The 20-Point Jewelry QC Checklist Every Importer Should Use

QC on a jewelry lot is not a vibe check. 'Looks fine' from a factory photo is not QC. A structured checklist, applied by a trained eye under magnification, is what separates a lot that reorders from a lot that returns. We use a 20-point checklist on every bulk shipment, and the same checklist is what we recommend our buyers run on arrival. It is short, specific, and it catches almost everything that goes wrong in a jewelry production run before the customer does. Run it on arrival as well, not just at the factory, because the two inspections catch different failure points.

Packaging and paperwork (points 1-4)

1. Cartons intact. No crushed corners, no water marks, no signs of re-taping.
2. Packing list matches PO. Quantities per style, per size, per color.
3. Commercial invoice matches packing list. Same line items, same values.
4. Country of origin marked on pieces or hangtags, as required by your market.

Metal and stamps (points 5-9)

5. Mill stamps correct. S925 for sterling, 14k/585 for 14k, 18k/750 for 18k, legible and in the expected location.
6. Maker's mark present if you specified one.
7. Weight within tolerance. Weigh 5-10 pieces; compare to the spec sheet. ±5% is normal for cast pieces.
8. No casting flash or sprue marks visible on high-polish surfaces.
9. No porosity or pits on the shank, bezel, or high-wear areas under 10x loupe.

Stones and setting (points 10-14)

10. All stones present and of the specified size and clarity tier.
11. Stones tight. Gently press each stone with a wooden stick; no movement, no click.
12. Prongs secure. No bent prongs, no sharp tips catching fabric, no prong sitting on top of a stone instead of gripping it.
13. No chips or cracks on stones, visible under 10x loupe, especially on pavilion edges.
14. Symmetry in multi-stone pieces. Pavé stones evenly spaced, no missing or tilted stones.

Finish and plating (points 15-18)

15. Finish matches sample. Polished is mirror-bright, brushed is consistent direction, matte is uniform.
16. Plating even. No orange peel, no missed coverage on inner bands, no edge buildup or drips.
17. No scratches on high-polish surfaces; run a microfiber cloth and check for drag.
18. Tarnish or discoloration on silver pieces indicates a cleaning or plating issue; reject.

Functional and final (points 19-20)

19. Clasps and chains work. Spring rings open and close cleanly, lobster clasps spring back, jump rings are closed (soldered where specified).
20. Pieces clean and odor-free. No leftover polishing compound, no solder flux smell, no tarnish spots in crevices.

How to run the inspection on arrival

You do not need to open every piece. Sample 5-10% of the lot, weighted toward the styles with the most stones and the most complex settings. Run the checklist on each sampled piece. If 0-1 pieces fail on any point, accept the lot. If 2-3 pieces fail on the same point, inspect the next 10% and decide. If more than 5% fail on any single point, reject the lot - the factory should rework or remake.

Third-party inspection for larger lots

For orders over about $5,000 or above 500 pieces, a third-party inspection by SGS, Bureau Veritas or QIMA costs $150-$250 and runs the same checklist on-site at the factory before shipment. The inspector is independent, they photograph every defect, and their report is what you use to push back if the lot fails. It is the single highest-return spend in sourcing, because a rejected lot caught before shipment costs the factory nothing extra; a rejected lot caught after it arrives in your country costs you round-trip freight and duty.

Keeping the QC trail

A QC inspection is only useful if you can refer back to it. Photograph every sampled piece on a neutral background, note the PO number and the date on the photo file, and keep the folder with the order record for at least twelve months. If a customer returns a piece six months later, the QC photos let you tell whether the defect was in the lot or happened after delivery. That record is also what you send to the factory when you raise a dispute on a reorder. Without it, every argument starts from memory, and memory is where supplier relationships go to die.

We run this checklist in-house on every lot and include the QC report with the shipment. A printable version of the 20-point list is on the wholesale resources page, so you can run the same inspection on arrival. The checklist is not negotiable; it is the minimum bar. Anything below it comes back.

Authoritative References

For buyers who need to verify the technical and regulatory basis of this guide, the following independent institutions publish authoritative reference data:

• ISO 9001 Quality Management - the international standard for consistent production quality.
• Wikipedia: Jewellery - manufacturing processes, materials and global trade background.