The safest way to pay a Rajkot jewellery maker is an international bank transfer to a current account in the company's registered name, with the bank details confirmed by phone, and with the balance released only after an inspection report. For larger orders a letter of credit adds protection at extra cost. Whatever the method, the advance is the money at risk, so keep it small and tie the rest to proof.
The usual split of advance and balance is covered in payment terms for imitation jewellery orders. This article is about how to pay and how to protect what you send.
The main payment methods
- Bank transfer (SWIFT wire): the standard for trade orders. Cheap and traceable, but once sent it is hard to recall.
- Letter of credit: your bank pays only against agreed documents, such as the bill of lading or airway bill and an inspection certificate. Safer for both sides, but bank fees and paperwork make it worth it mainly for larger orders.
- Card or online payment services: practical for samples and very small orders, with some buyer protection, but fees are high and many makers do not accept them for bulk orders.
Check who you are paying
The account name should match the company name on the proforma invoice, its GST registration and its IEC. Do not pay into a personal account, a relative's account or a different company "for tax reasons". A genuine exporter has to receive export payments into its own bank account and report them, so there is no legitimate reason to ask otherwise.
Payment diversion fraud is common in every trade. A fraudster who has access to an email thread sends "updated bank details" just before payment. Confirm any bank details by phone, on a number you already had, before the first payment and whenever they change.
Protecting the advance
- Keep the first advance modest, enough to cover metal and stones for your order.
- Pay the advance only against a signed proforma invoice that lists every design, quantity, finish and delivery date.
- Make the balance payable after a pre-shipment inspection you control, not after the maker's own photos.
- Keep counter-samples of approved designs, so the inspection has something to compare against.
- Build trust step by step: smaller orders first, larger orders and better terms once the maker has delivered.
What this means for a buyer
Check the company, the account and the bank details before you send anything, and make inspection the trigger for the balance. Creston & Co works for buyers only, for a fixed fee agreed in writing. We verify the maker's registrations and bank details, inspect before your balance is due and report to you directly. Ask for a free sourcing review.