Lead time is one of the first questions every wholesale jewelry buyer asks — and one of the most misunderstood. A supplier quoting "15 days" may mean 15 days for in-stock items and 45 for anything customized. This guide breaks down how production timelines actually work at a factory-direct operation, using real numbers from our facility in Meilong, Haifeng County, Guangdong, so you can plan reorders, launches, and marketing calendars without guessing.
At China Jewelry Factory, every order falls into one of three categories, and each has a different clock:
Understanding which bucket your order fits into is the single biggest factor in predicting when goods arrive.
If you order existing styles in their standard finish — titanium steel, 316L stainless steel, sterling silver, gold-plated, pearl, cubic zirconia, or moissanite — production time is minimal because the pieces are already manufactured and quality-checked. The real time is spent on picking, final inspection, and packing.
Typical timeline for stock orders:
In practice, a clean stock order with no branding can leave our Meilong facility within 2–4 business days. With a low MOQ of just 5 pieces per style, small buyers can test multiple designs without waiting on a production run.
Private label and custom logo work is where many buyers underestimate timelines. Adding your brand to an existing piece is simpler than full custom production, but it is still a manufacturing step.
There is no minimum brand order at our factory, so you can apply private label to a 5-piece test order. That said, if your launch date is tight, order stock pieces first and add branded packaging on the next run.
Full custom production cannot start until the sample is approved. This is the stage that most often delays first-time buyers, so treat sampling as its own project.
We produce a physical sample of your design in the specified material — for example, 316L surgical-grade stainless steel with IP/PVD vacuum plating, or sterling silver with cubic zirconia. Sampling takes 7–10 days from confirmed specifications and artwork. Complex stone settings, multi-part assemblies, or new mold creation can push this to 12–15 days.
You review the sample for dimensions, plating color, stone placement, clasp function, and finish. Approve it in writing, or request revisions. Each revision round adds 5–10 days. Buyers who send clear reference photos, Pantone colors, and measurements upfront typically approve in one round.
Once the sample is approved, bulk production begins:
All titanium steel and 316L pieces pass through IP/PVD vacuum plating and 48-hour salt-spray tarnish testing before packing, which adds fixed QC time regardless of order size. This is not a step buyers should ask suppliers to skip — it is what keeps hypoallergenic, nickel-free, lead-free claims credible in your market.
Add shipping transit on top: express couriers typically deliver in 3–7 days to North America, Europe, and Southeast Asia, while air and sea freight run longer. Free shipping applies on orders over USD 50, which covers most sample and small wholesale orders.
Lead time is a planning tool, not a sales pitch. Stock orders from our Meilong factory ship in days; custom orders take weeks because sampling, plating, and 48-hour salt-spray testing cannot be rushed without risking quality. Build a 7–10 day sampling buffer into any new design launch, and keep a small stock position in your best-selling titanium steel and 316L styles so you are never out of inventory while a custom run is in progress.
For current stock availability, sampling requests, or a lead-time quote on your specific designs, contact our team via WhatsApp at +63 9690523936 or email yuhua0095@gmail.com. We support buyers in 9 languages and offer OEM/ODM, private label, and custom logo with no minimum brand order.
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