A buyer receives a 100-piece order of silver rings and on inspection finds three rings with the 925 stamp on the outside of the shank, two with a loose side stone, and one sized half a size small. The factory defense is we checked every piece. Without photographic evidence, the dispute goes nowhere. A 5–10 minute QC photo pack per order would have caught all of these before the parcel left China. This article lists the photo set we send every wholesale buyer, and what each frame is meant to prove.
The six mandatory frames
For every production order we photograph, on a neutral gray background with scale card: (1) top view of the piece, showing symmetry and stone placement; (2) side profile, showing wall and prong height; (3) macro of the stamp, proving the 925 or 14K mark and sponsor mark are legible and on the correct side; (4) macro of the seated stone, showing no daylight gap under the girdle; (5) inner shank shot, with digital caliper showing the measured inner diameter; (6) finish shot under raking light, showing scratches, fire scale, or polish lines. We also run a weight record per piece, logged against the tolerance in finished ring weight tolerance. The broader QC flow is described in the jewelry order QC checklist.
What each frame catches
The stamp frame catches misplacement (outside vs inside shank, upside-down stamp) — a common defect when new operators handle the marking machine. The stone macro catches loose prongs and girdle cracks, which are the top two warranty claims. The caliper frame proves ring size without relying on the buyer own measurement. The raking-light frame catches polish swirls and fire scale that look fine in even light. We shoot with a 60mm macro lens at F/8, which is the same setup we use for moissanite girdle and seat cuts. Stone grades and colors are cross-checked against the approved sample.
First-piece vs batch QC
On a new design, we stop after the first piece, send the full photo pack, and wait for buyer sign-off before running the rest. On reorders of an approved style, we photo every 5th piece and send a 20-frame contact sheet with the shipment. We also keep a physical sample per lot for two years, so if a buyer later questions a repair, we can compare against the original. The first-piece step is part of the loop described in custom ring wax prototypes before production.
Lighting and camera setup
The photo pack only works if the lighting is consistent. We shoot all QC frames on a neutral gray table with two 5500K LED softboxes set at 45 degrees on either side, which eliminates the hot spots that hide scratches on a curved shank. A 60mm macro lens at F/8 gives us depth of field across the whole ring, and a 10mm reference scale card sits in every frame so the buyer can measure dimensions without a ruler. We avoid ring lights because they create a reflection that runs across the stone crown and obscures girdle gaps. For stone close-ups we add a single side light at 15 degrees, which rakes across the seat and makes any daylight gap visible as a thin dark line. This same setup is used for product photography on our wholesale catalog, so the buyer sees exactly what end customers will see. Pre-shipment inspection standards are discussed in references such as the quality control entry on Wikipedia.
Lighting and camera setup
The photo pack only works if the lighting is consistent. We shoot all QC frames on a neutral gray table with two 5500K LED softboxes set at 45 degrees on either side, which eliminates the hot spots that hide scratches on a curved shank. A 60mm macro lens at F/8 gives us depth of field across the whole ring, and a 10mm reference scale card sits in every frame so the buyer can measure dimensions without a ruler. We avoid ring lights because they create a reflection that runs across the stone crown and obscures girdle gaps. For stone close-ups we add a single side light at 15 degrees, which rakes across the seat and makes any daylight gap visible as a thin dark line. This same setup is used for product photography on our wholesale catalog, so the buyer sees exactly what end customers will see. Pre-shipment inspection standards are discussed in references such as the quality control entry on Wikipedia.
What we will not ship without
We hold any lot where: the caliper reading is outside plus/minus 0.15 mm of target; a stone wiggles under a prong pusher; the stamp is illegible; or the raking-light shot shows a scratch through a plated surface. These are reworked in-house, not shipped as is with a discount. The plating layer and soldering defects are checked in the same raking-light frame.
Do I have to pay extra for QC photos?
No. The six-frame pack is included in every wholesale order. We charge only for on-site third-party inspection (SGS/Bureau Veritas) if the buyer requests it.
Can you send a video instead of photos?
Yes, on request. A 15-second pan under rotation catches most defects, but we still send the still frames for the record.
What if my customer later claims a stone fell out?
The seat macro we photographed at shipment is our evidence that the prong was closed correctly. If it rattles in service, we cover the repair under warranty unless the photo shows prior damage.
Want a QC photo pack before your next shipment? HOLYCOME sends the six-frame pack with every order and stops production for buyer sign-off on first pieces. Ask about our small-batch OEM program — upload your spec and we will quote the photo pack as standard.
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.
