Overview
EN ISO 22764:2026 - "Jewellery and precious metals - Fineness of solders used with precious metal jewellery alloys" - is an international standard approved by CEN and based on ISO 22764:2020. It defines the required precious metal content in solders used during the production and assembly of jewellery made from precious metal alloys. The goal of this standard is to support product integrity and transparent quality within the jewellery industry by establishing consistent requirements regarding solder fineness for gold, platinum, palladium, and silver jewellery.
Key Topics
- Scope: This standard applies to solders used with precious metal jewellery alloys, specifying the minimum allowable content of precious metals in the solder to maintain overall product quality.
- Fineness Requirements: Ensures that the use of solder does not reduce the measured fineness of precious metal jewellery below its declared value.
- Precious Metal Categories: Addresses specific requirements for solders in gold, platinum, palladium, and silver jewellery, facilitating compliance across different materials.
- Terms and Definitions: Clarifies key concepts, such as 'fineness', 'precious metal', 'precious metal alloy', and 'solder', to prevent ambiguity in manufacturing and testing.
- Reference Methods: Directs users to established methods for determining fineness, helping standardize testing and verification across the industry.
- Exceptions and Special Cases: Outlines certain exceptions, such as for red gold alloys and jewellery chains, where different minimum fineness requirements apply.
Applications
This standard is highly relevant to:
- Jewellery Manufacturers: Ensures the responsible selection and use of solders compatible with precious metal jewellery, enabling compliance with legal and quality benchmarks.
- Quality Assurance & Testing Laboratories: Provides a clear basis for testing, verifying, and certifying the fineness of soldered precious metal jewellery using standardized analytical methods.
- Retailers, Wholesalers, and Importers: Helps supply chain stakeholders to demonstrate due diligence and product conformity by referencing recognized international standards for solder quality.
- Custom and Craft Jewellery Makers: Offers guidance for small-scale and bespoke production to ensure product authenticity and compliance with consumer expectations and regulatory requirements.
- Market Surveillance Authorities: Supports regulatory assessment and market surveillance activities for precious metal goods offered within the European market and internationally.
Related Standards
EN ISO 22764:2026 makes reference to essential standards used for the determination of precious metal content and fineness in jewellery, including:
- ISO 11210: Determination of platinum in platinum jewellery alloys.
- ISO 11426: Determination of gold in gold jewellery alloys (Cupellation method).
- ISO 11427 / ISO 13756: Determination of silver in silver jewellery alloys.
- ISO 11490 / ISO 11495: Determination of palladium in palladium jewellery alloys.
- ISO 11494: ICP-OES method for platinum alloys.
- ISO 15093 / ISO 15096: Difference methods using ICP-OES for gold, platinum, palladium, and silver.
- ISO 9202: General requirements for the fineness of precious metal alloys.
- ISO 8654: Defines the colors of gold alloys, relevant for certain soldering exceptions.
Practical Value
By adhering to EN ISO 22764:2026, organisations in the jewellery and precious metals sector can:
- Guarantee accurate fineness labeling for precious metal goods.
- Uphold consumer confidence and brand reputation.
- Streamline international trade through uniform quality expectations.
- Reduce the risk of regulatory non-compliance and associated penalties.
EN ISO 22764:2026 provides the jewellery industry, testing laboratories, and regulatory authorities with a harmonized framework for maintaining the integrity of precious metal jewellery through controlled use of compliant solders.