Sourcing reliable custom earrings factory direct at B2B prices is one of the most common requests we get from independent jewelry brands, chain retailers, and online resellers. Buyers often tell us they spent months testing suppliers only to run into three recurring problems: inconsistent stone quality across batches, missed delivery windows during holiday seasons, and minimum order quantities that lock up working capital in slow-moving SKUs. At HOLYCOME we have manufactured and exported earrings for over 12 years, and this guide lays out the actual numbers, lead times, and process checks you need before placing a production order.
Procurement Numbers: MOQ, Pricing, Lead Time, and Payment Terms
Let us start with the actual numbers you need to build a purchase order. Our standard MOQ sits at 30 pcs starting MOQ for existing molds, 120 pcs for new molds. Sample orders of 1-3 pieces are welcome for first-time buyers who want to verify finish, weight, and stone brightness before committing to bulk, at a per-sample surcharge of roughly 1.5x the unit price, refundable against your first bulk order.
Pricing is quoted per piece on an FOB Shenzhen basis, in US dollars. As a reference point, a pair of sterling silver moissanite stud earrings currently lands at US$6 to $28 per pair for sterling silver stud styles depending on stone carat weight. Tiered volume discounts apply on top of those base figures: under 200 pcs: standard rate; 200-500 pcs: 8% volume discount; over 500 pcs: 12-15% discount. These are ex-factory prices; sea freight, air freight, and courier shipping are quoted separately based on destination Incoterms (FOB Shenzhen, EXW Wuzhou, CIF main port, or DDP to select EU/US warehouses). All quotes include standard poly bag and velvet pouch packaging; branded gift boxes, logo-embossed pouches, and custom hangtags are available at US$0.30 to $1.80 per set depending on volume and material. Payment terms are: 30% T/T deposit, 70% balance before shipment; PayPal accepted for samples; L/C at sight for orders over $20,000.
Lead times depend on whether you are ordering an existing design or developing something new. Sample lead time 3-5 days, bulk production 12-18 days. These numbers include stone setting, polishing, rhodium or e-coating where applicable, and final QC. We do not outsource plating or setting; every step happens in our own 4,200-square-meter workshop in Wuzhou, Guangxi, which is why our lead times stay stable even during Q4 peak season (add 3-5 days across the board from October 15 to December 20). For capacity context, our monthly output sits at roughly 18,000 silver pieces and 4,500 solid-gold pieces across all categories, split across four production lines.
How Our Factory Compares to a Typical Trading Company
The table below reflects our team's direct experience working with buyers who previously sourced through third-party trading companies; figures are ranges drawn from their shared purchase records, not blanket claims about every intermediary.
| Factor | Typical Trading Company (based on buyer reports) | HOLYCOME Factory Direct |
|---|---|---|
| MOQ per SKU | Often 100-300 pcs per style, with limited flexibility on mixed-SKU orders | 30 pcs in-stock, 120 pcs custom; mixed-SKU sample packs available |
| Sample turnaround | 7-14 days, as samples are typically outsourced to partner factories | 3-5 days in-house, produced on the same production lines as bulk |
| Bulk lead time | 25-45 days quoted, with Q4 slippage reported by many buyers | 12-18 days ex-factory; Q4 peak adds 3-5 days, communicated at PO stage |
| QC inspection | Often a single random spot check (commonly reported at 10-20%) | 99% inspection against AQL 1.5 Major / 2.5 Minor; dimensional tolerance matched-pair weight within 3 percent, post length within 0.3 mm, stud diameter within 0.1 mm, center stone within 0.02 ct |
| Stone grading | Mixed lots may be supplied; per-stone lab reports usually carry extra cost and lead time | DEF/GH color, VVS/VS clarity moissanite; IGI reports for lab grown diamonds on request at published fee |
| Customization | Often limited to logo stamping; CAD and mold work routed out | Full in-house CAD, mold making, metal choice, plating thickness, packaging OEM |
| Transparency | Pricing includes a trading margin and sub-supplier layers | Direct ex-factory pricing; factory audit visits welcome by appointment; photos and short video calls at each QC stage on request |
Customization Capabilities for Earrings Buyers
Most of our B2B customers need at least one of the following customizations, and we handle all of them in-house without passing work to third-party subcontractors.
