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10K and 14K gold jewellery wholesale for the US, Canada and Mexico

October 2026 · 5 min read

10K and 14K dominate North American counters, but the marking rules differ between the US, Canada and Mexico. Here is what each market buys and what has to be stamped on the piece.

The karats that sell

North American jewellers buy mostly 10K and 14K. 10K (417) gives the lowest gold content that can still be sold as gold in the US and makes durable, affordable everyday pieces; 14K (585) is the mainstream choice for fine jewellery and bridal. 18K appears in diamond and high-end ranges.

United States

The FTC’s Jewelry Guides treat anything under 10K as not gold, and karat marks must be accurate. There is no national assay office: if a piece carries a quality mark, US law also requires the registered trademark of the company that stands behind it. We stamp the karat and your trademark, or ours, to match.

Canada

Under Canada’s Precious Metals Marking Act, a quality mark must be accompanied by a trademark registered, or applied for, in Canada. Most Canadian jewellers stock 10K and 14K, with 18K for diamond work.

Mexico

Mexico is a 10K and 14K market with a strong taste for arracadas, chains and religious medals. Mexican wholesalers often buy by weight and turn stock quickly, so lightweight hollow pieces with real volume sell well. We meet Mexican buyers every year at Expo Joya in Guadalajara and work in Spanish.

Duties and delivery

Gold jewellery from Turkey is classified under heading 7113. Import duties for the US, Canada and Mexico change over time, so confirm the current rate with your customs broker before ordering. Orders ship insured by air from Istanbul after 3–5 weeks of production under normal conditions, and we see North American buyers each year at JCK Las Vegas.