Wholesale price bands moved unevenly through 2026. Gold and silver inputs stayed high and volatile, stainless steel and brass held roughly flat, and lab-grown diamond stones kept sliding. Buyers who anchor negotiations on last year’s bands are either overpaying or pushing suppliers below the level where quality survives. This article summarises the bands actually being quoted for factory-direct orders this year.
Where the money actually goes
On a plated brass earring, metal is a minor cost: plating thickness, labour and packaging dominate. On a sterling silver piece, the metal alone can be half the landed cost, which is why silver quotes now move weekly with the fixing. On anything set with lab-grown stones, the stone is the swing factor, and it is still deflating.
Indicative factory-direct bands, mid-2026
| Category | Low band | Mid band | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brass earring, gold plated, CZ set | 0.55–0.90 | 0.90–1.60 | Plating thickness is the main variable |
| Stainless steel necklace | 0.90–1.60 | 1.60–3.20 | 316L costs more than 304 |
| Sterling silver pendant, plain | 1.90–3.40 | 3.40–6.50 | Tracks silver fixing plus 15–20% conversion |
| Sterling silver + CZ side stones | 3.20–5.80 | 5.80–11.00 | Stone size drives the band |
| Lab-grown diamond solitaire, 0.5ct | 38–70 | 70–130 | IGI-certified stones at the upper half |
| Moissanite tennis bracelet, silver | 6.50–11.00 | 11.00–19.00 | Stone grade and clasp quality vary widely |
| Freshwater pearl strand necklace | 2.40–4.80 | 4.80–9.50 | Lustre and matching determine the tier |
| Enamel pendant, gold plated | 0.80–1.40 | 1.40–2.60 | Colour matching adds a batch premium |
Bands are FOB benchmarks for 300–1,000 piece orders, indicative only; confirm with live quotations against the day’s metal fixing.
How to negotiate against these numbers
Ask for the metal line separately
On silver and gold pieces, ask the supplier to split the quote into metal value at the day’s fixing and conversion cost. You can then agree the conversion once and index the metal, which removes the weekly re-quote dance and protects both sides.
Compare plating, not just price
A 0.03 micron flash plate and a 0.2 micron plate with e-coating can differ by 20–30 percent in price and by months in wear life. Get the plating specification written into the quote before comparing unit prices.
Use the stone certificate as the price anchor
For lab-grown diamonds, the certificate (IGI or GIA) is the commodity; the setting is a service. Quote the stone from the certificate and negotiate the setting separately, and quotes become comparable across suppliers.
Frequently asked questions
Commonly yes once the order passes the supplier quantity break, with the sample fee credited against the first invoice.
Because the design is not the same product. Differences hide in gram weight, plating thickness, stone grade and the QC steps included. Ask both for gram weight, plating microns and stone specification in writing, then compare price per gram of finished piece. The gap usually collapses; whatever remains is the real negotiation.
Whatever your contract says. With metal locked at order confirmation, nothing changes. With a floating clause, the metal line moves with the fixing within an agreed band; beyond the band, the price re-opens. Insist on the split quote, metal and conversion, so movement is transparent and only the metal line ever moves.
