purepixxi uses exactly two materials: S316L Surgical Steel and Bonded 24K Pure Gold. The Surgical Steel range is S316L throughout — post, butterfly back, and setting. The Gold range has an S316L core with Bonded 24K Pure Gold at every skin-contact surface. No alloy mixes, no coatings over cheaper metals, no undisclosed substitutions.

S316L is a specific grade of stainless steel — low-carbon, low-nickel surgical grade used in medical implants and prolonged skin-contact applications. The 316L designation means it contains less than 0.03% carbon, reducing corrosion and sensitisation risk. It releases nickel at levels below the detection threshold of clinical instruments. S316L is specified by ASTM F138 for medical implant use and is one of two metals that meet the purepixxi material standard.

Bonded 24K Pure Gold applies 24-karat gold — 99.9% gold, no alloy content — over an S316L Surgical Steel core. The bond delivers 24-karat gold at every surface that contacts the ear. Lower-karat gold (9K, 14K, 18K) mixes in alloy metals including copper, silver, and nickel. 24K contains none of those. The S316L core provides structural stability; the gold surface delivers purity.

The critical factor is what the metal actually is — not what the label claims. Nickel release is the most common cause of contact sensitivity in children's ears. S316L Surgical Steel and pure 24K gold both release nickel below detectable limits in third-party clinical testing. purepixxi uses only these two materials, tests every product to ASTM F2923 and EN 1811, and designs earrings specifically for young ears rather than resizing adult jewelry.

"Hypoallergenic" is not regulated or defined in the jewelry industry. Any brand can print it on any product. Instead, purepixxi names the exact material grade (S316L Surgical Steel, not just "surgical steel" or "stainless steel"), specifies the exact test result (nickel release: not detected), and references the exact standard (EN 1811). Specificity is what parents can verify. Vague claims are not.

ASTM F2923 is the US safety standard for children's jewelry, published by ASTM International. It sets limits on heavy metals including lead and cadmium, requires CPSIA compliance, and defines mechanical safety requirements. The standard specifically covers jewelry designed for children under 12 — not adult jewelry relabelled as children's. Every purepixxi product is tested to this standard by SGS, an independent third-party laboratory.

EN 1811 is the European standard for nickel release from jewelry intended for prolonged skin contact. It uses a synthetic sweat solution to measure how much nickel a metal releases per square centimetre per week (μg/cm²/week). The maximum permitted is 0.5 μg/cm²/week. purepixxi test results show not detected — meaning nickel release is below the instrument's detection threshold, which is well below the permitted limit.

Every purepixxi earring is tested by SGS, one of the world's largest independent testing, inspection, and certification organisations. The testing is independent — not conducted or influenced by purepixxi. Test reports covering ASTM F2923, EN 1811, CPSIA, and BSEN 71-3 are available on request.

CPSIA is the US Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, which sets mandatory safety requirements for children's products sold in the United States, including strict limits on lead content. purepixxi products comply with CPSIA requirements. ASTM F2923 includes CPSIA conformance within its scope.

Yes. purepixxi earrings are designed for prolonged skin contact on young and sensitive ears, including ears that are newly pierced and still healing. The post and butterfly back are S316L Surgical Steel — the same grade used in medical implants. Nickel release is not detected in testing. Newly pierced ears are especially vulnerable because the skin barrier is open, which makes material choice more important during healing than at any other time.

purepixxi earrings are designed for children with pierced ears, primarily ages 3 and up. They are not infant or newborn products. Earring dimensions are sized specifically for young, small ears — not resized from adult jewelry. The 4mm stone diameter suits children's ear proportions. All products meet ASTM F2923 children's jewelry safety standards.

Both ranges use S316L Surgical Steel in the post and butterfly back — the parts that go through the ear. The Surgical Steel range is S316L throughout. The 24K Pure Gold range adds Bonded 24K Pure Gold over the stone setting — the surface that rests against the front of the ear. Both pass the same third-party tests. The choice is personal preference and budget, not a safety trade-off.

No earring can guarantee it will never cause a reaction in any individual. purepixxi does not make that claim. What purepixxi earrings do is remove the most common, preventable causes of sensitivity: nickel release and unknown alloy content. Both S316L Surgical Steel and Bonded 24K Pure Gold release nickel below detectable limits in independent testing. If your child has a persistent reaction, consult a healthcare professional.

The Intelligent Jewelry Standard™ is purepixxi's two-rule framework for children's jewelry safety: only two materials (S316L Surgical Steel and Bonded 24K Pure Gold), and every product must pass third-party testing to ASTM F2923 and EN 1811. The standard exists because "hypoallergenic" and "nickel-free" are unregulated marketing terms. Parents deserve specific material names and verifiable test results, not slogans.

Most children's jewelry relies on unverified terms like "hypoallergenic" without naming the actual material. purepixxi names the exact grade (S316L Surgical Steel, not just "stainless steel"), specifies the exact test result (nickel: not detected), references the exact standards (ASTM F2923, EN 1811, CPSIA, BSEN 71-3), and designs earrings specifically for young ears. Testing is conducted by SGS — an independent third party, not self-certified.