CONTROL OF NICKEL EMISSION IN JEWELRY AND RELATED ITEMS

This paper concerns the proposed E.U. legislation on nickel emissions from jewellery and related items, and its likely effects upon the indu stry. The medical background which led to the proposal of legislative control, the proposed legislation, current U.K. Trade Description law and the current legal status, will be described. The reasons for using nickel, both as an underplate and as an alloying material in gold pla ting, are discussed. Alternatives which can be used to replace the nic kel underplate, and to comply with the proposed nickel emission levels , are considered, and their various problems and their solutions discu ssed. The use of nickel as an alloying material in goldplating, and th e implications of replacing it, will be discussed. Particular attentio n is paid to colour control and stability.