Complete guide to copper jewelry electroplating｜Substrate materials, processes, and acceptance standards to avoid 90% of quality pitfalls
author: Xuping
2026-07-14
Why did the copper jewelry I bought lose color and expose the copper after less than half a year of wearing it, but my friend’s same model lasted for more than a year? "In fact, the answer lies in the electroplating process - most of the copper jewelry that is easy to fade is cut corners in factories and does not meet the core standards of electroplating. Whether you are a fashionista who loves to buy jewelry, an entrepreneur who wants to find reliable sources, or you are simply curious about the inside story of the industry, this article will explain all the requirements for copper jewelry electroplating in plain language, and you will no longer have to worry about pitfalls after reading it!
Simply put, copper jewelry electroplating is to "wear" a metal protective film on the copper base, which can not only give the copper jewelry the high-end texture of 14K gold or platinum, but also isolate air and sweat, extending the service life. But if you want to achieve the effect of "long-lasting color, no allergies, and high appearance", from substrate selection to post-testing, every step has rigid requirements and is indispensable. Below we will explain these requirements clearly from 8 key dimensions.
Simply put, copper jewelry electroplating is to "wear" a metal protective film on the copper base, which can not only give the copper jewelry the high-end texture of 14K gold or platinum, but also isolate air and sweat, extending the service life. But if you want to achieve the effect of "long-lasting color, no allergies, and high appearance", from substrate selection to post-testing, every step has rigid requirements and is indispensable. Below we will explain these requirements clearly from 8 key dimensions.
1. Substrate: The “foundation” of electroplating. Choose the right one so you don’t spend money in vain.
Many people think that electroplating only depends on the coating. In fact, the quality of the copper substrate directly determines the adhesion and durability of the coating. If you are lazy at this step, no matter how precise the subsequent electroplating is, it will be in vain.
First of all, the material must be selected correctly, which is the foundation of the foundation. Give priority to environmentally friendly nickel-free brass or red copper, and resolutely avoid high-zinc and low-quality miscellaneous copper. Many cheap copper jewelry are prone to fading and blackening because they use miscellaneous copper with a zinc content of more than 28%. Dezincification and plating blistering will occur during electroplating. In addition, the content of heavy metals such as lead and cadmium must be strictly controlled, with lead ≤ 0.05% and cadmium ≤ 0.01%. This is not only to make the coating more stable, but also for safety. After all, long-term exposure to excessive heavy metals can easily cause skin allergies, redness and swelling.
Secondly, the substrate surface must be flat enough. The formed copper jewelry must be polished step by step (800 mesh → 1200 mesh → 2000 mesh). Small flaws such as blisters, scratches, burrs, and mold closing lines may seem inconspicuous, but they will cause the plating to leak and peel. In particular, the dead corners such as hollows, welded joints, and the inner wall of the ring must be polished accurately; the welds must be smooth and free of accumulation. Weld stains must be completely removed after welding, otherwise it will directly affect the adhesion of the coating.
Finally, impurities must be strictly controlled. The base should not contain excessive sulfur, iron and other impurities, otherwise it will cause the coating to become foggy and have color differences, affecting the overall texture. For mass production, it is best to conduct a heavy metal screening for each batch of incoming materials to control the quality from the source.
First of all, the material must be selected correctly, which is the foundation of the foundation. Give priority to environmentally friendly nickel-free brass or red copper, and resolutely avoid high-zinc and low-quality miscellaneous copper. Many cheap copper jewelry are prone to fading and blackening because they use miscellaneous copper with a zinc content of more than 28%. Dezincification and plating blistering will occur during electroplating. In addition, the content of heavy metals such as lead and cadmium must be strictly controlled, with lead ≤ 0.05% and cadmium ≤ 0.01%. This is not only to make the coating more stable, but also for safety. After all, long-term exposure to excessive heavy metals can easily cause skin allergies, redness and swelling.
Secondly, the substrate surface must be flat enough. The formed copper jewelry must be polished step by step (800 mesh → 1200 mesh → 2000 mesh). Small flaws such as blisters, scratches, burrs, and mold closing lines may seem inconspicuous, but they will cause the plating to leak and peel. In particular, the dead corners such as hollows, welded joints, and the inner wall of the ring must be polished accurately; the welds must be smooth and free of accumulation. Weld stains must be completely removed after welding, otherwise it will directly affect the adhesion of the coating.
