Sourcing Gold Jewellery from Türkiye: A Buyer’s Checklist for German Retailers and Wholesalers

150 150 Golden Planet

Published 14 October 2026 · By Golden Planet

Türkiye is close to Germany and forms a customs union with the EU, which makes it a practical sourcing market for gold jewellery. Choosing the right supplier still takes work.

This checklist is for jewellers (Juweliere), wholesalers (Großhändler), buying groups (Einkaufsverbände), department stores (Kaufhäuser) and online retailers (Online-Händler). It covers the questions to ask, the evidence to request and the EU and German rules to keep in mind. It is general guidance, not legal or tax advice.

1. Manufacturer or middleman?

Not every company that sells Turkish gold jewellery produces it itself. That is not always a problem, but it changes what a supplier can control: design changes, private label stamping, lead times and the paperwork behind the gold.

Questions to ask:

  • Where is the jewellery designed and produced, and can you visit the production site?
  • Does the company export in its own name and issue its own export documents?
  • Can it change a design, stamp your brand or develop a custom piece? These depend on having its own production.
  • Do its certifications cover the company you are actually buying from?

At Golden Planet, design, production and export take place in Istanbul. We are one of Türkiye’s largest gold jewellery exporters and supply trade buyers in 20 countries.

2. Responsible sourcing: RJC and OECD due diligence

Gold supply chains carry risks such as conflict financing, money laundering and human rights abuses. The international reference for managing them is the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas, now in its third edition (2016). It sets out a five-step framework:

  1. Establish strong company management systems.
  2. Identify and assess risks in the supply chain.
  3. Design and implement a strategy to respond to identified risks.
  4. Carry out independent third-party audits of supply chain due diligence at identified points in the supply chain.
  5. Report annually on supply chain due diligence.

The Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) turns this into an auditable standard. Under provision 7.1 of the RJC Code of Practices (COP), all members must carry out due diligence on their supply chains in line with the OECD Guidance or an RJC-recognised framework aligned with it. The COP has 45 provisions, also covering human rights, labour, health and safety, and the environment. Certification is based on independent third-party audits, with a surveillance audit 12–18 months after certification starts.

What to check:

  • Is the supplier an RJC member, and is it certified? Look the company up in the member directory on the RJC website, rather than relying on a logo.
  • Are the certificate dates current, and does the certificate name the legal entity you buy from?
  • Does the supplier publish a supply chain policy and an annual due diligence report?

Golden Planet has been an RJC member since September 2025. Our RJC Code of Practices (COP) certification is valid from 4 March 2026 to 4 March 2029. Our OECD due diligence policy, annual due diligence report and other policies are published on our policies page.

The EU Conflict Minerals Regulation and jewellery

Regulation (EU) 2017/821 sets due diligence obligations for EU importers of tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold. Annex I lists, for gold, ores and concentrates and gold in unwrought or semi-manufactured form or powder (ex CN 7108), with volume thresholds. Finished jewellery (heading 7113) is not listed. Even so, the OECD Guidance remains the reference framework for responsible gold sourcing, and RJC certification is a practical way to check that a jewellery supplier applies it.

3. Product compliance for the German market

  • Fineness marking: when stamped, the fineness of jewellery must be given in thousandths, for example 585, and the seller is liable for its accuracy. See our guide to hallmarking rules in Germany.
  • Product safety: under the General Product Safety Regulation (EU) 2023/988, importers must show their name and postal and electronic address on the product or, where that is not possible, on the packaging or an accompanying document. Products also need a type, batch or serial number or another identifier.
  • Nickel: REACH limits nickel release from items in prolonged skin contact. Ask about the alloy used in white gold. Golden Planet does not use nickel in its white gold alloys.

4. Customs and import into Germany

The EU and Türkiye have formed a customs union since 1 July 1996. According to the European Commission, it covers industrial products and processed agricultural products, with zero customs duties and zero quotas for the goods it covers. Agricultural products and coal and steel products fall under separate arrangements.

