Migrating a jewellery making supplies store from WooCommerce to Shopify (2026)

Jewellery making supplies retail serves hobbyists, independent jewellers, and small jewellery businesses. The market spans precious metal findings, beads, gemstones, wire, tools, and finished component packs. The regulatory landscape includes UK hallmarking requirements for precious metal jewellery, nickel release restrictions for skin-contact components, and consumer protection obligations around gemstone origin claims. Migrating to Shopify suits the category, particularly for retailers combining physical supplies with digital tutorials.

Product categories

• Precious metal findings: Sterling silver, gold-fill, gold-plated clasps, ear wires, jump rings, headpins. Purity noted.
• Beads: Seed beads, glass beads, crystal, semi-precious stone beads, wooden beads.
• Wire and sheet: Sterling silver and copper wire. Gauge in mm or AWG. Dead soft and half hard.
• Gemstones: Loose gemstones for setting. Faceted and cabochon. Size in mm and carats.
• Casting and PMC: Metal Clay (PMC, Art Clay Silver), casting grain, casting supplies.
• Tools: Pliers, wire cutters, mandrels, hammers, soldering equipment.
• Stringing materials: Beading wire, nylon thread, elastic, leather cord.
• Kits: Beginner jewellery kits with components and instructions.

Precious metal specifications

product.metafields.jewellery.metal = "Sterling silver / Gold-fill / Gold-plated / Copper / Brass"
product.metafields.jewellery.purity = "925 / 999 / 375 / 585 / 750"  // millesimal fineness
product.metafields.jewellery.gold_karat = "9ct / 14ct / 18ct"
product.metafields.jewellery.gold_fill_thickness = "1/20"              // ratio of gold layer
product.metafields.jewellery.nickel_free = "true"
product.metafields.jewellery.lead_free = "true"
product.metafields.jewellery.wire_gauge_mm = "0.8"
product.metafields.jewellery.wire_hardness = "Dead soft / Half hard / Full hard"

Gold-fill vs gold-plated

The distinction between gold-fill and gold-plated is important and often misunderstood:

• Gold-filled (GF): a thick layer of gold (typically 1/20th by weight) bonded mechanically to a base metal core — durable, tarnish-resistant, suitable for sensitive skin in most cases
• Gold-plated: a thin layer of gold deposited by electroplating — cheaper but wears off faster; not suitable for skin-sensitive customers
• Gold vermeil: sterling silver base with thick gold plating (minimum 10 carats, minimum 2.5 microns) — higher quality than standard gold-plating
• Note distinction clearly on product — affects customer expectations for durability and skin sensitivity

UK hallmarking requirements

Precious metal articles above minimum weight thresholds sold in the UK must be hallmarked:

• Hallmarking Act 1973: all articles described as being of precious metal and over minimum weight must carry a hallmark from a UK Assay Office (London, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Sheffield)
• Minimum weight thresholds: gold (over 1g), silver (over 7.78g), platinum (over 0.5g)
• Hallmark components: fineness mark, assay office mark, date letter (optional since 1999) — all required for UK hallmark
• Imported jewellery: imported pieces must be hallmarked by a UK Assay Office before sale in the UK if above minimum weight
• Supplies vs finished goods: raw findings and wire for jewellery making are not subject to hallmarking until fashioned into articles — note on supply listings that customers making finished jewellery for sale must comply

Nickel release regulation

Nickel is a common skin sensitiser — UK and EU regulate its release from skin-contact items:

• UK REACH Regulation (assimilated EU 1907/2006): nickel release from articles in prolonged direct skin contact must not exceed 0.5 μg/cm²/week (piercing jewellery: 0.2 μg/cm²/week)
• Nickel-free claim: products marketed as "nickel-free" must genuinely meet the release standard — test data or certificate of conformity from supplier recommended
• Note nickel-free status on all ear wire, clasp, and connector products — important purchase criterion for customers with nickel allergy

Gemstone specifications

product.metafields.gemstone.stone_name = "Amethyst / Labradorite / Garnet"
product.metafields.gemstone.cut = "Faceted / Cabochon / Tumbled / Rough"
product.metafields.gemstone.shape = "Round / Oval / Pear / Rectangle"
product.metafields.gemstone.size_mm = "8"
product.metafields.gemstone.carat_weight = "1.5"
product.metafields.gemstone.colour = "Purple / Blue / Red"
product.metafields.gemstone.treatment = "Heat treated / Untreated / Dyed"
product.metafields.gemstone.synthetic = "false"                // lab-created or natural

Post-migration checklist for jewellery making supply stores

• Metal purity: millesimal fineness (925, 375, etc.) and karat on all precious metal products
• Gold-fill vs plated: clearly distinguished; gold-fill layer ratio noted
• Nickel-free: status noted on all skin-contact metal findings
• Hallmarking note: inform customers making jewellery for sale about UK Hallmarking Act requirements
• Wire: gauge in mm and hardness (dead soft / half hard) on all wire products
• Gemstones: treatment disclosure (heat treated, dyed, synthetic) on all stone products