A wholesale buyer receives 500 rings, opens the first box, and finds one band stamped 925 on the inside of the shank instead of on the shoulder, another with a loose prong, and a third shipped in the wrong size. The factory QC person looks embarrassed but says the order was "checked." What buyers should know is that "checked" means different things at different shops. At our bench, final QC is a 12-point checklist run by a person who is not the one who made the piece. Here is what is on that list.
Dimensional and marking checks
First the ring size is measured on a steel mandrel at plus/minus 0.15 mm. Weight is checked against the spec — plus/minus 5 percent on silver, plus/minus 3 percent on gold. The fineness stamp (925, 14k, sponsor mark) is read under a loupe: right metal, right position, right depth. Marking rules that govern these stamps are set out in the FTC Jewelry Guides. The broader order-level checklist is in jewelry order QC checklist.
Visual and surface checks
Each piece is rotated under a 10x loupe and a ring light. We look for casting pits under the surface, scratch lines left by a missed grit stage, and a dip in the polish on high-contact edges. High polish must read as a clean reflection; brushed must read as a consistent, even line direction. We flag any piece with more than three closed pits under 0.2 mm. Porosity we are hunting for is explained in casting porosity causes and fixes, and the grit sequence that should have prevented the scratches is in bench files and grit surface prep.
Stone and setting checks
Every stone is tugged gently with a pair of tweezers. A prong that moves even slightly is rejected. The seat is inspected for a hairline gap between the girdle and the metal. Pavé stones are checked under the microscope for a missing bead or a tilted stone. We also run a black-light spot check on stones that were supplied as natural vs lab-grown, because a swapped stone in a wholesale order is the most expensive mistake we can make. We verify each seat against the original girdle spec on the traveler so a wrong-sized stone does not slip through on a rush order.
Packaging and photo record
Before the order goes into a polybag and a branded box, we photograph a random 10 percent on a neutral gray background, with a ruler and a color card, and send the buyer the photo set as proof. This catches SKU mix-ups before the parcel reaches the retail shelf. The photo process is detailed in QC photos before shipment. We also double-check that each piece's finish matches the approved sample — a high polish on one SKU must not arrive brushed on the next. We seal each piece in its own polybag with a desiccant packet so a plated band does not tarnish in transit.
Reject rate and how we report it
Our outgoing reject rate on silver production runs averages 1.8 percent, split roughly half surface and half stone. On gold it is under 1 percent because we X-ray every piece over 10 grams. Any lot that runs above 3 percent on silver or 1.5 percent on gold gets held for a root-cause note before it ships, and the buyer gets a short written explanation rather than a silent reship. We do not ship a piece we would not put in our own retail case. The same discipline applies on reorders, where the reject rate usually drops by half after the first run because the sprue, burnout, and polishing stages are dialed in.
How many pieces do you inspect?
100 percent get the visual, size, and stone check. X-ray and black-light checks are sampled at 10 percent on gold and high-value stone orders.
What happens if a piece fails?
It goes back to the bench for repair. If the defect cannot be repaired (a cracked shank, a chipped seat, a loose stone that cannot be re-set), we remake the piece and ship the whole lot together rather than sending a partial order that forces the buyer to wait for a second parcel.
Can I send my own QC person?
Yes. We welcome on-site inspection before shipment, and we hold the order for up to 3 working days while your inspector reviews it.
Do you share the QC report?
Yes. Each wholesale order ships with a one-page QC sheet listing size distribution, weight average, reject rate, and photo samples.
Ask for our QC sheet template with your next quote. HOLYCOME runs casting, setting, plating, and final QC under one roof with a dedicated QC bench — ask about our custom manufacturing program and send your spec, and we will return a sample QC sheet before production starts.
US federal rules for describing metals and gemstones in jewellery advertising are set out in the FTC Guides for the Jewelry, Precious Metals and Pewter Industries (16 CFR Part 23).
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I verify a factory before placing a bulk order?
Request a production video, business license, export records and a paid sample run. A factory that accepts a 50-piece test order is usually a real manufacturer.
What payment terms do you offer?
30% T/T deposit with the balance against the bill of lading. This protects both sides on first orders and can move to net terms after a track record.
What is your normal reject rate?
3–5% under 10x loupe inspection for cast and set pieces. Defective units are replaced free in the next shipment.
Where is the factory located?
Wuzhou, Guangxi, China—the core lab-grown and moissanite manufacturing cluster. Shipments go via Guangzhou or Shenzhen ports.
