EN 1811 is the European standard test for nickel release from items that touch the skin. The lab places the parts that contact skin in an artificial sweat solution for one week, measures how much nickel has dissolved, and reports the result in micrograms per square centimetre per week, which is then compared with the REACH limits.
If you sell jewellery in the EU, this is the test that shows your pieces meet the nickel rules.
How the test works
- The lab identifies the parts that touch the skin, such as posts, backs, the inside of rings and the clasp area of necklaces.
- Other parts may be masked so only the contact area is measured.
- The test piece sits in artificial sweat at a controlled temperature for one week.
- The solution is analysed for nickel, and the result is divided by the surface area tested.
- The result is compared with 0.2 for piercing posts or 0.5 for items in prolonged skin contact.
The wear step for coated items
Plated pieces must stay compliant for at least two years of normal use. To simulate that, coated items first go through EN 12472, which tumbles them with abrasive media and exposes them to corrosion before the EN 1811 test. A piece that passes new but fails after this step has too little plating over a nickel layer.
Practical points
- Allow time. The immersion alone lasts a week, so plan two to three weeks with the lab before shipping.
- Ask the lab how many pieces it needs per design, since small items may need several.
- Test production pieces, not a hand-finished sample.
- Test each distinct material combination. Ten designs on the same base, plating and findings may not need ten tests, but check with the lab.
- Keep the report with the design code and lot number.
Where to test
Several international labs offer EN 1811 in India, as do some NABL-accredited Indian labs. Ask whether the lab is accredited for this specific method. Standards are revised over time, so confirm the current version and limits with the lab when you order.
What this means for a buyer
Build the test into your timeline and your specification from the start. See also the EU nickel limits explained. Creston & Co works for buyers only, for a fixed fee agreed in writing: we draw samples from production, send them to accredited labs and supervise packing. Start with a free sourcing review.