Visible and invisible defects — the reseller checklist
I want you to take on a new posture from now on: before the piece reaches the client, it passes through your eyes first. Not through your reseller affection, through your technical eye, the one trained at the factory. This lesson is so you never again hand over a piece with a defect without noticing.
Why the checklist exists
Even with batch control (previous lesson) and visual inspection before shipping, pieces travel — cases open and close, things bump together. Small issues can show up along the way. Your second inspection is what protects your client — and your reputation.
Think of it this way: every defective piece you hand over is a future return, a late-night WhatsApp and a suspicious client. Every reviewed piece that goes out flawless is a client who comes back.
Visible defects (you spot them in natural light)
Hold the piece by a window or under white light, turn it slowly in both hands, and check:
- Plating marks. Fine scratches, darkened stains, areas with shine different from the rest. When plating is uniform, the piece reflects light evenly from any angle. If a region looks duller, something is off.
- Color failure. On a rose gold piece, yellowish patches. On white gold, yellowish areas instead of silvery white. May indicate thin plating at one specific spot.
- Failing rhodium. As we saw in module 2, rhodium is the mirror layer over white/rose plating. If the piece is showing the original underlying color through stains, the rhodium may be failing.
- Casting or solder defects. Bumps, surface irregularities, raised solder around clasps. Look especially at curved areas and bends.
- Clasp and ring finishing. Clasps that do not close firmly, open jump rings, weak springs. Test every clasp three times.
Invisible defects (you only find them by testing)
These are the trickiest, because the piece looks perfect.
- Plating adhesion. Rub the piece firmly but gently with the dry cotton flannel (the same one shipped with the piece). If a color different from the piece shows up on the flannel, there is a serious adhesion problem. In a good factory this is rare, but the test takes thirty seconds.
- Mechanical clasp strength. Loop the closed necklace around two fingers and pull lightly. The clasp must not open under light traction. If it opens, the piece will fall off the client's neck in normal use.
- Pair check. Earrings, two-piece bracelets — confirm both pieces are present and identical. Sounds obvious, but it is the most common packaging failure in the whole industry.
What to do when you find a defect
Do not sell it. Isolate the piece in a separate bag, photograph it (natural light, white background), note the piece code and the lot (it comes on the invoice and packaging). Open a ticket through the factory channel. We will trace the batch and send a replacement. That is exactly what the system from the previous lesson exists for.
The pocket line
"The piece passes through my eyes before it reaches the client's neck. That is part of my service as a Herreira reseller."
Say it out loud to your client at delivery. She will get the level of care.
What to practice this week
Take five pieces from your kit and run the full checklist (visible plus invisible) on each. Time yourself: after you find your rhythm, it takes under two minutes per piece. That is the gap between an improvised reseller and a professional one. Next lesson we cover what to do when the defect is genuine and the warranty kicks in.