Cadmium Hurts Silver Jewellery Export

Silver bracelets, pendants, rings, chains and earring sets are crafted from certified sterling silver representing the pride of ancient Nepalese heritage, but due to lack of control mechanisms Nepali silver jewellery is losing its standard in the market. “We need quality control mechanism to certify the standards of gold and silver jewellery,” said Tej Ratna Shakya, president of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association (NEGOSIDA). Nepali silver jewellery is handtooled and studded with quality gemstones.

However, due to the use of cadmium while making the jewellery exporters are apprehensive about the quality defects in silver jewellery exported. “We have received several complaints about cadmium-mixed silver jewellery. This is truly a bad sign of quality reduction and loss of market,” said Pushkar Man Shakya, president of Federation of Handicraft Association of Nepal (FHAN). According to him, the organisations are unable to bear the cost of the crafting machine which cost about Euro40,000. “We have urged the Nepal Standard Bureau to introduce quality control and certification process of silver and gold jewellery,” said Pushkar Man Shakya.

“We are in need of a Touch Machine which will help sort out the problem,” said Tej Ratna Shakya, adding that the jewellery making sector members are unable to bear its high cost. Silver jewellery is traditionally made from sterling silver (standard silver), an alloy of 92.5 per cent silver. In the US, only an alloy consisting of at least 92.5 per cent fine silver is marketed as ‘silver’. Sterling silver is harder than pure silver and has a lower melting point (893 °C) than either pure silver or pure copper. “We have urged the govern

ery export ment to institute a quality control mechanism to check the quality of gold and silver jewellery sold in the market,” said Tej Ratna Shakya. “We lack the system to get statistics about the present marker scenario of quality jewellery in the market.

FHAN and NEGOSIDA are working on it,” he said adding that if prompt rules and regulation to curb the use of cadmium in jewellery making are not initiated the export of Nepali silver jewellery will be hard hit. Nepali silver jewellery is famous all over the world for its craftsmanship. Jewellery makers or silversmiths in Nepal work with the finest gemstones creating beauty that symbolize aesthetic ideals of Nepali culture. Silver jewellery in Nepal is fashioned with beautiful gemstones including amethyst, garnet, lapis lazuli, turquoise, onyx and moonstone etc. To the silversmith of Nepal, the significance of preciousness, rarity and supreme refinement are essential when creating finely wrought jewellery.