Metal and Material Options
We produce earrings in 925 sterling silver (with rhodium, yellow gold, or rose gold plating), 10K/14K/18K solid gold in yellow/white/rose, and brass base with premium plating for price-sensitive fashion lines. Stone options include our own HOLYCOME branded moissanite (DEF through GH color, VVS1 to VS clarity), IGI-certified CVD/HPHT lab grown diamonds, CZ, and natural colored gemstones on request. Plating thickness can be specified from 0.5 microns for fashion pieces up to 3 microns for pieces expected to hold daily wear.
Branding and Packaging
Logo engraving is free on orders above 200 pcs per design, applied either by laser for crisp detail or by die-striking for a deeper, premium feel. Packaging ranges from simple OPP bags to custom-printed boxes with your SKU barcode. We can also supply product photography on white background at no charge for orders over 500 pcs, which many of our e-commerce customers use directly in their listings.
Quality Control Process and Defect Policy
HOLYCOME operates under an ISO 9001-aligned internal quality management system. Our factory undergoes annual social compliance audits, and we make third-party SGS lab test reports for nickel release, cadmium, and lead against EU REACH regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 available per production lot at buyer request. Our moissanite and lab grown diamond supply chain is conflict-free, sourced through established cutting facilities in Wuzhou with documented material origin records.
Every piece moves through eight QC stations in sequence: incoming stone inspection under 10x loupe against ordered color and clarity, casting porosity check under fluorescent light, setting security check (stone push test, no overlapping prongs), polishing and finishing inspection, plating thickness verification using XRF (target 0.5 to 3 microns depending on SKU), dimensional check against the tech sheet (matched-pair weight within 3 percent, post length within 0.3 mm, stud diameter within 0.1 mm, center stone within 0.02 ct), visual inspection under daylight-equivalent D65 lighting, and a final outgoing pull by the QC manager at AQL 1.5 Major / 2.5 Minor. We reject any piece with visible porosity, uneven prong tips, plating discoloration, burn marks, or stones outside the ordered color and clarity grade. For center stones above one carat, internal grading slips aligned with the GIA color and clarity scale are included in the parcel; independent IGI reports can be arranged at buyer cost with 3 to 5 extra days.
Our standard acceptable quality limit at final inspection is AQL 1.5 Major / 2.5 Minor. Any major defect (missing stone, broken setting, plating peel, wrong metal stamp) found above the AQL threshold triggers a 100 percent re-check of that batch at our cost. Defect claims must be raised within 15 days of receipt with photo or video evidence; confirmed defective pieces are replaced free of charge on the next shipment or credited against your next PO. We do not warrant against end-consumer wear and tear, exposure to chlorine or harsh chemicals, or unauthorized resizing and repair work after delivery. Metal content for 925 sterling silver is tested in-house via XRF.
One point worth noting for first-time importers: showroom samples are usually hand-selected, so the real quality signal is what comes out of the fifth or sixth bulk shipment. We retain a sealed reference sample for every active PO, signed off by both parties before bulk starts, and production runs are compared against that reference at every QC station. This keeps melee color matching within a half grade and setting geometry consistent across batches.
For buyers who want to cross-reference stone grading standards against recognized industry frameworks, the GIA 4Cs diamond grading system is the global reference used by most laboratories, and our internal grading for moissanite and lab grown diamonds is aligned to the same color and clarity scale so there is no translation gap when you communicate stone grades to your own customers.
On the regulatory side, the U.S. FTC Jewelry Guides require clear disclosure when stones described as "diamond" are in fact lab grown, and we include compliant disclosure language on all commercial invoices and packaging slips for customers who sell into the U.S. market.
For EU buyers, EU Regulation 2023/988 on general product safety applies to jewelry items, and our nickel release and cadmium content testing is performed by an independent SGS lab to ensure REACH compliance on every production lot.
Real-World Buyer Scenarios We Support
Below are three repeatable buying patterns we handle regularly, with concrete numbers so you can map your own program to what we deliver.
