On Wednesday 21 October 2026, Matt Allwright shared the results of a new Watchdog investigation on BBC One's The One Show. The team bought cheap jewellery sold online as 925 sterling silver and had it tested. Almost none of it was what it claimed to be, and some contained cadmium, a toxic metal, at levels well over the legal limit.
If you watched it and now have questions about the jewellery you or your family own, this guide covers what was found, what cadmium and nickel are doing in "silver" jewellery, and how to buy pieces you can trust.
What did the One Show Watchdog investigation find?
Watchdog bought five items from each of five online marketplaces: Amazon, Temu, Etsy, eBay and OnBuy. Every item was listed as 925 sterling silver, and prices were incredibly low, at around £1.55 to £1.99 each.
The results:
- 23 of the 25 items contained less than 92.5% silver, so they were not sterling silver as described.
- 8 items contained cadmium above the UK legal limit.
- One pair of earrings from Temu contained around 700 times the legal limit for cadmium.
- One necklace sold as 925 sterling silver contained nickel, a common cause of skin reactions.
Items over the cadmium limit, by marketplace:
| Marketplace | Items bought | Over the cadmium limit |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | 5 | 3 |
| Temu | 5 | 3 |
| Etsy | 5 | 1 |
| OnBuy | 5 | 1 |
| eBay | 5 | 0 |
| Total | 25 | 8 |
None of the eBay items exceeded the cadmium limit, but that does not mean they were sterling silver. Only 2 of the 25 items across all five sites met the 92.5% silver standard.
It is not the first time this has come up this year. In July 2026, a Sunday Times investigation sent cheap jewellery bought on Amazon and TikTok Shop to the Birmingham Assay Office. One ring sold as "925 silver" was found to be around 92% cadmium, more than 9,000 times the UK legal limit, as reported by JCK.
What is cadmium, and why is it in jewellery?
Cadmium is a soft, cheap metal. It is easy to cast and gives a bright, silvery finish, which is why some low-cost makers use it in place of real silver. It is also classed as a carcinogen, and long-term exposure is linked to harm to the kidneys, bones and lungs.
Because of that, the UK limits cadmium in the metal parts of jewellery to 0.01% by weight. At 700 times that limit, the Temu earrings Watchdog tested would be around 7% cadmium. The problem is not the law. It is that listings on big marketplaces can claim almost anything, and most buyers have no way to check.
Is cadmium jewellery dangerous to wear?
Briefly handling a piece is unlikely to cause harm, because healthy skin absorbs very little. The concern grows with:
- Long, daily wear, especially rings and chains worn against the skin all day
- Earrings and other pieces worn in pierced or broken skin
- Children, who may chew, suck or swallow jewellery
If you are worried about a specific piece, stop wearing it, keep it away from children, and speak to your GP if you have any health concerns. You can also report a product to Trading Standards through the Citizens Advice consumer helpline.
Why does nickel matter?
Real sterling silver is 92.5% silver, usually mixed with copper. Nickel should not be there. Nickel is one of the most common causes of allergic skin reactions: itching, redness or a rash where the metal touches the skin. People often buy sterling silver precisely because they react to cheaper metals, so finding nickel in a piece sold as 925 silver means the buyer is getting the very thing they were trying to avoid.
If a piece of jewellery has left you with a rash, stop wearing it and speak to a pharmacist or your GP.
How to tell if "sterling silver" jewellery is real
There is no foolproof check at home, but these signs help:
- The price. Real sterling silver costs money to make. Every piece Watchdog bought cost under £2, and only 2 of the 25 were genuine sterling silver.
- A UK hallmark. In the UK, silver items over 7.78 grams must be hallmarked by an independent Assay Office before they can be sold as silver. A "925" stamp on its own is not a hallmark, and anyone can stamp it.
- Vague wording. Phrases like "Tibetan silver", "silver tone" or "silver-coloured alloy" describe a colour, not a metal.
- Who is selling it. A brand with a UK address, clear materials information and a returns policy is accountable. An anonymous marketplace seller often is not.
- Weight. Cadmium is lighter than silver. A piece that feels oddly light for its size is worth questioning.
What should you look for instead?
You do not have to spend hundreds of pounds to avoid the risk. You need to know exactly what a piece is made of, and buy from someone who will stand behind that.
That is why ARMR uses 316L stainless steel. It is a defined alloy with a set recipe of iron, chromium, nickel and molybdenum, and it is the same grade widely used for watches and surgical tools. Our silver pieces are polished 316L stainless steel, and our gold pieces are 18k gold PVD-coated 316L stainless steel. We say that on every product page, in plain words, and we never describe stainless steel as silver.
To be straight with you: 316L does contain a small amount of nickel, locked into the alloy. Most people wear it without any problem, but if you have a known nickel allergy, check with your GP or a dermatologist before buying any metal jewellery. We would rather tell you that than have you find out the hard way.
If you have seen "S.Steel" stamped on a chain and wondered what it means, we cover it in What Does S.Steel Mean on Jewellery?
Every ARMR piece also comes with our Lifetime Guarantee, which covers accidental damage. A brand that offers that has to know what goes into its jewellery.
Buying for a boy?
Parents should take the most care, because children are the most likely to put jewellery in their mouths. Choose a named brand that tells you the exact metal, avoid unbranded bargain listings, and teach younger children not to chew their chains. Our guide to first jewellery for boys covers what to look for, and our boys' chains and bracelets are sized for ages 8 to 16.
Frequently asked questions
What was the One Show jewellery segment about?
It was a Watchdog investigation, presented by Matt Allwright on The One Show on 21 October 2026. The team bought 25 pieces of "925 sterling silver" jewellery from Amazon, Temu, Etsy, eBay and OnBuy for under £2 each. 23 contained less than 92.5% silver, and 8 contained cadmium above the legal limit.
Which marketplaces sold jewellery with too much cadmium?
Of the items Watchdog tested, 3 from Amazon, 3 from Temu, 1 from Etsy and 1 from OnBuy exceeded the legal limit. None of the eBay items did.
What is the legal limit for cadmium in jewellery in the UK?
0.01% by weight in the metal parts of jewellery.
Does a 925 stamp mean jewellery is real silver?
Not on its own. Anyone can stamp 925. In the UK, a full hallmark from an Assay Office is the independent proof, and it is required on silver items over 7.78 grams.
Is stainless steel jewellery safe?
316L stainless steel is a regulated alloy with a known make-up, used widely for watches and medical tools. It contains a small amount of nickel locked into the alloy, so anyone with a known nickel allergy should take advice first. As with any jewellery, buy from a seller who states the exact grade and will stand behind it.
What should I do with jewellery I'm worried about?
Stop wearing it, keep it away from children, contact the seller, and report it to Trading Standards through Citizens Advice. Speak to your GP if you have health concerns.
Sources: The One Show, BBC One, 21 October 2026; The Sunday Times investigation, July 2026, as reported by JCK.
