Is Your Jewellery bad for your health? The Hidden Danger in Metals

When you buy a piece of jewellery - whether it’s a gift, a personal treat, or a future heirloom - you’re choosing more than just a beautiful object. You’re choosing something that touches your skin, reflects your values, and becomes part of your story. That’s why it’s so important to know what’s in the metal.

Did you know that jewellery can contain hidden toxins linked to allergies, cancer, and other serious health issues? UK law requires jewellery to be tested to ensure it is safe, but not all sellers comply, especially online marketplaces.

At Considered Jewellery, we believe beauty should never come at the cost of safety or integrity. That’s why we want to talk about something that’s often overlooked: metal testing and REACH compliance. In this essential post you'll discover why your jewellery might be bad for your health, how to spot trustworthy brands, and what to do if you suspect unsafe jewellery.

What Is REACH and Why Should You Care?

REACH stands for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals. It’s a UK and European regulation designed to protect people and the environment from harmful substances. In jewellery, REACH sets strict limits on three metals that can pose serious health risks:

• Cadmium: Toxic if absorbed through the skin or accidentally ingested, especially by children.  It can be found in any jewellery, but particularly in plated items and imitation pieces.

• Lead: Linked to developmental and neurological issues.  Sometimes found in costume jewellery or painted finishes.

• Nickel: A common cause of allergic reactions and skin irritation.

In the UK it is a legal requirement to test jewellery to ensure that is does not contain these toxic elements.  The UK Assay Offices in Sheffield, Edinburgh, Birmingham and London provide independent testing alongside their hallmarking services. 

Our Considered jewellery is sent to Birmingham Assay Office for testing at a state-of-the-art laboratory, which checks that metals like gold and silver comply with REACH regulations.

Sadly, not all jewellery on sale complies with these requirements and toxic chemical elements can sometimes be found in low-cost or poorly regulated jewellery.

In 2024 pendants and earrings from China were destroyed at the UK border for excessive cadmium and nickel content. Just this year, a consignment of earrings seized at Stansted Airport was found to have cadmium levels 7,000 x higher than the legal limit.

Thankfully, these unsafe items were effectively dealt with by Trading Standards before they were sold in the UK.  However, there are many examples of unsafe jewellery items that did make it into stores or online selling platforms. 

Online marketplaces often don’t have to comply with REACH regulations in the same way as UK based retailers.  Numerous products have been recalled from Tik Tok Shop, Amazon Marketplace, Temu and Shein due to excessive nickel and cadmium levels.

REACH compliance isn’t just a technical box to tick: it’s a promise that your jewellery is safe to wear.  Prolonged exposure to cadmium, for example through piercings, could cause cancer.  And, once you have an adverse reaction to nickel you will be susceptible to a flare up at any time for the rest of your life.  Why take the risk of buying from unregulated sources?

How to Tell If a Brand Is Trustworthy

Reputable brands and retailers will be transparent about their sourcing and testing.  To help keep you safe, here are four things to look out for when buying jewellery:

1. Choose brands that ensure their jewellery meets REACH regulations and can provide documentation or test results if asked. 

   
   

2. Buy from trusted sources that know the origin of their products and disclose supply chain details.

   
   

3. Avoid unregulated online sellers or market stalls with vague product descriptions and no traceable origin.

   
   

4. Be suspicious of cheap items or offers that are too good to be true. low prices may indicate poor quality materials or production practices.

If a brand can’t answer basic questions about metal content, it’s worth asking why.

What to Do If You Suspect Unsafe Jewellery

If you experience itching, redness, or blisters, stop wearing the item immediately and seek advice from a medical professional.  Nickel allergies are common—especially from earrings and watch backs. You should then:

• Contact Citizens Advice and report the issue to your local Trading Standards office

• Keep the item (if safe to do so) for testing or investigation

• Share your experience to help protect others

Wearing jewellery should be a joy, not a risk. When you choose pieces that meet REACH standards, you’re protecting your skin, your health, and your peace of mind. You’re also supporting businesses that care about doing things properly.

At Considered Jewellery, we test our metals and work only with suppliers who meet the highest standards. Want to learn more? Drop us a line, we'd love to hear from you.