For the trade
Jewelry Job Work in India: How Contract Manufacturing Works for Jewelers and Brands
Updated: · Vibama Jewels
Job work, also called contract or private-label manufacturing, is how many jewelry brands and stores get their designs made. Instead of running a casting and setting workshop, you hand the production to a manufacturer.
What job work means
You give the manufacturer:
- the design: a CAD file, sketch, photo or sample;
- optionally, the metal, the diamonds or both.
The manufacturer makes the pieces, sets the stones, finishes and checks them, and charges for the making. If you do not supply metal or stones, the manufacturer sources them and invoices them separately.
What you send
| Item | Example |
|---|---|
| Design | CAD file, drawing, photos or a sample piece |
| Metal | 14k or 18k gold (white, yellow, rose), platinum or silver |
| Stone list | Shape, size, quantity, lab-grown or natural, grades |
| Quantity | Pieces per design and sizes (rings) |
| Date | When you need the goods |
How the price is built
A quote usually has three parts:
- Metal, by weight, at the current price, if the manufacturer supplies it.
- Stones: for lab-grown diamonds we charge our wholesale rate, $200 per carat below 1 ct and $125 per carat from 1 ct (see the wholesale price list).
- Making charge: casting, setting, polishing and finishing, quoted per piece or per gram.
Agree the stone list, metal weights and the making charge in writing before production starts.
Quality checks before shipping
- Metal karat and weight per piece
- Stone count, sizes and setting security
- Finish, sizing and dimensions against the approved design
- Reports for every certified center stone
Hallmarking and stamping
Rules depend on where you sell. In the UK, gold articles above the exemption weight must be hallmarked by a UK assay office before sale. In the USA, a piece stamped with a karat mark must also carry a registered trademark of the responsible party. Tell your manufacturer which market the goods are for.
Frequently asked questions
Can I supply my own gold and diamonds?
Yes. You can supply metal, stones or both. We can also source certified lab-grown or natural diamonds for you at our wholesale rates.
Do you make jewelry under my brand?
Yes. We manufacture private-label pieces and ship them unbranded or with your packaging details.
What can be made on job work?
Engagement and wedding rings, eternity bands, studs, hoops and drop earrings, tennis bracelets and bangles, pendants and diamond chains, and custom collections.
How do I get a quote?
Send the design, metal, stone list and quantity through the form on our jewelry manufacturing page.