Finally, impurities must be strictly controlled. The base should not contain excessive sulfur, iron and other impurities, otherwise it will cause the coating to become foggy and have color differences, affecting the overall texture. For mass production, it is best to conduct a heavy metal screening for each batch of incoming materials to control the quality from the source.
2. Pre-treatment: The most easily overlooked key determines the adhesion of the coating.
Pre-treatment is the "stepping stone" for electroplating, and it is also the link most likely to be cut corners by cheap factories - if this step is not done well, the plating will fall off soon, which is also a common problem with many low-priced copper jewelry. There is a simple judgment standard in the industry: after the workpiece comes out of water, the water film will continue to shrink without beads, which means the pre-treatment is qualified; if there are water beads on the surface, it means that the oil stain has not been completely removed and must be reworked, otherwise no matter how fine the coating is, it will be in vain.
The complete pre-treatment process follows the ASTM B281 copper alloy electroplating pre-treatment standard, and no step should be missed. It is divided into the following steps:
1. Ultrasonic degreasing: Use 60-70°C alkaline degreasing solution and ultrasonic cleaning for 5-10 minutes to completely remove polishing wax, release oil, and hand sweat grease. These oil residues are the "culprit" of the plating peeling off. Even if there is only a little bit left, a gap will appear between the plating and the copper substrate, and it will not take long for the skin to peel off and the gold to fall off.
2. Electrolytic degreasing: control the current density at 1-3A/dm², clean for 30-60 seconds, focusing on removing residual oil in gaps and hollows. For complex styles, the cleaning time can be extended appropriately.
3. Acid activation: Soak in 5%-10% dilute sulfuric acid for 1-3 minutes to dissolve the oxide scale on the copper surface so that the coating can be firmly "grabbed" on the substrate. It should be noted here that after activation, three countercurrent rinses of pure water must be used to prevent acid from being brought into the plating solution and contaminating the tank, otherwise it will cause color difference and fogging of subsequent coatings.
4. Micro-etching and smoothing (must be done for glossy models): Mild micro-etching can remove the fatigue metal layer on the surface, fill in the tiny sand holes, and make the coating of glossy jewelry more uniform and shiny. Matte frosted models can be appropriately thinned.
The complete pre-treatment process follows the ASTM B281 copper alloy electroplating pre-treatment standard, and no step should be missed. It is divided into the following steps:
1. Ultrasonic degreasing: Use 60-70°C alkaline degreasing solution and ultrasonic cleaning for 5-10 minutes to completely remove polishing wax, release oil, and hand sweat grease. These oil residues are the "culprit" of the plating peeling off. Even if there is only a little bit left, a gap will appear between the plating and the copper substrate, and it will not take long for the skin to peel off and the gold to fall off.
2. Electrolytic degreasing: control the current density at 1-3A/dm², clean for 30-60 seconds, focusing on removing residual oil in gaps and hollows. For complex styles, the cleaning time can be extended appropriately.
3. Acid activation: Soak in 5%-10% dilute sulfuric acid for 1-3 minutes to dissolve the oxide scale on the copper surface so that the coating can be firmly "grabbed" on the substrate. It should be noted here that after activation, three countercurrent rinses of pure water must be used to prevent acid from being brought into the plating solution and contaminating the tank, otherwise it will cause color difference and fogging of subsequent coatings.
4. Micro-etching and smoothing (must be done for glossy models): Mild micro-etching can remove the fatigue metal layer on the surface, fill in the tiny sand holes, and make the coating of glossy jewelry more uniform and shiny. Matte frosted models can be appropriately thinned.
3. Bottom coating: anti-allergic, color-preserving “invisible shield”
Copper ions are very active and can easily penetrate the surface gold layer, causing redness and oxidation of jewelry, and can also cause skin allergies. This is also the reason why many people feel itchy when wearing copper jewelry. Therefore, multi-layer bottom plating must be used as a barrier, which is also one of the core differences between mid-to-high-end copper jewelry and cheap models. It is equivalent to adding an "invisible shield" to the copper base.
1. Primer acid copper layer (standard for glossy models): The thickness is at least 3–5 μm, which is used to fill in the subtle unevenness of the base material and create a flat glossy base for subsequent coatings; the matte frosted model can be thinned to 1–2 μm without affecting the texture.
