Materials glossary / Standard and mark
Nickel-free
On the label: Nickel-free · Standard and mark
What it is
A claim with no US legal definition; in the EU it means the piece releases under 0.5 micrograms of nickel per square centimetre a week by the EN 1811 test. We show it only when the supplier states it.
Standard and marks: The marks, tests and laws behind the words on a label: karat stamps, UV400, ANSI Z80.3, the FTC Jewelry Guides, Prop 65.
In the research
60 PubMed papers mention it with jewelry, allergy, eyewear or UV; the three most recent:
- Nickel-based Enzymes and Compounds: Antimicrobial Potential, Biomedical Applications, and Toxicity Risks · Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry, 2026
- The James A. Rand Young Investigator's Award: "Nickel-Free" Oxinium Hypoallergenic Versus Standard Cobalt-Chrome-Containing Total Knee Arthroplasty: Is There a Difference in Synovi · The Journal of arthroplasty, 2026
- Chemical and physical properties of nickel-free brackets: An in vitro and ex vivo controlled clinical trial · Journal of orthodontics, 2026
A paper is a paper, not a verdict: titles are listed so you can read them, and a study on one fabric or one filter says little about the piece in your hand.
Pieces whose listing names it
3 on the siteMatched from the words in the supplier's listing; the full material line is on each product page.
Made in the USA
Made in the USA
Made in the USA
Other standard and marks
Clasp & Lens describes materials from the public record and does not appraise, grade or test pieces; what a listing states is the supplier's statement. If a piece causes a rash, take it off; a reaction that spreads or blisters is a doctor's question, and sunglasses are no substitute for impact-rated eye protection where that is required.