A jewelry buyer in Warsaw received a 500-piece order of silver rings. The outer cartons were intact, the packing list matched, and the invoice numbers were right. Inside, three rings had loose stones, one had a scratch across the shank, and two pairs of earrings had mismatched posts. The factory had run QC on the bench but had not run a shipment-level check: the final pass that happens after the pieces are bagged, before the carton is taped. Shipment QC is the last checkpoint between a factory and a retail customer, and it catches the 2-3% of defects that bench QC misses. This guide covers the checklist wholesale buyers should demand on every export lot.

Bench QC catches casting defects, setting problems, and polish issues on the production line. Shipment QC catches the things that happen after: a stone loosened during tumbling, a scratch from packaging, a wrong SKU packed against the label, a plating wipe that smudged. A documented checklist with sign-off per carton is what separates a factory that ships 98% good from one that ships 92% and absorbs returns. For packaging reference, see branded packaging.

The shipment-level checklist

Before the carton is sealed, each piece passes a final inspection:

- SKU and size match: the tag on the bag matches the packing list line. Mismatched SKUs are the most common shipment error.
- Stone security: light tug on each prong; stone should not move. Mismatched earring posts (one push-back, one fish-hook) are caught here.
- Surface check under 5,000 K light: no new scratches, no fingerprints, no plating smudges.
- Finish test on high-contact pieces: ring shank polished, clasp closes cleanly, earring posts straight.
- Weight check on a sample: random 5% weighed against spec to catch under-cast pieces.
- Packaging integrity: each piece in its own poly bag or insert, no movement that causes rubbing inside the box.

Documentation that protects the buyer

A factory that runs real shipment QC can produce: a signed QC checklist per carton, a sample of random pull-test photos, and a weight ticket for the lot. Buyers should ask for these before the carton leaves the factory. For regulated markets, also confirm that fineness stamps (925, 10k, 14k) are present and legible; US customs and FTC jewelry guides require marks with a maker's mark. See 16 CFR Part 23 for the current plating and marking rules.

The 2-3% that bench QC misses

Experience across silver and gold lots shows that bench QC catches roughly 95-97% of defects. The remaining 2-3% are damage that happens between bench and carton: prongs tapped during tumbling, scratches from unbagged pieces rubbing in a tray, plating wiped with a dirty cloth. A shipment-level pass recovers most of that, lifting out-the-door quality from 96% to 99%+. On a 500-piece order, the difference between 96% and 99% is 15 defective pieces, which is the difference between a smooth reorder call and a dispute email. The remaining 2-3% are damage that happens between bench and carton: prongs tapped during tumbling, scratches from unbagged pieces rubbing in a tray, plating wiped with a dirty cloth. A shipment-level pass recovers most of that, lifting out-the-door quality from 96% to 99%+. For how disputes should be handled when a defect slips through, see preventing quality disputes and dispute resolution steps.

What is the difference between bench QC and shipment QC?

Bench QC catches production defects on the line. Shipment QC runs after bagging and catches damage, SKU mismatches, and packaging issues that happen between bench and carton.

How many pieces should be pull-tested for stones?

Every piece with a stone should get a light prong tug at shipment. A random 5% weight check catches under-cast pieces.

What documentation should a buyer ask for?

A signed QC checklist per carton, random pull-test photos, a weight ticket, and confirmation of fineness marks (925, 10k, 14k) with a maker's mark.

What is the typical defect rate without shipment QC?

Bench QC alone leaves roughly 2-3% damage or mismatch at the carton. A final shipment pass lifts out-the-door quality to 99%+.

Shipment QC is the cheapest insurance on a 500-piece order. We run a documented checklist

What a QC photo pack should include

A factory that runs shipment QC can send a photo pack before the carton ships: one wide shot of the sorted pieces, one close-up of a random stone pull-test, one of a polished shank under loupe, and one of the packed carton with the label. The buyer does not need 500 photos; four photos per carton is enough to confirm the run matches the approved sample. A factory that resists sending even this small pack is usually hiding a defect rate, and the first dispute will be the buyer's cost.

per carton, sign off per SKU, and share QC photos on request before dispatch. If you are placing a first or repeat order, align on the packing list, confirm the commercial invoice, and keep this checklist open until the carton seals.