Jewelry and watch manufacturing
from A to Z.

Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. It is easy to cast and shape, inexpensive and, in jewelry, almost always finished, for example gold-plated or rhodium-plated. This...

The brief is the written description of a jewelry project with which the manufacturer and client kick off development. It defines the target group, sales channels, items, target...

In contract manufacturing, a manufacturer produces jewelry to the specifications of a client who sells the goods under its own brand. The client defines the target group, assortment...

Costing a jewelry collection combines two perspectives: the landed cost, meaning what a piece costs up to delivery, and the retail price the target group is willing to...

Electroplating applies a thin layer of metal, such as gold, rose gold or rhodium, to a conductive base material in an electrolytic bath. Gold plating defines the color...

The GPSR is the EU General Product Safety Regulation (EU) 2023/988, which has applied since December 13, 2024. It requires that only safe consumer products are placed on...

A hallmark is a stamped or laser-engraved mark on precious metal jewelry. The fineness stamp indicates how much precious metal the alloy contains, expressed in parts per thousand,...

Jewelry packaging protects the piece, presents it at the point of sale and turns it into a gift. Depending on the sales channel, it ranges from a printed...

A jewelry display is a merchandise fixture that presents jewelry on the sales floor, usually as a floor or counter display. In retail, it combines presentation, assortment and...

In laser engraving, a laser beam removes material from the surface or selectively changes its color. This creates logos, names, dates or patterns on jewelry and watches, precisely...

Lead time is the period from the start of a project or the order to the delivery of the finished goods. For your own jewelry collection, it covers...

The legal manufacturer is the company that manufactures a product, or has it designed or manufactured, and markets it under its own name or brand. It is responsible...

Licensed jewelry is jewelry that features the brands, characters, logos or motifs of a rights holder. The licensor contractually grants the licensee the right to develop and sell...

The minimum order quantity, or MOQ, is the smallest number of units at which a manufacturer can produce a jewelry style economically. It depends mainly on the manufacturing...

Jewelry is described as nickel-free when it releases no nickel, or so little that it reliably complies with the limits of the EU chemicals regulation REACH. What matters...

A private label watch is sold under the client's brand but developed and produced by a manufacturer. The range extends from an existing model with your own logo...

With private label and white label, jewelry is sold under the retailer's brand. Private label is developed or adapted for one client, while white label is a standard...

PVD stands for “physical vapor deposition.” In a vacuum chamber, material is vaporized and deposited as a very thin, firmly bonded layer on jewelry or watch cases. PVD...

Quality control checks whether series production matches the approved golden sample and the agreed requirements. For large quantities, inspection is usually based on AQL: a defined sample is...

The movement is the engine of a watch. A quartz movement is powered by a battery and regulated by an oscillating quartz crystal; an automatic movement is mechanical...

REACH is the EU chemicals regulation, Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006. For jewelry, Annex XVII sets limits for nickel, cadmium and lead, and the regulation requires suppliers to provide...

Rhodium plating is the electroplating of jewelry with a very thin layer of rhodium, a precious metal from the platinum group. The layer is bright, shiny and hard,...

Samples are physical pieces used to check design, material, color and workmanship before series production. The approved reference sample, often called the "golden sample," then serves as the...

Stainless steel jewelry is made from rust-resistant steel, usually an austenitic grade such as 316L. The material is robust, corrosion-resistant and does not tarnish. It is attractive for...

Sterling silver, also called 925 silver, is an alloy of 92.5 percent fine silver and 7.5 percent other metals, usually copper. The number 925 indicates the fineness in...

Travel Retail refers to sales to travelers: at airports, in duty-free shops and train stations, at border crossings and on board cruise ships and aircraft. Jewelry and watches...

The watch case houses the movement, dial and crystal and protects them from dust, moisture and impact. Shape, size, material and construction define the character of a watch...

The watch crystal protects the dial and hands. Common types are mineral glass, hardened mineral glass, sapphire crystal and acrylic crystal. They differ mainly in scratch resistance, breakage...

The dial is the face of the watch: the surface beneath the crystal with indices or numerals, hands and usually the brand logo. It determines legibility and recognition...

Watch packaging protects the watch in transit, presents it at the point of sale and conveys the brand message. It usually consists of a box, a watch pillow...

The watch strap connects the case to the wrist and is attached to the lugs with spring bars. Material, width, length and clasp determine the wearing comfort, style...

Water resistance indicates the test pressure a watch case can withstand without water getting in. It is stated in bar or ATM and tested according to standards such...