  • A.TR movement certificate: goods produced in or released for free circulation in the customs union move under it when accompanied by an A.TR, which proves their customs status. An A.TR is not a certificate of origin. Ask your supplier whether it is issued with each shipment; Golden Planet issues an A.TR with every shipment to the EU.
  • Import VAT (Einfuhrumsatzsteuer): German customs charges import VAT, at the standard rate of 19% for goods such as jewellery. Businesses entitled to deduct input tax can claim it as Vorsteuer; the customs import duty notice serves as proof.
  • EORI number: an EORI number is a prerequisite for customs clearance in the EU.
  • Classification: gold jewellery normally falls under heading 7113 (articles of jewellery of precious metal). Confirm the exact code with your customs broker or German customs (Zoll).

Also agree in writing who handles transport, insurance and customs clearance, using an Incoterms rule both sides understand.

5. Lead times, private label and catalogue

Ask for lead times in writing and check whether they mean dispatch or delivery. At Golden Planet:

  • Stock items are dispatched within 2 working days, including to EU countries.
  • Made-to-order production takes 4–6 weeks, and express production is available.
  • On private label orders, we stamp your brand on each piece. We also develop custom designs, and selected designs can be set with lab-grown diamonds.
  • Our karats for Germany are 333, 375, 585, 750 and 875. We do not sell 10K in Europe. See our karat and fineness guide.
  • We stamp the fineness mark you specify, for example 585 or 14K. For goods to be sold in Germany, we recommend thousandths.
  • Ask us for our trade catalogue; it is available to businesses in the jewellery trade.

Before a first order, also ask about samples, order terms and how quality complaints are handled, and get the answers in writing. At Golden Planet, samples are available for a fee; our sales team will explain the terms.

The checklist at a glance

Check Evidence to ask for Golden Planet
Manufacturer or middleman Production site, export documents in the supplier’s name Design, production and export in Istanbul
Responsible sourcing RJC member listing, certificate dates, OECD due diligence policy and report RJC member since September 2025; COP certificate 4 March 2026 – 4 March 2029
Fineness and marking Fineness in thousandths on stamp, order and invoice 333, 375, 585, 750; 875 for selected EU markets; stamped as you specify (for example 585 or 14K)
Product safety Product identifier, importer details, alloy information Agree per order; white gold alloys made without nickel
Customs A.TR, commercial invoice, packing list A.TR issued with every EU shipment
Lead times Written dispatch times for stock and production Stock: 2 working days; production: 4–6 weeks; express available
Samples Sample cost and lead time, in writing Paid samples on request
Private label and design Stamping options, design process Your brand stamped on each piece; custom design
Local contact Office and language support in Europe Warsaw office (Golden Planet Sp. z o.o.) serves Poland and Europe

Ready to compare? Read about our wholesale service, browse our products and chain styles, or contact our sales team.

Frequently asked questions

Is there customs duty on gold jewellery imported from Türkiye into Germany?

According to the European Commission, the EU–Türkiye customs union applies zero customs duties to the industrial goods it covers, and their free-circulation status is proven with an A.TR movement certificate. Import VAT at 19% still applies. Golden Planet issues an A.TR with every shipment to the EU. Confirm the details for your shipment with your customs broker.

Does the EU Conflict Minerals Regulation apply to gold jewellery?

Regulation (EU) 2017/821 covers importers of gold ores and of unwrought or semi-manufactured gold (ex CN 7108). Finished jewellery under heading 7113 is not listed in its Annex I. OECD-aligned due diligence, for example through RJC certification, remains the recognised standard for the jewellery supply chain.

How can I check a Turkish supplier’s RJC certification?

Search for the company in the member directory on the RJC website. The member page shows the membership date and certification period. Golden Planet’s listing shows membership since September 2025 and certification from 4 March 2026 to 4 March 2029.

How long does an order from Golden Planet take?

Stock items are dispatched within 2 working days, including to EU countries. Made-to-order and private label pieces take 4–6 weeks, and express production is available.

Do you provide samples?

Yes, for a fee. Contact our sales team for the terms that apply to the models you are interested in.

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