The HS code for silver jewellery is under heading 7113, which covers jewellery of precious metal or metal clad with precious metal. Imitation jewellery is under heading 7117, which covers jewellery made of base metal, whether or not plated, and other non-precious materials. The dividing line is whether the article is made of precious metal or clad with it, not how it looks.
So a 925 sterling silver ring goes under 7113, while a brass ring with silver plating goes under 7117. The correct subheading depends on the details, and you should confirm it with your customs broker.
What goes under 7113?
Heading 7113 covers articles of jewellery and parts of precious metal. Within it, the subheadings separate silver from gold and platinum, and separate jewellery of precious metal from jewellery of base metal clad with precious metal.
Solid 925 silver jewellery belongs here, with or without stones. Our guide to 925 sterling silver jewellery from Rajkot explains how silver is made and marked.
Silver content is a stable technical fact you can prove with a hallmark or an assay report. See silver purity testing and hallmarking in India.
What goes under 7117?
Heading 7117 is for imitation jewellery. The subheadings separate articles of base metal, with or without precious-metal plating, from those of other materials. Brass, alloy, copper and steel jewellery are typical examples, with or without plating and stones.
Plating alone does not move a piece into 7113. A brass necklace with gold or silver plating remains imitation jewellery. For more on what plating involves, see flash plating, gold plating and vermeil compared.
Our broader guide to the HS code for imitation jewellery covers the base-metal subheadings in more detail.
Where silver-plated and silver-clad pieces fall
The grey area is plated versus clad. Plating is a thin coating applied by electroplating. Cladding, sometimes called rolled or filled, is a layer of precious metal mechanically bonded to a base metal and much thicker.
In the Harmonised System, base metal clad with precious metal is a 7113 subheading, whereas plated base metal jewellery is generally 7117. The description on your invoice must say which one it is. A vague description such as 'silver jewellery' invites a customs query.
Mixed pieces, such as sterling silver with a plated brass chain, may need a ruling on which component gives the piece its essential character. Ask your broker rather than choosing the cheaper code yourself.
Parts and findings add another wrinkle. Clasps, chains and ear wires shipped loose are classified as parts of jewellery, and the heading follows their material. If you buy findings from India to assemble yourself, ask for the material on each line of the invoice. See buying jewellery findings separately.
Why the code matters and what to do
The code decides duty, whether additional checks apply and how the goods are described on the export side. Using 7113 for an imitation piece, or the reverse, can lead to delay, duty adjustments and penalties.
Ask the supplier for the material, purity, plating and weight of each design. Put the same wording on the commercial invoice and packing list, and ask your broker to confirm the code for each line.
If you want help specifying the material and documents for your range, book a free sourcing review.