First-time importers usually ask three questions in the wrong order: price first, MOQ second, timing last. Timing is actually the question that decides whether an order succeeds, because a bracelet program lives on launch dates, gift seasons and replenishment. This guide walks through the three numbers that matter — MOQ, samples and lead times — using the way our own orders run as the example.
MOQ: minimum order quantity, decoded
MOQ is the smallest quantity a supplier will produce or release for a given item. It can be set per style, per bead size, or per total order — always ask which one you are being quoted. Low headline MOQs with high per-size minimums are a common trap.
- Standard orders: at JSY Crystal the minimum is 10 pieces per order in total — and because mixing across stone types and sizes is free, those 10 pieces can be ten different styles if you want to test broadly.
- Custom and private label work: quantities are confirmed per project, because cards, tags and packaging have their own minimums set by the printers and workshops involved.
- Mixed orders: small-batch mixed orders across stone types and sizes are supported — the practical way to build a first range without over-buying any single style.
Samples: what they cost and why they are not optional
A sample is your only chance to judge color grading, bead finish and stringing quality before bulk money moves. Skipping samples to save a week is the most expensive shortcut in this category.
- Cost: samples are charged at cost with us; the buyer pays shipping.
- Deduction: the sample fee can be deducted from a first order that reaches the qualifying quantity — ask for the threshold in writing.
- Timing: sampling time depends on whether the design is a catalog style or a new development; it is confirmed per project before you commit.
- What to check: bead color against the listing photos, size accuracy with a caliper, elastic tension, and how the bracelet looks in daylight — most returns in this category are color surprises, not breakage.
Lead times: production and shipping are different clocks
Quotes often blend production and delivery into one number. Separate them:
| Stage | Typical timing | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Inquiry & quotation | Within 24 hours | Faster when you send stone, size, quantity and destination country up front. |
| Sampling | Confirmed per project | Catalog styles are quicker than new custom developments. |
| Bulk production | 15–30 days | Depends on quantity, customization and packaging. |
| Express shipping (DHL / FedEx) | About 7–10 days | Best for launches, samples and replenishment. |
| Sea freight | About 25–35 days | Lowest cost per piece for larger, planned orders. |
Work backwards from your selling date: bulk production (up to 30 days) + shipping (up to 10 days express, 35 by sea) + a buffer for inspection and customs. A gift-season launch planned in October should be in production by early September at the latest on sea freight.
The budget lines first-timers forget
- Sample fees and sample shipping (partly recoverable — see the deduction above).
- Customization: printed cards, gift boxes, pouches and tags are quoted per project, not folded into the bracelet price automatically.
- Freight and insurance, which swing with season and destination.
- Import duties and taxes in your country — your customs broker, not your supplier, owns this number.
- A small contingency for replenishment: the order after the successful first one is the one that usually runs late.
Putting it together
Send your supplier five things in the first message — stone types, bead sizes, estimated quantity per style, customization needs, and destination country with your target date — and you will get a usable quotation instead of a price list. Our How It Works page shows the full sequence from inquiry to delivery, and you can start with the short inquiry form whenever you are ready.