2. Nickel-free barrier layer (required for sensitive skin): Many cheap copper jewelry on the market now use nickel as the bottom layer. Although the cost is low, the amount of nickel released exceeds the standard, which can easily cause skin allergies, redness and itching. Especially for jewelry exported to the EU, European and American markets, ordinary nickel bottom layers are strictly prohibited and must use nickel-free palladium or nickel-free cobalt alloy barrier layers with a thickness of ≥0.03μm. Even for domestic sales and jewelry worn by people with sensitive skin, it is recommended to give priority to nickel-free bottom layers to reduce the risk of allergies from the source.
3. Thin flash gold plating (pre-plating): Plating a thin layer of 14K gold with a thickness of 0.03–0.05 μm to improve the binding force of the main gold layer and avoid plating leakage on the inside of the chain, the inner wall of the ring, and hollow dead corners, making the plating more uniform.
1. Primer acid copper layer (standard for glossy models): The thickness is at least 3–5 μm, which is used to fill in the subtle unevenness of the base material and create a flat glossy base for subsequent coatings; the matte frosted model can be thinned to 1–2 μm without affecting the texture.
2. Nickel-free barrier layer (required for sensitive skin): Many cheap copper jewelry on the market now use nickel as the bottom layer. Although the cost is low, the amount of nickel released exceeds the standard, which can easily cause skin allergies, redness and itching. Especially for jewelry exported to the EU, European and American markets, ordinary nickel bottom layers are strictly prohibited and must use nickel-free palladium or nickel-free cobalt alloy barrier layers with a thickness of ≥0.03μm. Even for domestic sales and jewelry worn by people with sensitive skin, it is recommended to give priority to nickel-free bottom layers to reduce the risk of allergies from the source.
3. Thin flash gold plating (pre-plating): Plating a thin layer of 14K gold with a thickness of 0.03–0.05 μm to improve the binding force of the main gold layer and avoid plating leakage on the inside of the chain, the inner wall of the ring, and hollow dead corners, making the plating more uniform.
4. Surface coating: The core of appearance and durability, thickness is the key
The surface coating is the "face" of copper jewelry, especially the 14K gold-plated models that everyone is most concerned about. There are clear standards for composition, thickness, and craftsmanship, which directly determine the color retention time and texture of the jewelry. Many people can't tell the difference between "gold plating" and "gold coating". In fact, the 14K gold plating mentioned here means plating a layer of 14K gold on a copper base. The quality depends on the details of the plating.
First, the ingredients must meet standards. The standard gold content of 14K gold is 58.5%. The alloy ratio of the plating solution must strictly match this standard, so as to ensure that the warm gold tone of the coating is stable and there will be no yellowing or redness. In addition, the gold content in the plating solution must be maintained at 0.5-1.5g/L, and workers must calibrate the pH value (10-12) and temperature (63-70°C) every day to avoid color differences in batches of jewelry due to parameter deviations and direct scrapping.
Secondly, the thickness should be graded. The thickness of the coating is the core of color retention. Different craftsmanship and different qualities of jewelry have different thickness requirements. Here is a summary of the common thickness standards in the industry for easy reference:
First, the ingredients must meet standards. The standard gold content of 14K gold is 58.5%. The alloy ratio of the plating solution must strictly match this standard, so as to ensure that the warm gold tone of the coating is stable and there will be no yellowing or redness. In addition, the gold content in the plating solution must be maintained at 0.5-1.5g/L, and workers must calibrate the pH value (10-12) and temperature (63-70°C) every day to avoid color differences in batches of jewelry due to parameter deviations and direct scrapping.
Secondly, the thickness should be graded. The thickness of the coating is the core of color retention. Different craftsmanship and different qualities of jewelry have different thickness requirements. Here is a summary of the common thickness standards in the industry for easy reference:
|
Process Type
|
Cheap Thin Style
|
Mid-to-high-end Wholesale (Mainstream)
|
High-end Color Retention Style
|
|
Ordinary Electroplated 14K Gold
|
0.05–0.3μm (Fades in 3–6 months)
|
0.5–1.0μm (Fades in 6–12 months)
|
≥1.5μm (Lasts more than 1 year)
|
|
PVD Vacuum Magnetron Plated 14K Gold
|
0.3–0.8μm
|
1.0–2.0μm
|
3–5μm (Heavy-duty Thickened Color Retention)
|
Here are the key points for everyone to compare when picking up the goods: The minimum threshold for cross-border B2B wholesale is surface gold ≥0.8μm, focusing on long-lasting wear styles, with a thickness of at least ≥1.5μm; and the minimum decorative gold plating threshold stipulated in the national standard QB 1131 is ≥0.05μm. These types of jewelry are generally disposable jewelry, suitable for photography and short-term wear, not suitable for daily long-term wear, and are easy to fade.
