The purepixxi Safety
Standard for Children's Jewelry.
purepixxi uses two materials: S316L Surgical Steel and Aunix™ 24K Pure Gold. No others. No exceptions. This page explains what those materials are, how they are tested, and exactly what our standard means for your daughter's skin.
Two materials.
No exceptions.
Most children's jewelry is made from unknown alloys. The post is one metal. The surface is plated with another. The back is a third. When those metals corrode or wear, what contacts your daughter's skin is rarely what the label described.
purepixxi does not work that way. Every surface that contacts skin is either S316L Surgical Steel or Aunix™ 24K Pure Gold. The material is the same from post to surface. There is no base metal underneath that can expose the skin to reactive compounds as the finish wears.
That is what "no mixed alloys" means. Not a marketing phrase. A material specification.
What we use. What we don't.
And why both matter.
This table is the most direct answer to "is this safe for my daughter?" It names every material we use, explains why we use it, and names what we deliberately do not use and why.
| Material | Where It's Used | Why We Use It | What We Reject | Why We Reject It |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S316L Surgical Steel | All posts, hoops, huggies, and clasps in the Surgical Steel collection | Nickel release: not detected. The same grade used in surgical instruments and long-term medical implants. Non-porous surface, so there is less for debris to collect in. Corrosion-resistant in daily contact with skin, water, and sweat. | Rejected: 316 steel (not low carbon), 304 steel, unknown stainless alloys, chrome-plated steel, base metal with surgical steel labeling | These materials may contain higher nickel content, release metals under wear, or cannot be verified to surgical grade standards. |
| Aunix™ 24K Pure Gold | All surfaces in the Gold collection that contact the ear or skin | 24 karat = pure gold. No alloy mix. Lower karat gold contains copper, silver, zinc, or nickel. Those metals can cause reactions. 24 karat contains none of them. | Rejected: 18K, 14K, 9K gold plate, gold tone, gold fill, gold vermeil over unknown base, brass base with gold plate | Lower karat gold is an alloy. Any alloy introduces additional metals. The lower the karat, the more of those additional metals are present. |
| Precision-Notched Butterfly Back | All earrings with a post (studs and some huggies) | Fixed stop position resists over-tightening. The notch clicks the back into position and stops it short of being pushed flush against the earlobe under pressure. | Rejected: Smooth butterfly backs with no notch stop, push-fit backs that slide freely to the lobe | A back with no fixed stop can be pushed fully against the lobe. This is a design risk that is entirely avoidable with a precision notch. |
Tested. Verified.
Not self-reported.
Claims about children's jewelry are easy to make. What separates a real standard from a marketing statement is independent testing. purepixxi earrings are tested across six protocols by SGS, an accredited third-party laboratory. Here is what each test covers.
CPSIA Total Lead Content
What it tests: Total lead content in all accessible metal components. Required under the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act for any children's product sold in the US.
Standard: CPSIA. Applies to all metal components that a child can access or contact.
Phthalates Testing
What it tests: The presence of restricted phthalates in any applicable components. Phthalates are plasticizers restricted in children's products under US federal law.
Standard: 16 CFR 1307, where applicable to the product composition.
Nickel Release Testing
What it tests: The amount of nickel ions released per cm² per week from posts and all skin-contact components. This is the test that matters most for young skin.
Standard: EN 1811, the European reference method for nickel release from direct skin contact surfaces.
Cadmium Content Testing
What it tests: Cadmium content in metal components. Cadmium is a toxic heavy metal found in low-grade alloys. Its presence in children's jewelry is restricted under ASTM F2923 and CPSIA.
Standard: ASTM F2923 cadmium limits for children's jewelry.
BSEN 71-3 Elemental Migration
What it tests: Migration of 19 regulated elements from accessible components under simulated saliva and sweat conditions. This catches toxic elements that standard composition tests can miss.
Standard: BSEN 71-3, the European toy safety standard for elemental migration screening.
ASTM F2923 Full Compliance
What it tests: Metal content limits, sharp points and edges, and all applicable sub-clauses for metal jewelry intended for children 12 and under. This is the complete children's jewelry standard, not a partial test.
Standard: ASTM F2923 in full, covering all sub-clauses applicable to metal earrings.
CPSIA Total Lead Content
What it tests: Total lead content in all accessible metal components. Required under the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act for any children's product sold in the US.
Standard: CPSIA. Applies to all metal components that a child can access or contact.
Phthalates Testing
What it tests: The presence of restricted phthalates in any applicable components. Phthalates are plasticizers restricted in children's products under US federal law.
Standard: 16 CFR 1307, where applicable to the product composition.
Nickel Release Testing
What it tests: The amount of nickel ions released per cm² per week from posts and all skin-contact components. This is the test that matters most for young skin.
Standard: EN 1811, the European reference method for nickel release from direct skin contact surfaces.
Cadmium Content Testing
What it tests: Cadmium content in metal components. Cadmium is a toxic heavy metal found in low-grade alloys. Its presence in children's jewelry is restricted under ASTM F2923 and CPSIA.
Standard: ASTM F2923 cadmium limits for children's jewelry.
BSEN 71-3 Elemental Migration
What it tests: Migration of 19 regulated elements from accessible components under simulated saliva and sweat conditions. This catches toxic elements that standard composition tests can miss.
Standard: BSEN 71-3, the European toy safety standard for elemental migration screening.
ASTM F2923 Full Compliance
What it tests: Metal content limits, sharp points and edges, and all applicable sub-clauses for metal jewelry intended for children 12 and under. This is the complete children's jewelry standard, not a partial test.
Standard: ASTM F2923 in full, covering all sub-clauses applicable to metal earrings.
