For jewelry brands, sourcing teams, and accessory buyers, product appearance is only one part of the sourcing process. Material safety and regulatory testing can also play an important role, especially when metal accessories are intended for markets with specific chemical restrictions.
In April 2026, Haosen Jewelry submitted a set of gunmetal square cufflinks and tie bars to Guangdong Consumer Testing Technology Co., Ltd. (CTT) for testing. The test report, No. CTT2604012844EN02, covered three restricted substances under REACH Annex XVII: nickel release, lead, and cadmium. The tested samples received a PASS conclusion for all three test items included in the report.
In this article, we explain what was tested, present the actual test results in one clear table, and discuss what these results mean for jewelry brands, designers, and sourcing teams evaluating metal accessories.
Key Test Report Information
- Report No.: CTT2604012844EN02
- Report Issue Date: Apr 21, 2026
- Testing Laboratory: Guangdong Consumer Testing Technology Co., Ltd. (CTT)
- Sample Description: Brass Square Cufflinks & Tie Bar Gunmetal
- Sample Quantity: 12pcs
- Regulatory Standards:
- Lead: REACH Annex XVII Item 63
- Cadmium: REACH Annex XVII Item 23
- Nickel Release: REACH Annex XVII Item 27
- Test Methods:
- Lead & Cadmium: CPSC-CH-E1001-08.3
- Nickel Release: EN 1811:2023 & EN 12472:2020
- Reported Compliance Limits:
- Lead: 500 mg/kg
- Cadmium: 100 mg/kg
- Nickel release: 0.88 μg/cm²/week
Test Results(Fully Compliant)
| Tested Items | Limits | Results |
|---|---|---|
Nickel release |
0.88 μg/cm²/week |
Max. 0.22 μg/cm²/week |
Lead |
500 mg/kg |
37 mg/kg |
Cadmium |
100 mg/kg |
N.D. |
It is important to interpret these figures correctly. The nickel result refers to nickel release, rather than the total nickel content of the product. Likewise, “N.D.” for cadmium means the substance was not detected above the test method’s quantitation limit; it should not be interpreted as an exact value of zero. For a broader explanation of how REACH testing applies to jewelry, see our guide to REACH compliance for jewelry.
Understanding the Test Report Terminology
| Term | Meaning | How to Interpret It |
|---|---|---|
μg/cm²/week |
Micrograms per square centimeter per week |
Unit used for nickel release |
mg/kg |
Milligrams per kilogram (ppm) |
Unit used for lead and cadmium concentration |
LOQ |
Limit of Quantitation |
Lowest level that can be reliably quantified |
N.D. |
Not Detected |
Result below the LOQ, not necessarily absolute zero |
3+4 |
Mixed test of Materials 3 and 4 |
The reported result represents the mixed sample rather than separate results for each component |
PASS |
Meets the applicable criterion used in the report |
Applies to the tested sample and test scope |
Looking for Cufflinks and Tie Bar Manufacturing Support?
Haosen Jewelry supports OEM/ODM cufflinks, tie bars and metal accessories, from material and surface-finish selection to production and quality control.
For projects requiring supporting test documentation, testing requirements can be discussed according to the product specification and target market.
Discuss Your Jewelry ProjectFAQs
Q1. What was tested in this cufflinks and tie bar report?
The submitted gunmetal square cufflinks and tie bar were tested for nickel release, lead and cadmium according to the standards and REACH Annex XVII requirements referenced in CTT Report No. CTT2604012844EN02.
Q2. Did the cufflinks and tie bar pass the REACH tests?
Yes. The laboratory issued PASS conclusions for the tested nickel release, lead and cadmium items. The highest nickel-release result was 0.22 μg/cm²/week, lead was 37 mg/kg, and cadmium was reported as N.D.
Q3. Is this a nickel-content test?
No. The nickel portion of this report is a nickel-release test, not a measurement of total nickel content in the metal. It evaluates nickel released from the tested surface under the specified laboratory method. This distinction is important when reviewing metal accessory test documentation.
Q4. Does N.D. mean the product contains absolutely no cadmium?
N.D. means Not Detected under the laboratory’s test conditions. For the cadmium test in this report, the stated LOQ is 2 mg/kg. Therefore, N.D. means that the measured value was below the stated quantitation level.
Q5. Can this report be described as a REACH certificate?
It is more accurate to describe the document as a REACH test report or to state that the submitted samples passed the applicable REACH Annex XVII tests referenced in the report. The report documents test results for specific samples and specific test items.
Q6. Does this report prove compliance with every REACH requirement?
No. This report specifically covers the tested requirements for:
- Nickel release
- Lead
- Cadmium
Other regulatory requirements may apply depending on the product, material, target market and buyer specification. Buyers can also review our other jewelry and raw material testing reports.
