Product classification

HS code for Watch glass: 7015.90

Glasses, clock or watch and similar, glasses for non-corrective spectacles, curved, bent, hollowed etc, (not optically worked), hollow glass spheres and segments, for the manufacture of such glasses.

Classification of watch glass under HS 7015.90

Watch glass is classified under HS code 7015.90. This classification is unique because, although the item is a component of a watch, it is excluded from Chapter 91 (Clocks and Watches) by virtue of Chapter Note 1(d) to Chapter 91, which directs glass elements to Chapter 70. Heading 70.15 specifically covers "Clock or watch glasses and similar glasses, glasses for non-corrective or corrective spectacles, curved, bent, hollowed or the like, not optically worked." Within this heading, subheading 7015.10 is reserved for corrective spectacles, leaving 7015.90 for all other applications, including watch crystals. The classification remains in Chapter 70 even if the "glass" is actually made of synthetic sapphire (corundum), as long as it is shaped for use as a watch crystal and is not "optically worked" (meaning it has not been ground or polished to produce specific optical properties like a lens). This distinction is critical for customs compliance, as it separates protective covers from optical components found in Chapter 90. The material must be worked to the extent that it is recognizable as a watch glass but not yet a finished optical lens.

Covers
  • Mineral glass watch crystals
  • Synthetic sapphire watch crystals (unworked optically)
  • Acrylic or plastic watch crystals (hesalite)
  • Curved or domed watch glasses
  • Flat watch crystals for dress watches
  • Hardlex or hardened mineral crystals
Also under 7015.90
  • Seiko watch crystals
  • Rolex watch glasses
  • Ray-Ban sunglass blanks (non-prescription)
  • Oakley safety glass preforms
  • Swatch watch faces

Codes often confused with 7015.90

Common mistake. A frequent mistake is attempting to classify watch glass under HS code 9114.90 as a general watch part. However, the legal notes in the Harmonized System explicitly exclude glass components from Chapter 91. Another common misclassification occurs with synthetic sapphire crystals, which some importers try to classify under 7104.91 as synthetic precious stones. While sapphire is a gemstone, when it is specifically shaped and intended for use as a watch glass, 7015.90 is the more specific and legally correct code. If the glass has been ground into a lens for magnification (like a "cyclops" over a date window), it might be moved to Chapter 90, but standard protective crystals stay in 70.15.

9114.90Clock or watch parts; other than springs (including hair-springs), dials, plates, and bridges7104.91Stones; diamonds, n.e.c. in heading 7104, worked or graded but not strung, mounted or set; ungraded synthetic or reconstructed precious or semi-precious stones, temporarily strung for convenience of transport

Top exporters and importers of HS 701590 (the code used for watch glass), 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 701590 (the code used for watch glass) in UN Comtrade data was Hong Kong, with 41% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was China, with 17% of world imports. Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.

Figures cover everything classified under HS 701590, not only watch glass.

Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports

  1. 1 Hong Kong $54M
  2. 2 Switzerland $20M
  3. 3 United Kingdom $18M

World total: $130M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 China $19M
  2. 2 Hong Kong $18M
  3. 3 Thailand $17M

World total: $112M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

How these figures are built

109 countries reported 2025 trade to UN Comtrade in HS 2022, and their own totals are used. Countries that did not report are estimated from what other countries recorded trading with them. Those estimates miss trade with other non-reporting countries, so they can be low, and a non-reporting country can rank higher than shown or be missing from the list. World totals add both and leave out trade between two non-reporting countries. Figures are in current US dollars; reported imports are mostly valued CIF and exports FOB, and exports include re-exports. The UN Comtrade links show the underlying records; they can also list a few reporters left out here (regional groups and older HS editions).

Source: UN Comtrade (United Nations Statistics Division), 2025 annual data.

Brazil NCM codes for watch glass

Brazil splits HS 7015.90 into 4 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:

Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.

Questions about watch glass

What is the HS code for Watch glass?

The HS code for Watch glass is 701590 (Glasses; clock or watch and similar, glasses for non-corrective spectacles, curved, bent, hollowed etc, (not optically worked), hollow glass spheres and segments, for the manufacture of such glasses). The HS code for watch glass is 7015.90, covering non-corrective curved or flat glasses for timepieces.

How do I classify Watch glass for customs?

Watch glass is classified under HS code 701590 — Glasses; clock or watch and similar, glasses for non-corrective spectacles, curved, bent, hollowed etc, (not optically worked), hollow glass spheres and segments, for the manufacture of such glasses. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.

Are plastic watch crystals classified here?

Yes, although the heading mentions "glass," the Explanatory Notes and trade practice generally include plastic (acrylic) crystals under this heading when used for the same purpose as watch glass.

Which countries are the top exporters of watch glass (HS 701590)?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS 701590 (the code used for watch glass) in UN Comtrade data were Hong Kong ($54M, 41% of world exports), Switzerland ($20M) and the United Kingdom ($18M). World exports came to about $130M, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.

Which countries are the top importers of watch glass (HS 701590)?

In 2025, the top importers of HS 701590 (the code used for watch glass) in UN Comtrade data were China ($19M, 17% of world imports), Hong Kong ($18M) and Thailand ($17M). World imports came to about $112M, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.

Is the HS code for Watch glass the same in all countries?

The base HS code 701590 for Watch glass is internationally standardized for the first 6 digits across 200+ countries. Individual countries may add additional digits for national tariff lines and specific classifications.

What is the NCM code for watch glass in Brazil?

Brazil splits HS 701590 into 4 NCM codes, so the right one for watch glass depends on the product's details: 7015.90.10 (Clock and watch glasses), 7015.90.20 (Glasses for protective masks, goggles, shields), 7015.90.30 (Glasses for other non-corrective spectacles), 7015.90.90 (Other similar glasses; hollow glass spheres).