ASTM F2923 is the official U.S. safety specification for children's jewelry, covering items intended for children 12 and under. It sets limits on lead and cadmium content, requires testing for nickel release, and addresses mechanical hazards like small, detachable parts and magnets. A brand that says its jewelry is "kid-safe" is making a claim. A brand that says its jewelry is verified against ASTM F2923 is pointing to an actual, testable standard.
In this article
- What ASTM F2923 actually covers
- Why this standard exists
- "Hypoallergenic" vs. actually tested
- How Zahav Kids approaches this
- What to ask any children's jewelry brand
- FAQ
What ASTM F2923 actually covers
ASTM F2923 is published by ASTM International, the organization that develops voluntary technical standards used across manufacturing industries. For children's jewelry specifically, the standard sets:
- Lead content limits, with specific thresholds for different jewelry components.
- Cadmium content limits, a concern that led to part of the standard's original development.
- Nickel release testing, to catch the metal most responsible for skin reactions in children.
- Mechanical hazard requirements, covering things like small parts that could detach, hazardous magnets, and battery safety for jewelry that includes them.
- Age labeling and warning guidance, to help flag jewelry that isn't appropriate for very young children.
It applies to jewelry actually intended for children to wear. It does not cover toy jewelry meant for play, like a necklace made for a doll.
Why this standard exists
Children's skin and bodies handle certain metals differently than adults'. Lead and cadmium exposure is a more serious concern in children, and nickel allergy specifically shows up disproportionately in children's ears, since many first piercings happen young and stay in daily, constant contact with developing skin. ASTM F2923 exists because "gold-tone" or "kid-friendly" marketing language carries no legal or testable meaning on its own.
"Hypoallergenic" vs. actually tested
"Hypoallergenic" and "nickel-free" are common claims on children's jewelry, and sometimes they're accurate. The difference between a brand that's actually screened its metal and one that's simply used the phrase usually isn't visible from the listing alone. The more reliable signal is whether a brand references a real, named standard like ASTM F2923, rather than a general phrase with no standard behind it.
How Zahav Kids approaches this
Every Zahav Kids piece is independently verified against ASTM F2923, in addition to the gold content and lead, cadmium, and nickel screening we apply across our entire collection, adult and kids. We don't publish the specifics of our testing process, but the conclusions are stated plainly on our Tested & Verified page, and our Kids Sizing & Safety guide covers how this translates into actual product choices, from screw backs to gauge sizing.
Solid gold, screw-back, ASTM F2923 verified.
Shop Zahav Kids →What to ask any children's jewelry brand
- Is it verified against ASTM F2923, or just described as "safe" without a named standard?
- What metal is actually touching the skin, the post or back, not just the visible front?
- Is the gold solid or plated, since plating wears through and changes what's in contact with skin over time?
- What kind of backing does it use, and is it secure enough for the child's age?
Frequently asked questions
Is ASTM F2923 a legal requirement?
It's a voluntary consensus standard, meaning it's not automatically mandated by law the way some consumer safety rules are, but it's the recognized benchmark the jewelry industry and regulators reference for children's jewelry safety.
Does ASTM F2923 apply to all kids' accessories, like clothing or toys?
No. It's specific to jewelry intended for children to wear, and does not cover toy jewelry made for play, like pieces designed for a doll or stuffed animal.
What age range does "children's jewelry" cover under this standard?
The standard is written for jewelry intended primarily for children 12 and under.
How is this different from adult jewelry safety?
Adult fine jewelry isn't held to ASTM F2923's child-specific limits. Zahav tests its full collection, adult and kids, for gold content and lead, cadmium, and nickel, with Zahav Kids pieces additionally verified against this children's-specific standard.
See how we test
Read exactly what's verified on every Zahav and Zahav Kids piece.
Visit Tested & Verified →