It is important to understand the difference between nickel content and nickel release.
Surgical Steel 316L always contains 6–13% nickel. If someone claims that 316L contains no nickel, this is incorrect—without nickel, it would not be classified as 316L steel.
What truly matters for safety is the nickel release rate into the body, which should not exceed 0.5 μg/cm²/week according to the European Nickel-Free Standard. This means products in direct and prolonged contact with the skin must release no more than 0.05% nickel (no more than 1 part in 2000).
For piercings, the limit is even stricter at 0.2 μg/cm²/week.
Our products far exceed these safety standards, with a nickel release rate of only 0.1 μg/cm²/week.
View the materials page to download all our nickel certificates
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