The original Jem/Jerrica doll went through various changes in her run.  She was available to retailers throughout the entire run of the dolls, not just limited to 1986.  That adds up to a whole lot of Jem/Jerrica dolls!
The following is a listing of dolls I've had personally, most of them were acquired loose and nude so I don't have much information about their origin or which boxes they came from unless noted.  This is the culmination of many years of cataloguing the differences in the back stamps and face paint, as well as lots of long discussions with other Jem collectors with the ultimate purpose of identifying Jem dolls more thoroughly.  That said, I wouldn't be surprised of there are other dolls out there and I'd be happy to hear about any new finds!

Here is a sample of the different back stamps and face molds that accompanied them that I've found over the years.

As to dating them, it's very difficult as they are all marked 1985.  However, the China-made non-Star Capped Jem/Jerrica had instructions included with her that were dated 1985, whereas the Hong Kong and Star Capped Jem/Jerricas I have came with instructions dated 1986.  My guess is that one form of the Hong Kong dolls (wide font maybe?) and the non-Star Capped China made Jem/Jerricas were among the first, then various Hong Kong dolls, then finally the Chinese made Star Capped Jem Jerricas.

China - compressed font, no star capsHong Kong - wide font China - wide font Hong Kong - compressed font China - compressed font, star caps
Eyeliner- notice it does not completely encircle her eyes.  
Pupils - notice the shape - much more of the circle is shown, giving her a less sleepy look.  They also tend to be paler in colour.
Lips- the little divot in her lipstick on the bottom lip is more pronounced, colour is a bit cooler toned.
Skintone - is usually paler and more matte.
This particular one has a really high forehead and skinnier cheeks, but I don't know how common that is.		Notice the light pink layer of her eyeshadow, and how much further it goes down past her lower lashes (compared to the last two China dolls on this page)
Eyeliner is heavy and completely encircles the eyes.		 This one looks extra dopey to me, and I'm not sure why her skin is so much shinier looking.
This one is a bit mysterious in that she has most of the Hong Kong doll characteristics, yet has the China marking on her back. 		Still a bit on the dopey side, skin slightly shiny but not too bad. She is really pale, the blush really stands out on her. The one shown here has raspberry lip paint with a very pronounced "divot" in the lower lip paint.  Another Star Cap I have has nearly no "divot" at all, and paler/cooler toned pink lips.
Small battery cover, switch has grip on it.  

© 1985 HASBRO INC.
CHINA
Notice the font is taller/more compressed looking. Has period after Inc.

Markings are the same as the Star Capped version.		Large rectangular battery cover.  Switch has no grip marks.  

© 1985 HASBRO INC
HONG KONG
Notice the font is wider, has shorter letters.  There is no period after INC.		Large rectangular battery cover.  Switch has no grip marks.  

© 1985 HASBRO INC
CHINA
Notice the top row font is wider, has shorter letters. There is no period after INC.
It looks simply as though the "Hong Kong" from the HK marked dolls was simply replaced by "China".  In fact, some of these dolls do have a faint oval shape or scuffing marks around where the Hong Kong markings would have been.
Large rectangular battery cover.  Switch has no grip marks.  

© 1985 HASBRO INC
HONG KONG
Notice the font is taller/more compressed looking. No period after Inc.
Small battery cover, switch has grip on it.  

© 1985 HASBRO INC.
CHINA
Notice the font is taller/more compressed looking. Has period after Inc.
Markings are the same as the non-Star Capped version.
Skinny Pelvis, slightly taller dollTriangular pelvis, slightly shorter doll Triangular pelvis, slightly shorter doll Triangular pelvis, slightly shorter doll Skinny Pelvis, slightly taller doll
HASBRO   1985

Large rectangle flush or slightly embossed or indented on back of head with embossed text.
HASBRO INC.

Has a large faint indented (or flush) rectangular mark near the hairline; below that is a smaller embossed rectangle with embossed letters.
HASBRO INC.

Has a large faint indented (or flush) rectangular mark near the hairline; below that is a smaller embossed rectangle with embossed letters.
HASBRO INC.

Has a large faint indented (or flush) rectangular mark near the hairline; below that is a smaller embossed rectangle with embossed letters.
HASBRO   1985

Large rectangle flush or slightly embossed or indented on back of head with embossed text.

Small holes in soles of feet.Large holes in soles of feet.Large holes in soles of feet. Large holes in soles of feet. Small holes in soles of feet.
US issue, Assembled in China, packed in Hong Kong H22 box
US issue, Made in Hong Kong H44 box
 US Issue, Made in China H22 box

The side panels of the boxes of a few of the US-issued dolls shown above.  The third doll in the table above came in the 1st Hong Kong/H44 box, the Star-Capped Jem (5th doll in table above) came in the Made in China H22 box.  The Assembled in China/Packed in Hong Kong H22 yielded a non-star Capped Jem doll (4th in the table above).
None of these are "Audition Contest" boxes.


See more Jem/Jerrica differences in the Mexican & Spanish Jem overview page.