This is a making studio rather than a review publication, but the guides on this site rest on supplier assessments, so the method belongs in public.
Silver refiners
- Named refiner with a documented recycled feedstock standard.
- Willing to state recycled content as a percentage, in writing.
- Assay consistency across deliveries — checked on receipt, not assumed.
- Traceable invoicing that matches the material actually delivered.
Platers
| Check | Why |
|---|---|
| Stated micron thickness | Determines whether plating lasts months or years |
| Nickel-free undercoat | Nickel is a common contact allergen and restricted in the EU |
| Consistency across a batch | Uneven plating wears through at edges first |
Stones and pearls
Freshwater pearls are assessed on drill quality, nacre thickness and consistency within a strand. We reject strands where drill holes are ragged, because they cut thread.
What disqualifies a supplier
Refusal to state recycled content in writing; inability to name a plating thickness; substitution of a different specification without notice. Any one of these ends the relationship, because each makes it impossible for us to describe our own pieces accurately.
Re-checking
Supplier statements are re-confirmed annually and whenever a specification changes. Where a change affects something we have published, the page is updated under our fact-checking policy.