In the manufacture of fashion jewelry, easily workable materials such as brass, Zn alloys or steel are preferred. Depending on the optical requirements, they are then coated with decorative metal coatings (typically Au and Rh). The often very thin coatings are measured fast, non-destructive and precisely using X-ray fluorescence methods. National, legal or industry-specific guidelines compel manufacturers to limit the contents of elements such as Ni, Pb or Cd in fashion jewelry (consumer protection). Detecting small amounts of these elements both in metals and in plastics is possible in a very efficient manner using XRF instruments.
