We check jewelry quality for a living. Gold, silver, platinum, diamonds — we’ve seen it all. Good batches. Bad batches. Factories that care. Factories that cut corners.
This is our 5-step checklist. You can do it yourself. Or you can let us do it for you. Either way, don’t skip these steps before anything ships from China.
01. Materials — Get Numbers, Not Promises
A factory says “good quality silver.” What does that even mean?
You need specific numbers. Ask for:
- Silver: 925 or 950? (925 is standard. 950 is softer, better for certain designs.)
- Plating thickness: How many microns? Below 1 micron? That’s costume jewelry level. It’ll wear off in months, not years.
- Gold: 14K, 18K, or 24K? And will they stamp each piece?
Real example: Last month, a factory told us “thick plating.” We asked for microns. They said 0.2. That’s not thick. That’s a lie. We walked. Client found a better factory.
If they won’t give you numbers, walk away. Here’s our full material spec sheet →
02. Weight — The One Thing Buyers Ignore (But Shouldn’t)
Weight tells you more than any photo. Seriously.
A simple silver ring should be 3-5 grams. A heavier piece with stones? 8-12 grams. These are ballparks, but they matter.
Before production, ask the factory: “What’s the target weight for this design?”
Then weigh the sample when it arrives.
If they quote 8 grams but the actual piece weighs 4? Something’s wrong. Either it’s hollow (bends and breaks easily) or they switched to cheaper materials.
Last November, a New York jewelry brand sent us samples. Looked perfect in photos. We put them on the scale. A ring that should weigh 8 grams came in at 4.8. The factory had switched to hollow construction without telling anyone. We caught it before production. Client saved $12,000 in what would have been worthless inventory.
Weight doesn’t lie. Factories sometimes do. This is why we weigh everything →
03. Craftsmanship — What Photos Won’t Show You
Every factory has beauty shots. Good lighting. Perfect angles.
But photos don’t tell you:
- Are the prongs rough? They’ll snag clothes and eventually lose stones.
- Are the clasps tight? A loose clasp means lost earrings.
- Are the solder joints clean? Blobby joints break faster.
Here’s what to ask for:
- Close-ups of prongs under magnification
- Photos of clasp mechanisms from the side
- Images of the inside of hollow pieces (if applicable)
Don’t trust “we checked it.” We’ve heard that before receiving pieces with visible scratches. Good manufacturers provide photos without asking. Mediocre ones make excuses.
If they hesitate to send detailed shots, that’s your answer.
04. Pre-Shipment — The Final Check (Don’t Skip It)
Production is done. Factory says “ready to ship.”
Before you say yes, run this checklist:
Inspection photos:
- Each piece from multiple angles
- Close-ups of any problem areas you flagged before
- A random sample (3-5 pieces from the batch, not the best ones)
- Weight measurements on a scale
Verify numbers:
- Dimensions match within 1-2mm? Fine.
- Weight within 5-10% of spec? Acceptable.
- Weight off by 30% or more? Stop everything.
Check consistency:
- Do all pieces look the same? Variations mean poor production control.
Pro tip: Ask for a photo of the pieces together, on a white background, with a ruler next to them. That one image tells you more than twenty glamour shots.
We do this for every order. Even small ones. →
05. Push Back — When to Say “No”
You found issues. Now what?
Minor problems: Slight measurement variations, small surface scratches, thin plating in one spot.
- Ask them to fix it before shipping.
- Good factories will. Bad ones will argue.
Major problems: Wrong material, 50% weight difference, loose stones, broken pieces.
- Stop the shipment. Don’t pay the balance.
- Ask for a remake. Or walk away entirely.
Don’t be afraid to lose the deposit. I’ve seen buyers accept bad quality because they didn’t want to lose $500. Then they received $5,000 of inventory they couldn’t sell. That’s not saving money. That’s throwing it away.
A $500 loss is a lesson. A $5,000 loss is a problem.
You Can Do This Yourself. Or You Can Let Us Handle It.
These five steps work. We use them every day.
But here’s the truth: if you’re managing multiple products, multiple factories, and multiple deadlines, doing this for every order will drain you.
That’s why our clients work with us.
We:
- Check materials before production starts
- Weigh samples and flag discrepancies
- Take detailed inspection photos (not just “we looked at it”)
- Push back on factories when something’s wrong
- Only release payment after you approve
You don’t need to become a quality expert. You just need to work with one.
Here’s what happens when you reach out:
- Send us product images, quantity, and budget
- We tell you: verification priorities for this product type, common issues we’ve seen before, and a rough budget range
- First consultation is free. No commitment. Just a conversation.
Want detailed material specifications? See our quality standards page →
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