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Gold jewellery for European jewellers: karats, hallmarks and importing from Turkey
From Amsterdam to Bucharest, European jewellers buy different karats and face different hallmarking rules. Here is what sells, what must be stamped and why importing from Turkey carries no customs duty.
Which karat sells where
- Germany and Austria: 8K (333) and 14K (585) for everyday ranges, 18K (750) for diamond and bridal.
- Netherlands: 14K is the standard, with 18K for fine pieces.
- Poland and Czechia: 14K (585) leads; 9K and 8K serve lower price points.
- Croatia, Greece, Bulgaria and Romania: 14K for most ranges, 18K for diamond and gift pieces.
Hallmarks before sale
Hallmarking rules are national, not European. In the Netherlands, gold jewellery needs a fineness mark and a sponsor’s mark, and pieces from outside the EEA must be tested by a Dutch assay office (WaarborgHolland or Edelmetaal Waarborg Nederland) before they can be sold; pieces under one gram are exempt. Czechia and Poland also run state assay offices that test and mark gold before it reaches the shop. In Germany there is no compulsory independent assay: the fineness stamp is the manufacturer’s responsibility.
Austria, Czechia, the Netherlands and Poland are members of the Vienna Convention, which recognises the Common Control Mark (CCM) between member states. Rules change, so we confirm your country’s marking requirements with you before production and stamp every piece to match.
No customs duty from Turkey
Turkey and the EU share a customs union for industrial goods. Jewellery made in Turkey and shipped with an A.TR movement certificate enters the EU with zero customs duty; you pay only the import VAT of your country, which most VAT-registered businesses can reclaim or defer. This is a real cost advantage over suppliers outside the customs union.
Delivery
Production takes 3–5 weeks under normal conditions. Orders fly insured from Istanbul, which has direct connections to every European capital, and we meet European buyers every year at Vicenzaoro in Italy and the Istanbul Jewelry Show.
Open a trade account to browse the full catalogue and request a quote in your karat.