This bracelet was purchased new after 2000. It was advertised as a silver bracelet made in India. As a teenager I received this as a gift from a family member along with other pieces and regularly wore and handled them.
Only later did I learn that the pieces were made with toxic lead or cadmium. This bracelet is primarily silver (over 92%!) so the inclusion of toxic materials is even more frustrating.
For this reason we advise caution when purchasing unbranded silver jewelry and particularly unmarked silver from India. None of the products have a 925 silver stamp yet even the jewelry that is primarily silver contains toxic elements.
To ensure you are buying a better product, we recommend purchasing stamped sterling silver from known manufacturers and avoiding generic unmarked products that may be sold on third party online marketplaces.
Reading on the Metal and Stone:
| Element of Interest | Parts per million (ppm) | Error Range |
|---|---|---|
| Cadmium (Cd) | 37,320 | +/- 389 |
| Other Elements | +/- | |
| Vanadium (V) | 6,737 | +/- 1,509 |
| Iron (Fe) | 1,523 | +/- 523 |
| Copper (Cu) | 17,988 | +/- 522 |
| Zinc (Zn) | 973 | +/- 133 |
| Zirconium (Zr) | 308 | +/- 27 |
| Niobium (Nb) | 1561 | +/- 51 |
| Palladium (Pd) | 500 | +/- 121 |
| Silver (Ag) | 929,271 | +/- 3,309 |
| Platinum (Pt) | 863 | +/- 239 |
All samples were tested in consumer goods TestAll mode using a Niton XL3t 700S for at least 30 seconds. Results are rounded to the nearest whole number.
Analyst Note: small jewelry such as this one can be tricky to get an accurate reading. We do our best to get a clear access point to screen the metal material. We did not remove the semi-precious gemstones.
How did this item perform compared to lead limits for kid’s products?
The item is non-detect for lead. It is within the federal lead restrictions for children’s products which limits products intended for use by children 12 and under to 90 parts per million lead for coatings and 100 parts per million lead for substrates.
However, the item is not a new children’s product and is not subject to this regulation.
The product tested high in cadmium, which is a carcinogen. There is no federal regulatory limit for cadmium in adult consumer goods like this one. Several states have passed restrictions on total cadmium content in children’s products.
How California Addresses Toxic Metals in Jewelry
California Senate Bill (SB) 647 was signed into law in 2019 and enforced as of June 2020. It limits lead in adult jewelry and both cadmium and lead in jewelry for children 15 and under. Among the new requirements, children’s jewelry components must not exceed .03% (300 ppm) total cadmium content by weight, surface coatings may not exceed .0075% (75 ppm) soluble cadmium (we cannot determine solubility outside of a lab). Lead in children’s jewelry must not exceed .01% (100ppm) lead by weight with surface coatings not to exceed .009% (90 ppm).
The bracelet exceeds the maximum amount of cadmium permitted in new children’s jewelry sold in the State of California.
However, this piece is not a new children’s product sold in California and is not subject to this state regulation.
It is notable that the lead standards for adult jewelry in California are now stronger due to the law but less stringent than those for children’s products. The law permits up to 500 ppm lead in electroplated or unplated metals or surface coatings.
As policies catch up to science, I hope we will see manufacturers improve how they make products. We believe adding lead and cadmium to products we use and wear everyday is unnecessary and that the product restrictions in California jewelry are environmentally responsible and protective of human health. We hope these limits will be adopted nationwide for adult jewelry (and the cadmium limit will be expanded to adult jewelry) so we can keep toxic junk away from consumers.
We Prefer:
We like necklaces made with stainless steel, sterling silver, titanium, or tungsten. Gold may contain trace mercury or cadmium. We like natural gemstones and lab created gemstones with the same chemical composition of their natural counterparts (e.g., no lead-filled rubies). CZ is typically fine.
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Disclosure: These are Amazon affiliate links. By shopping for any item on Amazon starting with our links, you help support our business and testing.
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Why we like it: this glam bracelet is made by Ross Simons, a reputable retailer. It features semi-precious gemstones set in sterling silver.
Why we like it: These are simple semi-precious sterling silver bracelets from the Amazon brand. Avoid the synthetic glass ruby and stick with natural stones like the citrine example shown here.
Gem Stone King 925 Sterling Silver Swiss Blue Topaz and Diamond Greek Vine Tennis Bracelet For Women
Why we like it: This bracelet is made of 925 sterling and topaz by a reputable retailer.
Disclaimer: These items have not always been personally tested by us but are likely to be lead free or low lead and/or cadmium based on our research into the materials, discussions with manufacturers, and/or testing on similar products. We recommend items we would use ourselves.
We provide our XRF testing for general educational or informational use only, to help consumers identify low lead and lead-free products. We hereby disclaim any and all warranties, expressed or implied, and assume no duty or responsibility with respect to how any person or entity uses the information on this website.