In addition, the coating should be uniform, and there should be no "thick one and thin other" situation. Regardless of whether it is water electroplating or PVD vacuum plating, the difference in coating thickness on the inner side of the chain, the inner wall of the ring, the hollow dead corner, and the welding position must not exceed 30%. We must resolutely prevent leakage of plating at corners, exposed copper, and local thin gold. For water electroplating, the voltage should be controlled at 4–7V and stirred gently to avoid stress cracking of the coating; for PVD vacuum plating, the pressure of the vacuum chamber should be ensured at 1×10⁻²~1×10⁻⁴Pa, and a 14K alloy target should be used. The density of the plated coating is higher, the wear resistance is 3–5 times higher than that of water electroplating, and the color retention time is also longer.
5. Post-processing: Extend the color retention period, details determine quality
Many people think that after electroplating is completed, it can be packaged and sold, but this is not the case - post-processing sealing is a key step to extend the color retention period, which can effectively isolate sweat and air, and slow down the oxidation and blackening of the coating. There are two commonly used sealing methods. You can choose one of the two or double layers. You can choose according to the positioning of the jewelry:
1. Nano-transparent anti-oxidation sealing oil (universal type): Apply a thin organic protective coating, which can prevent oxidation without affecting the metallic luster, and is very cost-effective. Be careful not to apply it too thickly, otherwise it will cause the coating to become foggy and lose the high-end texture of 14K gold, which is not worth the gain.
2. Precious metal sealing layer (high-end model): Plated with a thin rhodium or palladium sealing layer of 0.01–0.03μm, which is wear-resistant, sweat-resistant, and corrosion-resistant. It is especially suitable for high-frequency friction jewelry such as bracelets and rings. The color retention effect is much better than ordinary sealing oil, and it is not prone to oxidation and blackening after being worn for more than a year.
It should be noted here that it is forbidden to cover the plating with thick paint. This will completely lose the metallic texture of 14K gold and is a practice of cutting corners.
1. Nano-transparent anti-oxidation sealing oil (universal type): Apply a thin organic protective coating, which can prevent oxidation without affecting the metallic luster, and is very cost-effective. Be careful not to apply it too thickly, otherwise it will cause the coating to become foggy and lose the high-end texture of 14K gold, which is not worth the gain.
2. Precious metal sealing layer (high-end model): Plated with a thin rhodium or palladium sealing layer of 0.01–0.03μm, which is wear-resistant, sweat-resistant, and corrosion-resistant. It is especially suitable for high-frequency friction jewelry such as bracelets and rings. The color retention effect is much better than ordinary sealing oil, and it is not prone to oxidation and blackening after being worn for more than a year.
It should be noted here that it is forbidden to cover the plating with thick paint. This will completely lose the metallic texture of 14K gold and is a practice of cutting corners.
6. Performance testing: It must be tested before leaving the factory. If it is not qualified, it will not be released.
Qualified electroplated copper jewelry must undergo strict performance testing before leaving the factory. This is the last line of defense to ensure quality. Whether it is factory production or personal purchase, you can refer to these testing standards to avoid buying inferior products and wasting money on traps.
1. Adhesion test (hundred grid/tape test GB/T9286): Use a tool to scratch the coating, and then use 3M tape to tear it off strongly. Only when it reaches level 0/5B standards is it qualified, that is, no peeling, no peeling, no gold falling off; a thermal shock test is also required, 70°C → -30°C for 5 times. The coating should not have bulges or cracks, so that it can adapt to different wearing environments.
2. Wear resistance test: The ordinary electroplated model must be rubbed with steel wool 1,000 times without exposing the base; the thickened PVD model must be able to withstand more than 3,000 frictions without exposing copper.
3. Corrosion resistance (salt spray test): Ordinary water plating model, neutral salt spray test for 24 hours, no oxidation black spots; PVD vacuum plating model, neutral salt spray test reaches the standard within 72-120 hours, suitable for wearing in humid coastal and tropical areas.
4. Color difference and appearance: Visually, there is no fogging, spots, yin and yang, uneven yellowing/redness; there are no pinholes, pitting, or scratches under strong light, and the overall texture is uniform.
5. Thickness detection: Use X-ray fluorescence thickness gauge for random inspection. The thickness data of each batch must be recorded and kept for future reference to ensure that it meets the marked thickness standards.
