ASTM F2923 is the US consumer safety specification for children's jewellery, meaning jewellery designed or intended primarily for children aged 12 and under. It is voluntary in itself, but retailers, marketplaces and some state laws refer to it, so most serious buyers treat it as a requirement.
It sits on top of federal law. Mandatory CPSIA rules on lead still apply whether or not you follow F2923.
What the standard covers
- Heavy metals: lead in substrates and surface coatings, cadmium, and other soluble heavy metals in coatings.
- Small parts and the risk of swallowing or choking, especially for younger children.
- Magnets that can come loose and be swallowed.
- Button and coin batteries in light-up or electronic pieces.
- Cords and elastics on necklaces, with attention to strangulation risk.
- Sharp points and sharp edges.
- Warnings and labelling where a hazard cannot be designed out.
Who decides that a piece is children's jewellery
It is not only the size. Regulators look at how the piece is designed, packaged, marketed and sold. Bright cartoon motifs, children's sizing, a kids' section in a shop or a listing aimed at children all point to a children's product. A plain adult design sold in a teenage range can also be treated as children's jewellery.
Once a piece is a children's product in the US, CPSIA requires third-party testing at a CPSC-accepted lab and a Children's Product Certificate. F2923 is usually tested in the same programme.
What this means for production in Rajkot
Most Rajkot workshops make jewellery for adults, so children's ranges need a deliberate change in materials. Brass and copper bases can meet the limits, but low-cost alloys, solders and some coatings are where failures happen. Glued stones, small charms and jump rings also need checking for pull strength so small parts do not come loose.
Agree the standard in writing before sampling, test the approved sample, and repeat testing on production. Our article on common quality problems in imitation jewellery covers the weak points to watch.
What this means for a buyer
If you sell to children in the US, plan for F2923 from the design stage, use a lab that knows both F2923 and CPSIA, and confirm the current version of the standard with the lab before you test. Creston & Co works for buyers only, for a fixed fee agreed in writing. We select makers who can work to these specifications, arrange testing and supervise packing. Start with a free sourcing review.