Online DTC brand scaling a bestseller
A U.S.-based direct-to-consumer brand approached us after their previous supplier shipped a batch of a pair of sterling silver moissanite stud earrings with roughly 8% prong defects right before Valentine's Day. We produced a 1,200-piece run in 14 days using their existing mold, ran 100% piece inspection at AQL 1.5 Major / 2.5 Minor, and delivered with a confirmed defect rate of 0.25% (3 of 1,200 pieces replaced before shipment). Their reorder lead time is now locked at 10-12 days on existing molds, with orders of 500+ pieces getting a 7% volume discount.
Chain retailer launching a private label collection
A European jewelry chain with 80+ retail doors used our OEM program to develop a 40-SKU earrings collection under their own brand. We handled CAD design (5 revision rounds included), sampling in three metal finishes, production, barcoded hangtags, and custom two-piece gift boxes. The first 6,000-piece order shipped 25 days after final sample approval via sea freight on FOB Shenzhen terms, and the customer has since placed four repeat orders totaling more than 28,000 pieces.
Small boutique testing new designs with low capital risk
A boutique owner starting out ordered 40 pieces across four earrings designs at our in-stock MOQ (30 pcs per style), mixed sizes and finishes, and reordered two designs that sold through within three weeks. Our flexible MOQ on existing molds lets small buyers test demand at roughly US$300 to $800 of initial commitment rather than tying up capital in thousands of units of a single style.
Shipping and Incoterms
Default terms are FOB Shenzhen for orders over US$5,000 and EXW Wuzhou for smaller orders. For EU and North American buyers who need landed-cost predictability, we can quote CIF to main ports or DDP to select overseas warehouses via our forwarder network; DDP quotes are provided on a per-order basis because they depend on HS classification, destination, and carrier rates at time of booking. Sample orders ship via DHL/FedEx/UPS express, typically 3-5 days in transit to the US and EU.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum order quantity for custom earrings factory direct?
For ready-to-ship earrings designs, MOQ starts at 30 pieces per SKU. For fully custom OEM orders with your own design, metal specification, and branded packaging, MOQ is 120 pieces per style. Sample orders of 1-3 pieces are available for quality verification before bulk.
How long does production take for bulk earrings orders?
Sampling for new designs takes 3-5 days including CAD confirmation if needed. Bulk production runs 12-18 days from deposit and sample approval, depending on order size and customization level. Repeat orders on existing molds typically run 3-5 days faster.
Can I order custom earrings factory direct with my own logo and packaging?
Yes. Laser logo engraving is free above 200 pcs per style; die-struck logos are available at a small mold fee. Custom packaging (branded boxes, pouches, hangtags, SKU barcodes) is fully customizable. Send your vector logo and packaging brief, and we will quote the packaging within 24 hours.
What quality certifications and inspections do you provide?
All stones above 1 carat ship with GRA certificates for moissanite or IGI certificates for lab grown diamonds on request. Metal is tested for nickel release and cadmium to EU REACH standards. We perform 99% piece inspection with a tolerance of matched-pair weight within 3 percent, post length within 0.3 mm, stud diameter within 0.1 mm, center stone within 0.02 ct. Independent SGS or GIA inspection reports can be arranged at buyer cost.
What payment terms do you accept for first-time buyers?
30% T/T deposit, 70% balance before shipment; PayPal accepted for samples; L/C at sight for orders over $20,000. We also offer Alibaba Trade Assurance for buyers who prefer escrow protection on their first order. Sample orders can be paid via PayPal or credit card.
Explore Related Categories
Browse our full wholesale catalog or reach out directly with your target specs. Our sales team responds within 12 business hours with pricing, MOQ confirmation, and available stock status.
- Browse our moissanite earrings catalog for current stock availability
- Check stud earrings for coordinating pieces
- View moissanite stones for complementary categories
- View all earrings wholesale articles for deeper buying guides
Ready to get an exact quote? Send us your target SKU list, metal and stone specs, desired quantity, and delivery deadline. We will return a line-item quote within 24 hours, and if you need a sample first, we can ship a production-representative sample of a pair of sterling silver moissanite stud earrings within 3-5 days.
Related reading: Custom Moissanite Earrings: Styles, Matching & MOQ, Sterling Silver Earrings Bulk Factory Direct, Low MOQ Jewelry Wholesale: How Small Retailers Can Compete.