1. Adhesion test (hundred grid/tape test GB/T9286): Use a tool to scratch the coating, and then use 3M tape to tear it off strongly. Only when it reaches level 0/5B standards is it qualified, that is, no peeling, no peeling, no gold falling off; a thermal shock test is also required, 70°C → -30°C for 5 times. The coating should not have bulges or cracks, so that it can adapt to different wearing environments.
2. Wear resistance test: The ordinary electroplated model must be rubbed with steel wool 1,000 times without exposing the base; the thickened PVD model must be able to withstand more than 3,000 frictions without exposing copper.
3. Corrosion resistance (salt spray test): Ordinary water plating model, neutral salt spray test for 24 hours, no oxidation black spots; PVD vacuum plating model, neutral salt spray test reaches the standard within 72-120 hours, suitable for wearing in humid coastal and tropical areas.
4. Color difference and appearance: Visually, there is no fogging, spots, yin and yang, uneven yellowing/redness; there are no pinholes, pitting, or scratches under strong light, and the overall texture is uniform.
5. Thickness detection: Use X-ray fluorescence thickness gauge for random inspection. The thickness data of each batch must be recorded and kept for future reference to ensure that it meets the marked thickness standards.
7. Environmental Compliance: A must-see when crossing borders to avoid being fined for violations
If you are doing cross-border e-commerce, such as Amazon, Temu, and AliExpress, copper jewelry electroplating must also meet export environmental compliance requirements, otherwise you will face the risk of product removal, fines, and even store bans. These core standards must be kept in mind:
1. EU REACH Annex 17: For skin-contact jewelry, the nickel release amount must be <0.5μg/cm²/week. Only the use of nickel-free bottom layers can meet the standards; in terms of heavy metal limits, homogeneous materials have lead ≤0.05%, cadmium ≤0.01%, and hexavalent chromium has not been detected; at the same time, the use of harmful substances such as phthalate, organotin, PAHs polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons is prohibited, and the coating must not exceed the standard. This is a rigid requirement of the European and American markets.
2. California Prop65 (North American market): Strictly control the four indicators of lead, mercury, cadmium, and phthalate, and have no harmful coating additives; if exported to the California market, compliance warning labels must be affixed as required.
3. Additional standards for children’s jewelry: For copper jewelry worn by children, the cadmium content must be less than 0.004%. The use of nickel-containing bottom layers is strictly prohibited, and the plating must be thickened to prevent the heavy metal from being exposed after wear and tear, ensuring the safety of children.
1. EU REACH Annex 17: For skin-contact jewelry, the nickel release amount must be <0.5μg/cm²/week. Only the use of nickel-free bottom layers can meet the standards; in terms of heavy metal limits, homogeneous materials have lead ≤0.05%, cadmium ≤0.01%, and hexavalent chromium has not been detected; at the same time, the use of harmful substances such as phthalate, organotin, PAHs polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons is prohibited, and the coating must not exceed the standard. This is a rigid requirement of the European and American markets.
2. California Prop65 (North American market): Strictly control the four indicators of lead, mercury, cadmium, and phthalate, and have no harmful coating additives; if exported to the California market, compliance warning labels must be affixed as required.
3. Additional standards for children’s jewelry: For copper jewelry worn by children, the cadmium content must be less than 0.004%. The use of nickel-containing bottom layers is strictly prohibited, and the plating must be thickened to prevent the heavy metal from being exposed after wear and tear, ensuring the safety of children.
8. Production control: control details to avoid batch scrapping
In addition to the above seven points, workshop production control is also very important. In many factories, batch color differences and coating peeling occur because the details are not well controlled during the production process. Seemingly inconspicuous small mistakes may lead to the scrapping of the entire batch of products, resulting in heavy losses.
1. The bath liquid must be filtered and tested regularly, and the temperature, pH value, and gold ion concentration should be calibrated daily to avoid batch color differences and coating defects caused by bath liquid contamination.
2. The pendant tooling must be insulated in place, and the contact points must not be burnt or missed. The current must be controlled during barrel plating of small parts to prevent the coating from being too thin at the corners.
3. Use pure water for cleaning throughout the process. Do not use tap water. Otherwise, the scale in the tap water will cause spots on the coating and affect the texture.
4. The drying temperature should be controlled at 60-80°C. Oil sealing must be done after it is completely dry to prevent oxidation of the coating caused by water stains.
5. The finished product should be packaged dry and sealed to isolate the air to avoid premature oxidation and affecting the service life.
