What Is Nickel-Free Jewelry?

Short answer: nickel-free jewelry is jewelry made without nickel in the metal that touches your skin, so it is far less likely to cause a nickel allergy rash. In the EU, jewelry must also stay under strict nickel-release limits. Loretana pieces are hallmarked 925 sterling silver, nickel-free, with a rhodium or 14K/18K gold-plated finish.

What does nickel-free mean in jewelry?

Nickel is a hard, cheap, silver-white metal. It is often added to low-cost alloys to make them stronger or whiter, and it can sit under plating as a base layer. "Nickel-free" means the jewelry is made without it, so there is no nickel to come into contact with your skin.

The EU also sets a legal limit for any jewelry sold here, under the REACH regulation (Annex XVII, entry 27). Items in direct and prolonged contact with the skin must not release more than 0.5 µg of nickel per cm² per week, and posts inserted into pierced ears must stay under 0.2 µg/cm² per week. Our product pages state both facts: nickel-free and compliant with EU nickel rules.

Why does nickel cause skin reactions?

Nickel allergy is one of the most common contact allergies in Europe. When sweat dissolves tiny amounts of nickel from a piece of jewelry, the skin of a sensitised person reacts with redness, itching or a rash exactly where the metal touches: the earlobe, under a ring, behind a clasp. The reaction usually appears hours to a couple of days after contact, which is why people often do not connect it with the piece.

Once someone is sensitised, the allergy usually stays, so the practical answer is to avoid nickel rather than to build tolerance. If you have a persistent reaction, see a doctor or dermatologist; this article is general information, not medical advice. For more on reactions to metal, read Is silver jewelry safe for sensitive skin?

Is 925 sterling silver nickel-free?

925 sterling silver is 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals, usually copper, which makes it hard enough to wear. Good sterling silver does not need nickel, and ours contains none. The 925 hallmark from the Lithuanian Assay Office confirms the silver content; our statement that the pieces are nickel-free covers the rest of the alloy.

Be careful with jewelry described only as "silver-tone" or "silver-coloured". Those words describe a colour, not a metal, and cheap silver-coloured alloys are where nickel is most often found.

What about plated jewelry?

Plating is a thin surface finish over a base metal. Rhodium and 14K/18K gold plating are surface finishes, and like every finish they wear with use, first at high-friction points such as the underside of a ring band or the back of a clasp. When that happens, the base metal touches your skin. That is why the base matters more than the finish: on our pieces, the base underneath the plating is hallmarked 925 sterling silver, not a nickel alloy.

How do you check that jewelry is nickel-free?

• Read the base metal. A clear statement such as "925 sterling silver" is better than "silver-tone" or "alloy".
• Look for the hallmark. A 925 stamp shows the piece is real sterling silver.
• Look for the words "nickel-free" and EU compliance on the product page, not only in an advert.
• Check the earring posts. Posts sit inside a pierced ear for hours, so they matter most.
• Use a nickel spot test if you are unsure about a piece you already own: pharmacy kits change colour when nickel is released.

Our article on why jewelry turns skin green explains another common reaction, which is usually caused by copper rather than nickel.

Nickel-free earrings for sensitive ears

Earrings are where nickel sensitivity shows up first. These studs and hoops are 925 sterling silver, nickel-free and rhodium-plated:

• Round Solitaire Studs with cubic zirconia, €32.99
• Marquise Flower Studs, €25.99
• Minimalist Hoops, €42.99

More pairs are in our earrings collection, and our guide to hypoallergenic earrings for sensitive ears covers posts, backs and fit. For hygiene reasons earrings cannot be returned once worn, so check the size and style before ordering.

Frequently asked questions

Is nickel-free the same as hypoallergenic?

Not exactly. Nickel-free means one specific metal is left out. Hypoallergenic means a piece is less likely to cause a reaction; removing nickel removes the most common cause, but no material can promise zero reactions for every person.

Does sterling silver contain nickel?

Good 925 sterling silver is silver and copper and needs no nickel. Our 925 silver is nickel-free. Cheap "silver-coloured" alloys are a different metal and may contain nickel.

Can I wear nickel-free earrings if I have a nickel allergy?

Many people with a nickel allergy wear nickel-free 925 silver earrings without problems, because the cause of their reaction is not there. If you react to other metals too, ask your doctor first.

Does gold plating stop a nickel reaction?

Only while the plating is intact. Plating wears with use, and then the base metal touches the skin. That is why a nickel-free base, such as 925 silver, matters more than the finish.

Loretana MB is registered with the Lithuanian Assay Office and has a registered responsibility mark. Every piece carries the 925 hallmark and our responsibility mark, and orders ship from Lithuania.