Nickel Risk Assessment - General Guidelines

There cannot be any certainty that a product conforms to the Nickel Regulations without it undergoing full testing as required by the relevant British standard.  However, with full knowledge of the components and methods of production, these guidelines may be used as an indication of which products are most likely to conform.  Please note that the Assay Office does not take any responsibility for interpretation of these guidelines or any subsequent consequences arising from this information.

LOW RISK

Yellow Carat Gold Alloys are low risk, as nickel is not normally present as a deliberate addition.  However, nickel may be present in the traditional plating solution used to “flash plate” so beware.

Platinum Alloys are unlikely to be a problem

MEDIUM RISK

White Gold Carat Alloys may not conform as nickel can be deliberately added to “whiten” the alloy.  Rhodium plating can reduce the amount of nickel being released but this depends upon the plating being of sufficient thickness and can also be affected by other factors.

Silver Alloys in themselves are likely to conform, as nickel is not normally present as a deliberate addition.  However, if a nickel diffusion barrier has been used beneath a top layer of fine silver, then the final product may not conform depending upon the thickness of the layer etc.

Watches will depend upon the materials selected for the components and any subsequent treatments.

HIGH RISK

Costume Jewellery could contravene the regulations if nickel is used as a plated layer beneath the surface layer, or if nickel is present in the plating solution used to plate the surface layer.

MATERIAL SELECTION

The following materials do not in themselves conform to the requirements of the Nickel Regulations in terms of nickel release or wear ability tests:

Conventional 18/8 stainless surgical steels

Cupro Nickels

Alloys containing low gold/high nickel

Nickel under plates unless protected by conforming top plating.

The following materials may conform if used correctly. Plating will always depend upon it being of sufficient thickness etc.

Titanium – dependent upon the manufacturing process

Nickel free Gold plating

Palladium Nickel plating

Titanium based coating (CVD type)

304L, 304Cu, 316L Stainless steels.

We understand that “Nickel Free” stainless steels are now available in Europe and the USA but there is a question as to their corrosion resistance.