Quality underpins everything we do at TTT Jewelry, and we want to ensure that the products you receive from us consistently exceed your expectations. That’s why we have rigorous controls in place that cover all aspects of our production, from workmanship to the grading of the materials used.
We provide greater detail on materials and processes further down, but in general terms, our quality checks include the following:
- That there are no scratches, marks, or inexpertly applied solder or glue in any of our items.
- That all stone fittings are secure.
- There are no mismatched colors or discoloration in any of our products.
- That there are no sharp edges or joins that may cause injury.
Tests are also conducted to ensure the strength, thickness, and durability of our jewelry so that you can have complete confidence in the products that you purchase from us.
1. Leather
Leather can be divided into real leather made from animal hides, imitation leather (artificial leather), and silica leather.
2. Semi-precious Jewels
Defects such as cracks, sand holes, impurities, variegation, and other problems must be assessed as to whether they are acceptable. Because semi-precious stones are made from natural materials, there may be color differences once dyed or plated. These should be referenced against the standards of pre-agreed samples, and customers with special requirements should explain them in advance.
(1) Cat’s Eye/Tiger Eye Stone
Plastic Beads/Acrylic Beads
- The following features are allowed: a parting line, slight shrinkage, gas and water-marks, small bubbles, scratches, impurities, variegation, and other minor defects.
- Defects that should not be present are visible glue marks, pronounced burring or scorching, or severe shrinkage. Prominent gas or water-marks, small bubbles, scratches, impurities, or variegation.
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Silica gel Beads
- The color should meet the requirements according to the color card or template. The surface should be free from impurities and stains, and there should not be a noticeable smell. The mold line is uniform and not thick. The environmental requirements are specific to the provisions of customers.
Get to know more about our jewelry materials here.
There should be no sand holes, die lines, or pockmarks. Smooth polished surfaces give a mirrored effect, so they must not be worn or deformed. Corners must also be polished, and joins must be kept smooth.
2. Burning and Welding
Soldering should be firm and the welding position unified. A suitable solder should be used according to the quality and material of the piece (tin, copper, silver). The size of the solder joint should be moderate, and there should be no big welding scar. The non-back or concealed solder joints need to be polished strictly.
3. Stone Settings
- Prongs should be evenly spaced and sit flat against the stone to securely hold it in place.
- Prongs should be rounded, polished, and completely smooth. The fitting should not prevent light reflection, and the prongs should not damage the stone.
- The heal of the prong must be at least half as thick as the entire prong to ensure that it has durability and will not crack.
- There should be no movement in the stone setting.
4. Glued Stones(Rhinestone)
Small stones are stuck down using a slow-dry transparent AB adhesive. The glue must be applied carefully and should not be visible. Once the stone is in place, it should be attached firmly and be able to pass a drop test.
5. Adhesive Glue
Glue Class
- The glue is applied after electroplating.
- The color of dropping glue should meet the standards of a color card or sample.
- Flat and arced surfaces can be achieved depending on the effect selected. The plane should not be too convex or shallow, and there should be no pores or impurities.
6. Leather Oil Edge
The oil edge should be smooth and uniform, and there should be no color mismatch with the main item. Additionally, there should be no noticeable poring or a convex finish.
7. Choice of Glue
Our selection of glue directly affects the quality and lifespan of the product. So we do not use double-sided adhesive, quick-drying glue, or other adhesives which have low viscosity, are brittle, and age rapidly. Instead, the adhesive is applied correctly and firmly, and all items can pass the drop, aging, and tensile test.
8. Packaging
- Typically, the finished goods box must be marked with its size, net weight, gross weight, number (color), quantity, PO#, guest mark, and origin. The gross weight cannot exceed 25KG.
- All packaging must contain desiccants.
- Packaging should always meet the customer’s specifications.
(1) Poor Electroplating
The following are all evidence of poor electroplating:
- Blistering: surface bulging caused by gas expanding through the pores of the item, pressing against the plating.
- Peeling and flaking: caused by poor adhesion, the coating peels away from the metal substrate.
