Content versus release
Nickel content and nickel release are different measurements. A piece can contain nickel in its alloy or findings and still pass, because the test measures how much nickel migrates to the skin per unit area per week.
EN 1811 is the reference method used for the EU restriction; results are reported as micrograms per square centimetre per week, not as a percentage of the alloy.
Why silver pieces still need testing
On silver jewelry the risk usually sits in findings, solder or plating over a nickel-containing base, not in the silver itself. Post assemblies and parts in prolonged skin contact carry the tightest limits.
Plating can act as a barrier, but wear exposes the layer beneath. That is why a test on a finished sample is more meaningful than a test on raw material.
Preparing for testing
Select samples that match the production version: same alloy, same findings, same plating. Send them to an accredited laboratory with the destination market stated, and keep the report with the order documents.
If the report is older than the current production batch, confirm with your buyer whether it is still accepted; customs and market surveillance both ask for documents that match the goods.