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How much should I mark up wholesale jewelry?

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E
Emily Nelson New Contributor
Asked Jul 2, 2026

4 Answers

85
Best Answer
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Rachel Thompson New Contributor
I sell handmade jewelry on Etsy. 6 answers · 2 selected

I will give you the straight answer.

What I Noticed

The sparkle is actually more brilliant than a diamond in my opinion, especially under indoor lighting. Up close, nobody has ever guessed it was not a natural stone.

Cost

I paid $300 including the setting. A comparable natural diamond would have been at least five times that. The price difference is the main reason most people go this route.

Durability

It is still going strong after two years. I clean it once a month with warm soapy water and a soft brush. No scratches, no cloudiness.

Who This Is For

  • Great if you want maximum sparkle on a budget
  • Great if you do not care about resale value
  • Skip it if you want something that holds investment value
Jul 5, 2026
7
R
Ricky Zhang New Contributor
New to this whole thing. 3 answers · 1 selected

Here is my honest take after owning one. Short answer: no. I switched after a few months and never looked back. The upkeep was not worth it.

Jul 5, 2026
  • L
    Laura Chen Jul 6, 2026
    This helped me decide, thank you!
  • Z
    Zoe Smith Jul 7, 2026
    How much did yours end up costing?
  • C
    Chloe Roberts Jul 8, 2026
    Does this apply to 14k gold too?
5
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Jessica Lopez New Contributor
Married 15 years, ring resizing expert by necessity. 7 answers · 1 selected

I will give you the straight answer. My ring came from Brilliant Earth with a full certificate. It depends on your skin and how often you wear it. Mine is fine, but a friend had issues within weeks.

Not worth the risk in my experience. Spend a little more and buy from a real store.

Jul 5, 2026
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Cody Smith New Contributor
Sensitive skin, only hypoallergenic metals. 2 answers · 0 selected

I talked to my jeweler about this last month.

Price Breakdown

OptionTypical Cost
Lab created$5,000
Natural stone5-10x more
Plated alternative$20-$50 but will tarnish

Recommendation

If you are on the fence, go with the middle option. The plated stuff looks fine for a month then turns skin green. The natural stone is beautiful but the markup is brutal.

Jul 7, 2026

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