Maintenance
Part of Handmade silver work business guide: records, care, repair
Silver Product Release Checklist for Maker Review
Use this silver product release checklist to review a silver object's description, care, repair, invoice, shipping, and records before listing or delivery.
What to take away
- Release only claims that have identified evidence and a responsible reviewer.
- Describe metal, coating, mixed materials, stones, dimensions, finish, and handmade status precisely.
- Care instructions must follow the weakest or most sensitive component.
- Repair and warranty terms need scope, exclusions, approval thresholds, and customer responsibilities.
- The invoice and product file should agree on item identity, price, tax, payment, and delivery.
Use this silver product release checklist before listing, invoicing, or shipping a handmade silver object. Mark every line pass, fail, hold, or not applicable, and record the evidence, reviewer, and date; resolve every fail or hold before release. Check the U.S. and any other applicable jurisdiction's legal, tax, hallmarking, privacy, and consumer-contract requirements.
Identity and evidence
- Product or job code is unique and appears on every connected record.
- Final photographs show overall form, marks, finish, stones, closures, and disclosed variations.
- Alloy, fineness, plating, mixed metals, solder, and findings match supplier, test, or assay evidence.
- Weight, dimensions, ring size, chain length, and tolerances use calibrated measurements.
- Stone identity, treatment, origin, grading, and report claims match reliable documentation.
- "Handmade," "hand-forged," "recycled," origin, sustainability, durability, and health-related wording has claim-specific support.
Precious-metal and hallmark wording
- Product language distinguishes solid alloy, filled, clad, plated, flashed, and silver-colored base metal.
- Fineness terms and marks are lawful and supported in every sales location: sterling or sterling silver is 925/1000, U.S. coin silver is 900/1000, and Britannia silver is 958/1000.
- The maker's mark is not described as an independent fineness guarantee unless it is one under the applicable system.
- Hallmark images are legible and tied to the correct item.
- Exemptions, mixed metals, solder, filled construction, and post-hallmark alterations receive qualified review.
For U.S. sales, check the FTC Jewelry Guides (16 C.F.R. Part 23) for silver-content and other jewelry representations. The National Gold and Silver Stamping Act (15 U.S.C. §§ 291–300) applies to covered articles bearing quality marks; verify that each mark and accompanying registered trademark meet the Act's requirements and that no exemption applies.
State precious-metal marking laws may add requirements. Check the applicable state's statutes and weights-and-measures or consumer-protection authority; California Business and Professions Code, Division 8, Chapter 6 (Precious Metals), is one example. For UK sales, the Hallmarking Act 1973 governs hallmarking; its section 13 requires dealers to display the prescribed hallmarking notice where articles are offered for sale. The UK assay offices are London, Birmingham, Sheffield, and Edinburgh; follow British Hallmarking Council guidance for online offers and the business compliance page for details on mixed metals, plated articles, solder, filled pieces, and alterations. UK duties do not define U.S. or other markets.
Product description
- Title names the object without unsupported superlatives.
- Materials list covers the visible and structural components.
- Finish identifies bright, satin, oxidized, patinated, plated, coated, or another defined condition.
- Description distinguishes designed texture and color from defects or uncontrolled tarnish.
- Dimensions and weight state whether they are exact, nominal, approximate, or within a range.
- Photographs and copy disclose natural or handmade variation without excusing out-of-spec work.
- Included chain, findings, packaging, replacement parts, and documentation are stated.
Wear and care
- Instructions reflect alloy, plating thickness if known, patina, finish, stones, enamel, adhesive, wood, textile, and other sensitive materials.
- Customer is told which water, heat, chemicals, cosmetics, pools, impact, bending, or abrasion to avoid.
- Storage guidance addresses scratching, tangling, compression, moisture, and tarnish environment.
- For uncoated, unpatinated silver without sensitive components, give a specific gentle method: wash with mild soap and lukewarm water, rinse, and dry with a soft cloth. Do not use this method on components that water may damage; prohibit chlorine bleach, abrasive powders, toothpaste, and silver dips unless the materials and finish are confirmed compatible.
- Inspection intervals or warning signs are given for settings, clasps, hinges, hollow forms, coatings, and high-wear zones.
- Professional service is recommended where home cleaning could cause damage.
The Canadian Conservation Institute explains that polishing removes metal. Repeated cleaning can erase detail or expose a plated base.
Its note on mild calcium-carbonate silver polish limits the method to appropriate silver objects that can be rinsed without harming associated materials. Use it only when the object's materials and finish are suitable; museum treatment is not a generic customer recipe. This checklist uses the source to justify restraint and material screening.
Repair and warranty
- Warranty term, covered fault, remedy, proof, shipping, exclusions, approval thresholds, and legal rights are stated and reviewed.
- For a written consumer-product warranty, disclosures and pre-sale availability comply with the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (15 U.S.C. §§ 2301–2312) and FTC warranty rules (16 C.F.R. Parts 700–703); identify a warranty as full or limited when required.
- Normal wear, accidental damage, misuse, third-party work, sizing, replating, refinishing, stone loss, and patina change are addressed without removing nonwaivable rights.
- Repair intake requires photographs, condition, marks, stones, coatings, prior work, requested result, and testing permission.
- Estimate states assumptions, exclusions, expiration, deposit, approval threshold, and change process.
- Removed parts, replaced metal, scrap, stones, and customer property have written handling rules.
Price, invoice, and payment
- Currency, item price, customization, discount, shipping, insurance, tax, deposit, balance, and refund appear separately.
- Invoice identifies seller, customer, date, item code, quantity, description, payment state, and delivery method.
- Tax treatment and registration details have qualified review.
- Payment processor amount, fee, settlement, refund, and chargeback can be reconciled.
- Wholesale or consignment terms agree with the invoice and inventory transfer.
Shipping, delivery, and acceptance
- Final inspection records dimensions, surface, settings, clasp, edges, marks, cleanliness, and packing.
- Package protects finish, projections, chains, stones, and documents.
- Declared value, carrier service, tracking, signature, insurance, and loss procedure match the contract.
- Delivery and acceptance evidence is retained.
- Return condition, deadline, authorization, restocking, customization, and shipping responsibility are clear and lawful.
Records and privacy
- Quote, approvals, cost, materials, time, inspection, description, care, invoice, payment, shipping, and repair records use the same code.
- Access to customer identity, address, measurements, correspondence, and payment data is limited.
- Retention and deletion periods follow tax, legal, warranty, insurance, and operational advice.
- Final release has a named reviewer and date.
Common questions
Can I describe any 925-marked object as sterling silver?
Not from the mark alone. Confirm the object's provenance, test or supplier evidence, applicable rules, and whether the mark is authentic and relevant to the whole article.
Should care instructions promise no tarnish?
No, unless the exact statement is supported. Explain realistic behavior, storage, cleaning, coatings, and service instead.
Is a product photo enough inspection evidence?
No. Photographs complement measurements, functional checks, material records, and a dated release decision.
Can warranty language remove all repair responsibility?
For U.S. written consumer-product warranties, check the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act and FTC warranty rules, as well as applicable state law. State the coverage and limits clearly without assuming that warranty language can remove nonwaivable consumer rights.
