SGS, Intertek, Bureau Veritas and TÜV all run testing labs in India that handle jewellery, and so do several accredited Indian labs. Any of them can do the common tests, such as nickel release, lead and cadmium content and plating thickness.
The right choice depends less on the brand than on three questions: is the lab accredited for the exact test you need, will your market or retailer accept its report, and how fast can it turn samples around?
Accreditation comes first
- For US children's products, the lab must be accepted by the CPSC for the specific CPSIA tests. The CPSC publishes a searchable list of accepted labs.
- For EU and UK testing, look for ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation that covers EN 1811 nickel release and the lead and cadmium methods.
- In India, NABL is the national accreditation body. NABL accreditation is a good sign, but check the scope, not just the logo.
Retailer and marketplace preferences
Large retailers often name the labs they accept, or require tests at a lab they nominate. Some marketplaces have their own lists. Before you book, ask your customer which labs they recognise. A report from the wrong lab may need to be repeated, which costs time as well as money.
Practical points for Rajkot buyers
The big labs have their main facilities in India's large cities, so samples from Rajkot are usually couriered to the lab. Add a few days for transit to your timeline. Sealing the samples and sending them yourself, or through someone you trust, matters more than the lab's name. A report on a sample the factory chose and sent is weaker evidence than one on a sample drawn from your own production.
Ask for a quote that lists each test, the number of samples needed and the turnaround time, and check whether retests after a failure are charged at full price.
What this means for a buyer
Pick the lab your market and customer accept, confirm its scope covers your tests, and control how samples reach it. Our guide to jewellery manufacturer certifications explains why product test reports matter more than factory certificates.
Creston & Co works for buyers only, for a fixed fee agreed in writing. We draw and seal samples ourselves, send them to accredited labs and check the reports against your requirements. Start with a free sourcing review.