When to order wholesale jewelry for holidays depends on what you buy: order ready-to-ship stock about 6–8 weeks before the holiday, and start custom designs about 3–4 months before. Both timings aim to land stock 4–6 weeks ahead, so you have time to photograph, list and sell it. Around Valentine's Day, add two to three weeks for Chinese New Year.
Part of our Wholesale Jewelry Supplier Guide
Most missed seasons come from counting back from the holiday instead of from the day customers start shopping. This calendar is written from the factory side at Deechy Jewelry Manufacturing & Design, using our real lead times, so you can plan each season backwards and know which orders still fit.
How to Work Backwards From Any Holiday
- Find the selling window. Gift buyers shop 2–6 weeks before most holidays, and earlier for Christmas. Your stock must be live before that window opens.
- Add receiving and listing time. Allow about a week to check pieces, photograph them and publish listings.
- Add shipping. Air express from China usually takes 5–10 business days. Add a few days for customs.
- Add production. Ready-to-ship styles skip this step. Custom bulk orders need production time on top.
- Add sampling for new designs. CAD and sample approval come first, and your own review takes time too.
- Add a buffer of one to two weeks for changes and delays.
To size a seasonal order, see our guide to silver jewelry inventory forecasting.
Lead Times: Ready-to-Ship vs Custom
| Stage | Ready-to-ship styles | Custom designs (OEM/ODM) |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum order | No MOQ | 5 pieces per style |
| CAD and sample | Not needed | About 10–20 days from brief to sample |
| Bulk production | Not needed | Usually 7–15 days; about 25 days above 500 pieces |
| Air express shipping | 5–10 business days | 5–10 business days |
| Order this far ahead | About 6–8 weeks | About 3–4 months |
The custom column assumes quick sample approval; each round of changes adds time. Our step-by-step guide on how to order custom silver jewelry from China covers each approval point, and the MOQ rules explain why ready-to-ship stock is the safer choice for late orders.
The Wholesale Jewelry Buying Calendar
| Selling season | Customers buy | Start custom designs | Order ready-to-ship by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valentine's Day | Late January to February 14 | October to early November | Early January |
| Mother's Day (UK, March) | February to early March | October to November | Early January |
| Mother's Day (US, May) | April to early May | January, before the New Year break | Late March |
| Graduation and weddings | May to June | February to March | Early April |
| Summer and travel | June to August | March | Early May |
| Back to school and fall | August to October | May to June | Early July |
| Black Friday and Christmas | Late November to December | By August | Early October, reorders to early December |
Hearts suit Valentine's Day, birthstone and initial pieces suit Mother's Day, and snowflakes and bells suit December. Gift stock built from core sellers like necklaces and earrings carries on selling after the holiday ends.
Plan Around Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year 2027 falls on February 6, and Valentine's Day comes just eight days later. Many factories in China pause for one to several weeks around the holiday and production can stay slow for a while after.
- Get Valentine's and UK Mother's Day orders shipped before the break, not just placed.
- Ask each supplier for its exact closure and reopening dates in writing.
- Approve spring samples before the break so bulk starts when work resumes.
China's National Day holiday in early October has a smaller effect, but it falls in Q4 buying, so ask about it too.
When to Order Wholesale Jewelry for Holidays If You Are Already Late
If the custom window has closed, switch to ready-to-ship styles. With no MOQ you can buy a few pieces of several styles, see which ones sell in the first weeks, and reorder only the winners.
DDP is available to most countries, so duty is paid upfront and parcels are less likely to wait in customs. Our comparison of DDP vs FOB vs EXW explains the trade-offs.
Build a Year-Round Rhythm With Your Suppliers
Good relationships with jewelry store suppliers run on a calendar, not on emergencies. Share your season plan early, book sampling before the busy months, and keep your approved golden sample on file so reorders match the first batch. Decide Q4 custom designs in summer, Valentine's and spring designs in autumn, and use ready-to-ship stock for anything you are still testing.
To start planning, browse our Christmas jewelry for this season, or add gift-ready pieces such as the Christmas bell moissanite pendant and the birthstone baguette pendant. Deechy offers thousands of ready-to-ship styles with no MOQ, custom designs from 5 pieces per style, bulk production in usually 7–15 days, and a 10-step quality control process on every piece.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I order wholesale jewelry for holidays?
Order ready-to-ship stock about 6–8 weeks before a holiday and start custom designs about 3–4 months before. That timing lands stock 4–6 weeks before the holiday, which leaves time to photograph, list and sell it.
How far ahead should I order jewelry for Valentine's Day?
Start custom Valentine's designs in October or early November and place ready-to-ship orders by early January. Valentine's Day falls soon after Chinese New Year, when many Chinese factories pause, so later orders risk missing the season.
When should boutiques order jewelry for Christmas?
Start custom holiday designs by August and place main ready-to-ship orders by early October. Keep a small budget for reorders of bestsellers until early December, using air express.
Does Chinese New Year affect jewelry orders?
Yes. Many factories in China pause production for one to several weeks around the holiday, and couriers slow down too. Ask your supplier for its exact closure dates and get orders shipped before the break.
Can I still order small quantities close to a holiday?
Yes, if you buy ready-to-ship styles. At Deechy, catalog styles have no MOQ and air express takes 5–10 business days, so a late order can still arrive in time to test a style or restock a bestseller.
Part of our Wholesale Jewelry Supplier Guide
