Asset Types Explained
Summary
Jewlerist recognises five asset types: stone, metal lot, jewelry piece, parcel, and component. Each type tracks different kinds of inventory with fields appropriate to that kind. Choosing the right type when creating an asset ensures you capture the right information and can work with it correctly.
Who this is for
This article is for users who want to understand when to use each asset type. You should have a basic understanding of what an asset is (see Getting Started with Jewlerist).
The five asset types
| Type | What it represents | Key measurements |
|---|---|---|
| Stone | A single loose gemstone | Carats, dimensions, color, clarity, certificate |
| Metal lot | A quantity of precious metal | Grams, metal type, purity, form |
| Jewelry piece | A finished or in-progress piece of jewellery | Piece type, metal, size, weight |
| Parcel | A batch of small stones tracked together | Stone count, total carats, size range |
| Component | A part used in assembly (chain, clasp, finding) | Material, dimensions, weight |
The asset type is chosen when you create the asset and cannot be changed afterwards.
When to use each type
Stone
Use a stone when you have a single, identifiable gemstone that you need to track individually. This is the right type for:
- A 1.5ct round brilliant diamond with a GIA certificate.
- A 3.2ct oval sapphire from a specific supplier.
- A pearl or cabochon stone that you need to reference in orders or jewelry pieces.
Stones carry detailed gemmological fields: type, carats, shape, color, clarity, dimensions, cut, origin, treatment, and certificate number. For diamonds, a GIA color grade (D–Z) can be recorded separately.
Metal lot
Use a metal lot when you have a quantity of precious metal that will be consumed over time. This is the right type for:
- 50g of 18k yellow gold sheet.
- 200g of 925 silver grain.
- 30g of 950 platinum wire.
Metal lots track the initial weight and calculate the remaining weight as metal is consumed into jewelry pieces or other work. The form (sheet, wire, solder, grain) and additional details (thickness, wire shape, solder format) are recorded so you know exactly what you have.
Jewelry piece
Use a jewelry piece when you have a finished or in-progress piece of jewellery. This is the right type for:
- A completed 18k gold solitaire ring.
- A necklace currently being assembled.
- A pair of sterling silver earrings in stock.
Jewelry pieces carry details about the metal (type, colour, purity), the kind of piece (ring, necklace, bracelet, etc.), size, style, finish, weight, and optional collection name. For necklaces, you can link a chain component asset.
Parcel
Use a parcel when you have a batch of small stones that you do not need to track individually. This is the right type for:
- A parcel of 50 melee diamonds, totalling 2.5ct, sized 1.5–2.0mm.
- A batch of calibrated sapphires, 3mm round, totalling 15ct.
Parcels are measured by stone count, total carats, or both. They have a size range (minimum and maximum dimensions) and shared attributes (shape, color, clarity). As you use stones from a parcel, the remaining count and carats are tracked automatically.
Component
Use a component when you have a part that is used in the assembly of jewelry pieces but is not itself a finished piece. This is the right type for:
- A 45cm 18k gold cable chain.
- A lobster clasp in sterling silver.
- Earring posts, butterfly scrolls, or other findings.
Components record the material, dimensions, weight, and type-specific details (clasp type for clasps, whether an earring comes with a scroll).
How asset types relate to each other
Asset types are not isolated. They interact through events:
- Metal is consumed from a metal lot into a jewelry piece (a consume event reduces the lot's remaining grams and creates a history entry on the piece).
- Stones are set into a jewelry piece (a reserve or consume event links the stone to the piece).
- Stones are taken from a parcel (a consume event reduces the parcel's count and carats).
- A chain component is linked to a necklace jewelry piece.
These relationships build the production history that makes Jewlerist valuable over time. Each asset's timeline shows what went in, what came out, and what it became.
Choosing the right type
If you are unsure which type to use, ask yourself:
- Is it a single, identifiable gemstone? → Stone.
- Is it a quantity of metal measured by weight? → Metal lot.
- Is it a finished or in-progress piece of jewellery? → Jewelry piece.
- Is it a batch of small stones not tracked individually? → Parcel.
- Is it a part used in assembly (chain, clasp, finding)? → Component.
If an item does not fit neatly into one of these categories, choose the closest match and use the Notes field to record additional context.