In the jewelry industry, the key laboratory tests are nickel release testing, wear simulation tests, and checking lead and cadmium levels. These are the tests we commission for our jewelry findings.

Let me now explain in a bit more detail what these tests involve.

EN 1811: Nickel Release

This test measures how much nickel releases from a piece of jewelry during skin contact while it's worn. The jewelry finding is placed in an artificial sweat solution that mimics conditions on the skin. Nickel release is monitored in the solution over a two-week period.

The test is deliberately demanding. The conditions are chosen so that nickel release has time to settle at a stable level. That's why the second week's measurement is the decisive one, since by then the jewelry's surface is no longer new and the measured release reflects real-world wear.

The test simulates continuous, long-term wear, not just the early period when jewelry is brand new. Once a piece has gone through this test, we know what actually happens when it's worn in real life.

EN 12472: Wear Simulation Test

Before nickel release is measured, the jewelry is artificially worn down. The purpose of this test is to mimic how a piece changes through friction and wear over time, once it's no longer new.

The test is designed to correspond to the effects of at least about two years of normal wear. In other words, the jewelry is worn down before nickel release is measured.

Read more about our quality control in this article

Total Lead and Cadmium Content

These tests confirm that a material doesn't contain lead or cadmium above the permitted limits. In stainless steel and titanium, these levels are practically nonexistent or very low, but testing lets us confirm this with certainty.

Official Jewelry Safety Testing Methods Used in the EU

It's worth understanding that these aren't quick, informal tests. They're based on EU legislation and are used to assess and monitor jewelry safety. These are the same tests that authorities rely on when evaluating jewelry safety.

We commission these tests at the Finnish lab Measurlabs, which is an accredited laboratory. Accreditation means the lab has been officially confirmed as competent to carry out these measurements and tests.

For us, regular testing is part of our quality control. We offer jewelry makers safe, high-quality findings so jewelry can be made and worn with peace of mind.

Best regards, Liisa