not quote landed cost to a customer from a rate you looked up last quarter — confirm the current stack with your broker or supplier before every large order.
The Documents Customs Actually Wants
A silver jewelry entry that clears without questions has five things right.
Commercial invoice. Full transaction value, not a reduced figure. Line items describing each style with metal content, plating specification, and stone type stated explicitly. "Jewelry" as a description is an invitation for a request for information.
Packing list. Piece counts and weights matching the invoice exactly. Discrepancies between declared and actual quantities are one of the most common triggers for examination on high-value parcels.
Country of origin marking. Silver jewelry must be marked with its country of origin. For most jewelry this is satisfied by a hang tag or the packaging when marking the article itself is impractical, but the requirement does not disappear because the piece is small.
Metal content documentation. An XRF assay report or mill certificate confirming the silver content. This is not required on every entry, but when customs asks, having it available within hours rather than days is the difference between a released shipment and a held one.
Customs bond. Formal entries require a bond. A single-transaction bond works for occasional shipments; a continuous bond is more economical once you are importing regularly.
Fees Beyond Duty
Duty is not the whole bill. Merchandise Processing Fee applies to formal entries as a percentage of value with a minimum and maximum per entry. Harbor Maintenance Fee applies to ocean freight only, which for jewelry rarely matters. Customs brokerage runs from roughly $75 to $200 per entry depending on complexity, and courier carriers add their own disbursement or advancement fees when they front the duty on your behalf.
These are fixed-per-entry costs. That is the arithmetic reason consolidation now beats fragmentation: a $150 clearance cost across 800 pieces is nineteen cents a piece, while the same cost across 40 pieces is $3.75.
The FDA, FTC, and Marketing Claims
Jewelry is not an FDA-regulated product, but the Federal Trade Commission does regulate how you describe it. The FTC Jewelry Guides govern terms like "sterling," "silver," "gold-plated," and "vermeil." Vermeil in particular has a defined meaning in the United States: sterling silver base with a gold layer of specified minimum thickness. Labelling a thinly gold-plated silver piece as vermeil when it does not meet the threshold is a misrepresentation, and it is enforced.
Specify plating thickness in microns with your manufacturer in writing, and keep that specification on file. It protects your marketing claims and it gives you recourse if a production run comes back under spec.
To compare landed cost on real products, browse necklaces and earrings, such as this emerald-cut zirconia pendant. Our guide to DDP vs FOB vs EXW explains who pays what, and the glossary defines DDP and gold vermeil.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I still get $800 duty-free on silver jewelry imports?
No. The de minimis exemption was suspended for China and Hong Kong in May 2025 and for all countries in August 2025, and CBP made the suspension indefinite by regulation effective June 2026. All shipments now require a customs entry and payment of applicable duties regardless of declared value.
What HTS code applies to sterling silver jewelry?
Finished sterling silver jewelry generally falls under 7113.11.50. Silver chain sold in continuous lengths for manufacturing use falls under 7113.11.10, and silver jewelry valued at not more than $18 per dozen falls under 7113.11.20. Your customs broker should confirm the correct line for your specific goods.
Is gold vermeil over sterling silver classified as gold jewelry?
No. Vermeil is classified according to its base metal, which is silver, so it falls under the 7113.11 silver lines rather than the gold lines. This is a frequent misclassification.
Do I need a customs bond to import silver jewelry?
A bond is required for formal entries. Occasional importers can use a single-transaction bond per shipment; regular importers usually find a continuous bond cheaper over a year.
Can my manufacturer handle US customs clearance for me?
Yes, under DDP terms, where the seller arranges import clearance and pays the duty. Deechy offers DDP to the United States and most other countries.
Part of our Jewelry Import Guides by Country
This article is general information for wholesale buyers, not customs or legal advice. Tariff rates and trade measures change frequently — verify current rates with a licensed customs broker before quoting landed cost.