1. The bath liquid must be filtered and tested regularly, and the temperature, pH value, and gold ion concentration should be calibrated daily to avoid batch color differences and coating defects caused by bath liquid contamination.
2. The pendant tooling must be insulated in place, and the contact points must not be burnt or missed. The current must be controlled during barrel plating of small parts to prevent the coating from being too thin at the corners.
3. Use pure water for cleaning throughout the process. Do not use tap water. Otherwise, the scale in the tap water will cause spots on the coating and affect the texture.
4. The drying temperature should be controlled at 60-80°C. Oil sealing must be done after it is completely dry to prevent oxidation of the coating caused by water stains.
5. The finished product should be packaged dry and sealed to isolate the air to avoid premature oxidation and affecting the service life.
Summary: Core tips for qualified copper jewelry electroplating
In order to make it easier for everyone to remember, I have summarized the core requirements of copper jewelry electroplating into a formula. Whether it is for inspection or factory connection, you will not go wrong if you follow it: lead-free and nickel-free on the copper base → unbreakable pre-treatment water film → multi-layer nickel-free barrier primer → 14K gold on the surface ≥ 0.8μm (wholesale threshold) → nano-sealing protection → no gold loss in 100 square meters, no black spots in salt spray → REACH nickel release compliance.
If you have any questions about copper jewelry electroplating, purchase, and maintenance, please feel free to contact me and I will get back to you! You can also save this article and take it out for reference at any time next time you are looking for jewelry or contacting a factory~
If you have any questions about copper jewelry electroplating, purchase, and maintenance, please feel free to contact me and I will get back to you! You can also save this article and take it out for reference at any time next time you are looking for jewelry or contacting a factory~
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions about Copper Jewelry Plating
1. Question: If copper jewelry fades or exposes copper after electroplating, what is most likely the problem?
Answer: There are three most common reasons: First, the base material is not properly treated, and there is oil stain and oxide scale on the surface, resulting in poor adhesion of the coating; second, the thickness of the surface coating is not up to standard, especially the ordinary water electroplating model below 0.5 μm, which is easy to wear; third, the post-processing seal is missing, and the coating is in direct contact with sweat and air, which accelerates oxidation and shedding. If there is local exposure of copper, it may also be caused by missing plating at corners and dead corners during electroplating.
2. Question: If you have sensitive skin and wear electroplated copper jewelry, how can you avoid allergies?
Answer: The key is to choose the "nickel-free barrier" style, which is a must for sensitive skin. At the same time, avoid low-priced products with mixed copper bases, and give priority to environmentally friendly nickel-free brass/red copper materials, and the coating thickness should not be less than 0.8μm to avoid the base metal contacting the skin after the coating wears out. Before wearing, you can try it on behind your ears and on the inside of your wrist for 1-2 days. If there is no redness or itchiness, you can wear it normally.
3. Question: What is the difference between PVD vacuum plating and ordinary water plating copper jewelry for daily wear?
Answer: The main difference is in durability and color retention. The coating density of PVD vacuum plating is higher, the wear resistance is 3-5 times that of water plating, and the salt spray test can last for 72-120 hours. It is suitable for humid coastal areas and high-frequency friction scenarios (such as bracelets and rings). Ordinary water plating is cheaper and suitable for jewelry with less friction such as necklaces and pendants. Daily wear requires more attention to maintenance and avoid contact with chemicals.
4. Question: When cross-border e-commerce sells electroplated copper jewelry, what compliance indicators should be checked?
Answer: Focus on checking three core indicators: first, the nickel release amount (<0.5μg/cm²/week) in Appendix 17 of EU REACH, which requires the use of nickel-free bottom layer; second, heavy metal limits, lead ≤ 0.05%, cadmium ≤ 0.01%; third, the control of phthalates and heavy metals in California Prop65 in North America, and exports to California require compliance warning labels. Children's jewelry is additionally required to have a cadmium content of <0.004%, and nickel-containing bottom layers are strictly prohibited.
5. Question: How to maintain and extend the color retention time of electroplated copper jewelry that is worn daily?
Answer: Remember the "three nos" principle: do not come into contact with chemicals such as perfume, disinfectant, swimming pool chlorine, etc., do not take it with you for bathing, fitness, or sleeping, and do not mix and rub it with other jewelry; to be "last to wear, first to remove" (wear it after makeup and skin care products are applied), wipe the sweat stains on the surface regularly with a soft cotton cloth, store it sealed and put in desiccant when not worn for a long time, which can greatly extend the color retention period.
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