A good finish inspection compares a random sample of pieces with a sealed master sample, under steady daylight-type light, using a loupe for close checks and a written list of defects with clear limits. Done before packing, it lets the maker rework faults in India instead of you finding them in your warehouse.
The method matters more than the inspector's eye. Without agreed rules, every disagreement becomes a matter of opinion.
Set up before the inspection
- A sealed, signed master sample for each design and colour.
- A defect list with classes: critical (safety, such as sharp edges or loose small parts), major (visible plating or stone faults), minor (small marks only seen up close).
- Sampling plan: usually AQL sampling under ISO 2859-1, with agreed levels for major and minor defects.
- Lighting: a daylight-type lamp over a plain white or grey surface.
- Tools: a 10x loupe, soft gloves, a ruler or calliper, a scale, and a plating thickness reading by XRF if possible.
What to check on each piece
- Colour against the master, viewed side by side, at arm's length and close up.
- Plating coverage in recesses, edges and the back of the piece.
- Bubbles, blisters, pits, scratches, stains and dull patches.
- Stone setting: every stone present, straight and secure.
- Findings: clasps open and close, hooks and posts straight, no sharp burrs.
- Colour match across all parts of a set.
- Lacquer: no runs, sticky areas or cloudiness.
Simple tests worth adding
A tape adhesion test on a few pieces shows whether plating lifts. A short wipe with a damp cloth reveals poor lacquer. Weighing a set and comparing it with the approved sample catches a lighter casting or a thinner base. Plating thickness and nickel or lead levels need lab equipment, so send a few production pieces to a lab when compliance matters.
After the inspection
Record every defect with photos, state whether the lot passed or failed against the AQL, and agree rework before packing. Re-inspect the reworked pieces. Then check packing, so finished pieces are bagged individually and do not rub. See also how to make sure your order matches the approved sample.
What this means for a buyer
Agree the rules before production, and inspect before goods are packed. Creston & Co works for buyers only, for a fixed fee agreed in writing: we inspect in Rajkot against your master sample, have samples tested at NABL-accredited labs and supervise packing. Start with a free sourcing review.