Nickel allergy: checks for jewellery bought in China
Before wearing China-bought jewellery with a nickel allergy, request a laboratory nickel-release report matching the exact item, finish and skin-contact parts. Metal names, plating claims and a pass result do not guarantee personal tolerance. Cambridge China Bridge can coordinate evidence checks with its staff in China.
Ask about nickel release, not just metal content
For Great Britain, ask HSE to confirm which UK REACH nickel-release restrictions apply to the jewellery. A composition report showing which metals are present answers a different question from a nickel-release test. Ask HSE to confirm the applicable release limits for piercing post assemblies and articles in direct and prolonged skin contact. The jewellery findings guide covers the limits and wider component specifications.
Tell the seller that the intended wearer has a nickel allergy. Request the complete laboratory nickel-release report for the item being supplied, rather than a listing badge, factory declaration or screenshot saying it passed. Ask which parts were tested and which intended skin-contact uses the laboratory assessed.
Match the tested sample to the jewellery
Compare the report photographs, product reference, finish, sample description and supplier identity with your purchase. Ask for written confirmation linking the supplied batch to the tested construction. For earrings, identify posts, backs and decorative parts separately; for necklaces and bracelets, include chains, clasps and other surfaces that touch skin.
A report for a similar design, another colour or an unplated sample needs a laboratory explanation before you rely on it. Ask whether the base metal, solder, plating layers or protective coating differ. Use the test report coverage guide for the broader order-matching checks.
Check what the laboratory actually measured
Request the test method and edition, test date, sample preparation, individual nickel-release results, units, assessed limit and conclusion for each tested part. Ask the laboratory to explain any untested parts, combined results, qualifications or unclear conclusion. A report measuring total nickel content alone does not provide the release evidence you are requesting.
Verify the report reference directly with the issuing laboratory using independently obtained contact details. Ask whether its testing scope covers the method used and whether the report supports the intended piercing or prolonged skin-contact use. If the supplier cannot connect the report to your item, hold wearing or purchasing approval and arrange testing of an identified sample.
Metal names and plating claims leave questions open
Descriptions such as stainless steel, surgical steel, silver or gold-plated do not tell you the nickel release from every contact surface. Stainless steel can contain nickel. A stated metal grade, precious-metal mark or claim of being hypoallergenic does not replace a matching release report. Ask what evidence supports a nickel-free claim and whether it covers every component.
Plating describes a surface treatment; it does not establish how that surface performs after wear. Ask the laboratory whether wear and corrosion preparation is appropriate before release testing, and request the preparation record where used. Follow the plating approval guide for coating and appearance checks. Colour, thickness and rubbing results alone do not settle allergy suitability.
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Keep personal suitability separate from batch approval
Treat a satisfactory report as evidence about the tested sample under its stated conditions. Do not turn it into a promise that an allergic wearer will have no reaction. Seek advice from a clinician familiar with your allergy before deciding whether to wear the item; do not use your own skin as the supplier's test procedure.
If a red skin rash develops after contact with jewellery containing nickel, stop contact immediately. For business purchases, retain the reports, sample photographs and batch link, and agree that material or finish changes trigger an evidence review. Cambridge China Bridge's staff in China can help obtain factory records and coordinate identified samples with a laboratory.
Frequently asked questions
What report should I ask for before wearing jewellery?
Ask for the complete laboratory nickel-release report matching the exact item, finish and skin-contact parts, plus a written link between the tested sample and the supplied batch.
Is surgical steel jewellery suitable for a nickel allergy?
The description alone does not settle suitability. Request the material specification and matching nickel-release evidence, then seek personal advice from a clinician familiar with your allergy.
Does gold plating make jewellery suitable for me?
A gold-plating claim does not establish nickel release or performance after wear. Ask for evidence covering the actual coating and contact parts, including any laboratory wear preparation.
Does a nickel-release pass mean I cannot react?
Do not interpret a pass as a personal guarantee. It describes the tested sample under stated conditions. Keep laboratory evidence separate from clinical advice about your own allergy.