{"id":2071,"date":"2022-12-21T21:50:50","date_gmt":"2022-12-21T21:50:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/atomscore.com\/?p=2071"},"modified":"2023-09-06T19:18:11","modified_gmt":"2023-09-06T19:18:11","slug":"vintage-pearls-2-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/atomscore.com\/?p=2071","title":{"rendered":"Silver Malachite Necklace"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This necklace was purchased new after 2000. It was advertised as a silver necklace 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Only later did I learn that the jewelry contains toxic lead or cadmium. Curiously, this necklace is primarily silver so the inclusion of toxic materials is even more frustrating. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 nearly 92.5% silver contains cadmium or other undesirable elements. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Reading on the Medallion:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Element of Interest<\/th>Parts per million (ppm)<\/th>Error Range<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Lead<\/td>2,965<\/td>+\/- 142<\/td><\/tr>
Cadmium<\/td>8,105<\/td>+\/- 171<\/td><\/tr>
Other Elements<\/strong><\/td><\/td>+\/- <\/td><\/tr>
V<\/td>2,555<\/td>+\/- 895<\/td><\/tr>
Cu<\/td>165,422<\/td>+\/- 1,059<\/td><\/tr>
Zn<\/td>271<\/td>+\/- 108<\/td><\/tr>
Nb<\/td>267<\/td>+\/- 32<\/td><\/tr>
Silver (Ag)<\/td>819,193<\/td>+\/- 2,661<\/td><\/tr>
Pt<\/td>555<\/td>+\/- 196<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n


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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How did this item perform compared to lead limits for kid\u2019s products?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The item tested exceeds the federal lead restrictions for children\u2019s products as defined in the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) of 2008, which limits products intended for use by children 12 and under to 90-100 parts per million lead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the item is not a new children\u2019s product and is not subject to this regulation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The medallion tested at 29 times the maximum amount of lead permitted in the substrate of a children\u2019s product.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The product also tested high in cadmium, which is a carcinogen. There is no federal regulatory limit for cadmium in consumer goods like this one. Several states have passed restrictions on total cadmium content in children\u2019s products. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How California Addresses Toxic Metals in Jewelry<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

California Senate Bill (SB) 647<\/a> 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\u2019s 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\u2019s jewelry must not exceed .01% (100ppm) lead by weight with surface coatings not to exceed .009% (90 ppm).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The medallion exceeds the maximum amount of lead and cadmium permitted in new children\u2019s jewelry sold in the State of California<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, this necklace is not a new children\u2019s product sold in California and is not subject to this state regulation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. The law permits up to 500 ppm lead in electroplated or unplated metals or surface coatings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This medallion exceeds the maximum amount of lead permitted in new adult jewelry sold in California.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We Prefer:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We like necklaces made with stainless steel, sterling silver, titanium, or tungsten. Gold may contain trace mercury and 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 good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy This Instead:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Disclosure<\/strong>: These are Amazon affiliate links. By shopping for any item on Amazon starting with our links, you help support our business and testing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

American West Sterling Gemstone Yei-be-chai Pendant Enhancer<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a>\"\"\n\n\n\n

Why we like it:<\/strong> this is a pendant made in New Mexico by a reputable Southwest jeweler. I avoided products made with crystal, cording, obvious dyes, or other components that may be leaded. This pendant is made of recycled sterling silver and jasper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amazon Collection Sterling Silver Gemstone Flower Pendant Necklace<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a>\"\"\n\n\n\n

Why we like it: <\/strong>This is an affordable necklace from Amazon\u2019s brand made of peridot and rhodium plated sterling silver. They have other gems available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gem Stone King 925 Sterling Silver Emerald Cut Green Malachite and White Created Moissanite Pendant Necklace For Women (18.23 Cttw, with 18 Inch Silver Chain)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a>\"\"\n\n\n\n

Why we like it: <\/strong>This necklace is made of 925 sterling and malachite and lab created moissanite by a US-based retailer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This necklace was purchased new after 2000. It was advertised as a silver necklace made…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2346,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26,1],"tags":[79,87,62,86,84,82,83,80,77,78],"class_list":["post-2071","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-jewelry","category-latest","tag-cadmium","tag-india","tag-jewelry","tag-malachite","tag-medallion","tag-necklace","tag-pendant","tag-semi-precious-gemstones","tag-silver","tag-sterling-silver"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/atomscore.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2071","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/atomscore.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/atomscore.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atomscore.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atomscore.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2071"}],"version-history":[{"count":30,"href":"https:\/\/atomscore.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2071\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6455,"href":"https:\/\/atomscore.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2071\/revisions\/6455"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atomscore.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2346"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/atomscore.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2071"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atomscore.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2071"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atomscore.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2071"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}