This example tested very high in lead on the coated pearls. This item is potentially dangerous and should not be kept in a home where children may interact with it. Be careful if you own vintage faux pearls or costume jewelry because they can contain high levels of lead and/or cadmium. The paint on the beads has chipped due to age.
Reading on the Pearls:
| Element of Interest | Parts per million (ppm) | Error Range |
|---|---|---|
| Lead | 285,568 | 13,424 |
| Antimony | 5,838 | 438 |
| Other Elements | ||
| Zinc | 235 | 38 |
| Bromine | 178 | 23 |
| Niobium | 271 | 53 |
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.
How did this item perform compared to lead limits for kid’s products?
The item tested exceeds the federal lead restrictions for children’s products, which limits products intended for use by children 12 and under to 90-100 parts per million lead for coatings and substrates, respectively.
However, the item is not a new children’s product and is not subject to these regulations.
The pearls tested at over 2,800 times the lead limit for substrates and over 3,100 times the lead limit for painted coatings in a children’s product.
The product also tested high in antimony. There is no regulatory limit for antimony in consumer goods like this one and the risk of high antimony in a product like this is unknown.
We Prefer:
We like necklaces made with natural freshwater pearls and sterling silver. Gold may contain trace mercury or cadmium, so if this concerns you, stick with silver. New plastic pearls from reputable manufacturers are unlikely to contain lead.
Buy This Instead:
Disclosure: These are Amazon affiliate links. By shopping for any item on Amazon starting with our links, you help support our business and testing.
The Pearl Source 6-9mm Genuine White Freshwater Cultured Pearl Wire Necklace for Women
Why we like it: Here is a good basic necklace from a reputable company and made with simple freshwater pearls and sterling silver.
Ross-Simons 8.5-9.5mm Cultured Pearl Necklace With Sterling Silver
Why we like it: This is a classy everyday pearl necklace for work or dinner by a well-known company with an established fine jewelry business.
Why we like it: These pearls feature natural color gradations with a simple sterling clasp. From the Pearl Source which is very particular about pearl luster and grading.
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.