What MOQ means in jewelry
MOQ (minimum order quantity) is the smallest number of pieces that is worth producing. In jewelry it comes from production setup: every design needs a 3D model, a mould, process setup and electroplating. These one-off costs spread across the pieces — the larger the run of one design, the lower the unit cost.
MOQ is per design, not per order
This is the most common misunderstanding. The minimum applies to a single design (model), not the whole order. You can combine several different designs in one order, but each has its own threshold. At Argentum the minimum is 10 pieces per design for 925 sterling silver and gold.
A worked example
A collection of three ring designs: 10 pieces of each (30 in total) meets the MOQ, because each design reaches its threshold. Meanwhile 30 pieces of one design gives a lower unit cost for that design — setup costs spread across more pieces. That is why we give the unit price after prototype approval, once we know the design, material and volume.
From trial run to serial production
We usually start with a short pilot run to confirm the design and finishing, then move to the main run. Our capacity is 15,000–25,000 pieces a month, so scaling from dozens to thousands happens without changing supplier.
Repeats and follow-up orders
Remaking a design we have already produced is faster and cheaper — the model and process are ready. We agree the MOQ and lead times individually as part of custom production and private label.