- Scorching: appears as a difference in color between the plating and other surface coatings, and the surface feels rough to the touch
- Uneven color: localized color difference.
- Impurities: metal particles become attached to the plating, resulting in a rough surface.
- Blue film (color): presents as a blue reflection in the plating.
- Exposed substrate: the surface of the product is not entirely covered by the coating.
(2) Non-electroplated Surface Defects
The following are examples of non-electroplated defects:
- Collision: a raised mark on the surface of the coating caused by an impact with another object
- Scratch: marks made on the coating surface by other sharp objects.
- Scraping: abrasion marks on the coating caused by another object.
- Watermarking: caused by solution left on the coating surface after electroplating.
- Wavy surface appearance: the surface of the product is not smooth, and this can be seen as a wavy appearance in the coating following electroplating.
- Sand hole: an imperfection in the item that electroplating does not cover up.
(3) Water Electroplating Quality Control
- Environmental protection requirements such as lead and nickel testing should be carried out. Electroplating manufacturers have environmental protection assurance in place.
- Thickness testing; reports should be provided in line with customer requirements.
- Protective layer testing; potassium sulfide, ammonium sulfide, sweat, or salt spray tests should be done as per the relevant requirements.
2. Vacuum Electroplating
(1) Poor Electroplating
Poor electroplating will present as:
- Discoloration, blackening, and a lustreless finish.
- Non-uniform coloring in the plating.
- Oil present on the surface of the product.
- Fine scratches but no deep scratching.
- Hard or deep scratches
- Bruising; damage to the surface of the product caused by external objects.
- Leakage; the product does not dry and water is present (hollow products)
- Pocked surface; where granular defects are present on the plating surface.
- Coke; due to excessive plating.
- Rough surface coating.
(2) Vacuum Test Project
- Wear resistance, 24-48 hours wear resistance test.
- Colorfastness, 24-72 hours salt spray test.
We may perform other tests according to the product’s characteristics or the requirements of our customers and their industry.
1. Colorfastness Test
Mainly for sprayed or dyed materials: an alcoholic solution is applied to the product’s surface and wiped away with a white cloth. If there is no fading or color transference, the test is passed.
2. Electroplating Protection Test (See Electroplating Quality Control Above)
Can be sent to third parties for the salt spray test as required by the customer
3. Safety Packaging Test
The finished item’s box is raised 1 m from the ground to perform drop tests on all sides of the box; upper, lower, front, rear, left, and right. The product is inspected, and if it is not damaged, the packaging is passed. If the item is damaged, it fails. (Similar products and packaging can be combined for this test). The total weight of each package should not exceed 13 kg, and special heavy items should not exceed 20 kg.
4. Tensile Test
- Necklaces are tested under a 2 kg pulling force.
- Bracelets are tested under a 2 kg pulling force.
- Earrings are not generally subject to this test, but specific customer requirements determine this.
5. Drop Test (Impact Resistance)
Finished products or accessories are dropped without packaging to the ground (hard floor) from a distance of 0.9-1.2 m, four times. The material must remain intact to pass.
6. Anti-aging Test
The jewelry item is baked for 30 minutes in an oven at a temperature of 65°C and then frozen (below 0°C) for 4 hours. The material is then inspected to ensure it keeps its original quality.
The item is also exposed to direct sunlight for 4-8 hours in the sun to check whether the appearance and color of the object are obviously changed.
7. Attachment Strength Test
- The scope of this test is oil injection, transfer printing, bronzing, silk printing, and clay stone parts.
- For dyed and spray-painted items: 3M adhesive paper is applied to the surface and torn off at 45 degrees to see if the tape is discolored.
- Clay Stone: 3M adhesive paper is applied to the surface and torn off at 45 degrees to look for any stone residue.
- Before testing, the surface of the test object must be completely dry.
8. Heavy Metal Test
This test is carried out by SGS or another designated organization for testing according to the customer’s requirement. The specific tests required can also be agreed with the customer.
Products that fail this test must be approved by the company’s general manager before they can be shipped. Items cannot be approved for shipping without this authorization.