"Nickel-free" is not
a regulated term.
Understanding what the category actually means by "nickel-free" and what purepixxi's standard actually requires is the most important distinction on this page.
"Nickel-free" as used by most brands
Not detected. Not merely within limits.
Every standard we meet.
Named and explained.
Citing a standard by name is a verifiable claim. We name every regulation our products meet. You can check every one of these references against the original regulatory source.
Standard Specification for Children's Jewelry
The primary US safety standard for children's jewelry. Covers metal content limits, sharp points and edges, and all applicable sub-clauses for metal jewelry intended for children 12 and under. purepixxi has been tested against ASTM F2923 in full by SGS, a third-party accredited laboratory.
Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act
US federal law requiring third-party safety testing and certification for children's products. CPSIA total lead content testing has been carried out on all accessible metal components. purepixxi holds a Children's Product Certificate (CPC) supporting CPSIA compliance.
Nickel Release from Skin Contact Surfaces
The European reference test method for measuring nickel ion release from direct skin contact surfaces. Nickel release testing to EN 1811 has been performed on posts and all skin-contact components.
Elemental Migration Screening
BSEN 71-3 is the European toy safety standard covering elemental migration from accessible components under simulated oral and sweat conditions. BSEN 71-3 elemental migration screening has been carried out on all accessible components, testing for 19 regulated elements.
Phthalates Restriction
US federal regulation restricting specific phthalates in children's products. Phthalates testing to 16 CFR 1307 has been performed where applicable to the product composition.
EU Directive 2004/96/EC
The European standard restricting nickel release in jewelry for direct skin contact. Sets a limit of 0.5 micrograms per cm² per week for prolonged contact, and 0.2 for posts worn in pierced ears. Nickel release from purepixxi earrings measured under EN 1811: not detected, below the level the test can measure.
The primary US safety standard for children's jewelry. Covers metal content limits, sharp points and edges, and all applicable sub-clauses for metal jewelry intended for children 12 and under. purepixxi has been tested against ASTM F2923 in full by SGS, a third-party accredited laboratory.
US federal law requiring third-party safety testing and certification for children's products. CPSIA total lead content testing has been carried out on all accessible metal components. purepixxi holds a Children's Product Certificate (CPC) supporting CPSIA compliance.
The European reference test method for measuring nickel ion release from direct skin contact surfaces. Nickel release testing to EN 1811 has been performed on posts and all skin-contact components.
BSEN 71-3 is the European toy safety standard covering elemental migration from accessible components under simulated oral and sweat conditions. BSEN 71-3 elemental migration screening has been carried out on all accessible components, testing for 19 regulated elements.
US federal regulation restricting specific phthalates in children's products. Phthalates testing to 16 CFR 1307 has been performed where applicable to the product composition.
The European standard restricting nickel release in jewelry for direct skin contact. Sets a limit of 0.5 micrograms per cm² per week for prolonged contact, and 0.2 for posts worn in pierced ears. Nickel release from purepixxi earrings measured under EN 1811: not detected, below the level the test can measure.
The Butterfly Back.
Engineered for young ears.
Material safety is the foundation. But how an earring fastens matters too. A back that can be pushed flush against the earlobe creates pressure on developing tissue. purepixxi Butterfly Backs are engineered with a precision notch designed to stop the back short of the lobe.
The terms. Written clearly.
No conditions hidden.
Made to one specification. Independently tested by SGS. If we ever fall short, we make it right for the life of the product.
What is covered
- Craftsmanship defects. Any fault in how the earring was made.
- Material failure. If the S316L Surgical Steel or the Aunix™ 24K Pure Gold electroplating fails to perform as specified.
- Butterfly Back failure under normal wear conditions.
- Post breakage under normal wear conditions.
What is not covered
- Loss. If the earring is lost, this is not a defect.
- Accidental damage. Damage caused by impact, bending, or crushing.
- Modifications. Any alteration made outside of purepixxi.
Safety questions.
Answered directly.
For young skin, this matters because most jewelry reactions are caused by nickel. S316L contains nickel, as almost all surgical steels do, but it resists corrosion and holds onto it: nickel release measured under EN 1811 was not detected. 24 karat gold contains no other metals at all. When every surface that contacts the skin is one of these two materials, there is no undisclosed alloy between the metal and her skin.
We do not make medical claims and cannot guarantee a specific individual's reaction. But the material standard we apply is the same one used for direct tissue contact in surgical and medical contexts. If you have concerns about your daughter's specific sensitivities, consult her pediatrician before introducing any new jewelry.
purepixxi earrings have been tested against ASTM F2923 in full by SGS, an accredited third-party laboratory, alongside CPSIA lead testing, EN 1811 nickel release testing, cadmium content testing, BSEN 71-3 elemental migration screening, and phthalates testing to 16 CFR 1307. Compliance is not self-reported. It is documented by the testing facility.
purepixxi's standard: nickel release measured under EN 1811 was not detected — below the 0.1 micrograms per cm² per week the test can measure. Not merely within the limit. Not detected at all. That is a lab result, not a marketing interpretation.
Most lobe piercings take 6 to 8 weeks to heal on the surface, though full healing takes longer. Once healed, S316L Surgical Steel studs with Butterfly Backs are a solid everyday choice. Your piercing professional can advise on the specific timeline for your daughter.
The guarantee does not cover loss or accidental damage. To make a claim, email orders@purepixxi.com with your order number and a description of the issue. We respond within 2 business days.
You've read the standard.
Now find her first pair.
Every purepixxi earring is made to this standard. Use our guide to find the right material, style, and size for your daughter by age, by occasion, or by skin type.