A Twitter user by the fabulous name of KvetchingGuru sent us a story that really caught our attention: High levels of lead have been detected in costume jewelry from Saks, Wet Seal, Express, and Styles for Less — high enough to violate California law.

The Center for Environmental Health tested samples of jewelry from all four popular retailers over a two-month period, including a $200 Kenneth Jay Lane necklace from Saks. The amount of lead they found in several pieces exceeded the guidelines set forth in Proposition 65:

The California Attorney General has notified Saks and the three other retailers, Express, Wet Seal, and Styles for Less, that their jewelry is in violation of California law.

Just last week, CEH found high levels of lead in jewelry from six other stores, and the California Department of Toxic Substances Control released their findings of leaded jewelry they purchased from Long’s Drugstores and small stores in the Los Angeles area.

Granted, unless you make a habit of ingesting your jewelry, the level of lead isn’t going to pose much of a problem. But still: If you’re spending $200 on a necklace, you’d expect part of that money to pay for quality!