Watches and jewellery are high-value, detail-oriented categories where product data accuracy directly affects purchase confidence. Customers buying a £2,000 watch or an engagement ring need to know the specification precisely. UK hallmarking law adds a legal dimension to how precious metals must be described. Migrating to Shopify requires carrying all this technical and legal data with care.

Product categories

Watches: Dress, sport, dive, smartwatch, pocket watch. Movement type, case material, water resistance, and strap options as key data.
Fine jewellery: Rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings. Precious metal purity, gemstone details, hallmarking.
Fashion jewellery: Non-precious metal, costume jewellery. Materials, plating, care instructions.
Engagement and wedding rings: Custom sizing, metal choice variants, stone certification data (GIA, IGI).
Watchstraps and accessories: Lug width compatibility, material, length.
Watch tools and servicing: Watch tools, spring bars, cleaning equipment.
Luxury accessories: Sunglasses, leather goods, scarves — high-value non-jewellery accessories.

UK hallmarking legal requirements

The Hallmarking Act 1973 requires that articles made of gold, silver, platinum, or palladium above specified minimum weights must be hallmarked before being offered for sale in the UK. For online retail, this means:

Products must be accurately described by their precious metal content (carat for gold, millesimal fineness for others)
You cannot describe a metal as "gold" or "silver" unless it has been hallmarked by a UK Assay Office (or equivalent recognised body)
Items below minimum weight exemptions may use alternatives like "gold-plated," "vermeil," or "sterling silver" (if correctly hallmarked)

product.metafields.jewellery.metal = "18ct Yellow Gold / Sterling Silver / Platinum / Rose Gold"
product.metafields.jewellery.metal_purity = "750 (18ct) / 925 / 950 / 585 (14ct)"
product.metafields.jewellery.hallmark_office = "London / Birmingham / Sheffield / Edinburgh"
product.metafields.jewellery.hallmark_date = "2024"        // date letter year
product.metafields.jewellery.total_weight_g = "4.2"
product.metafields.jewellery.plating = "18ct Gold Plated / Rhodium Plated"

Gemstone data

product.metafields.jewellery.stone_type = "Diamond / Sapphire / Ruby / Emerald / Moissanite"
product.metafields.jewellery.stone_carat_weight = "0.50"
product.metafields.jewellery.stone_colour = "D / E / F / G"   // diamond colour grade
product.metafields.jewellery.stone_clarity = "VS1 / VS2 / SI1"
product.metafields.jewellery.stone_cut = "Round Brilliant / Princess / Oval / Cushion"
product.metafields.jewellery.certificate = "GIA / IGI / HRD"
product.metafields.jewellery.certificate_number = "2175623456"
product.metafields.jewellery.stone_origin = "Natural / Lab Grown"

Watch specifications

product.metafields.watch.movement = "Automatic / Manual / Quartz / Solar"
product.metafields.watch.movement_calibre = "ETA 2824-2 / Miyota 9015 / NH35"
product.metafields.watch.power_reserve_hours = "42"
product.metafields.watch.water_resistance_atm = "20"       // ATM or metres
product.metafields.watch.case_diameter_mm = "40"
product.metafields.watch.case_material = "316L Stainless Steel / Titanium / DLC-coated"
product.metafields.watch.crystal = "Sapphire / Mineral / Acrylic"
product.metafields.watch.lug_width_mm = "20"
product.metafields.watch.complications = "Date / GMT / Chronograph / Moon phase"

Ring sizing

Ring size variants need careful handling. UK uses a letter sizing system (A–Z+); US uses numeric sizes (3–13). When migrating:

Ensure variant titles are clearly labelled with the sizing system used ("UK Size N", "US Size 7")
Include a ring size guide page or metafield link on all ring products
If offering custom sizing (bespoke resize), use a product add-on or separate service product
Bespoke/made-to-order rings: use line item properties to collect the required size at checkout

High-value item shipping and insurance

Items valued above £250–500 require special shipping handling:

Signature required on delivery — configure in your carrier settings or shipping profile
Insurance: Royal Mail Special Delivery up to £2,500 compensation. For higher values, arrange additional insurance via specialist courier (DHL, FedEx) or insurer
Packaging: plain outer packaging is recommended to avoid identifying high-value contents
Returns on high-value items: insured returns label recommended; photographing items before shipping protects against fraud claims

Post-migration checklist for watches and jewellery stores

All precious metal products: metal type and hallmark purity as metafields
Gemstone products: stone type, carat weight, cut, colour, and clarity as metafields
GIA/IGI certificates: certificate numbers as metafields; link to verify page
Watch movement type, calibre, and water resistance as metafields
Ring sizing: UK letter system clearly labelled; ring size guide linked
High-value shipping profile: signature required, insured options only
UK hallmarking claims reviewed — product descriptions use correct terminology
Returns policy: bespoke and custom-sized items explicitly excluded

Migrating a watches and jewellery accessories store from WooCommerce to Shopify (2026)