By Guest Author(Eliza Martin)
The Rhodium plating is common among the jewelry makers, however, not every individual is acknowledged of the Rhodium.
To improve the shine and endurance of the precious metals such as gold, silver and white gold the rhodium gives a flawless sparkling end to the ornaments. It is makes the diamond jewelry particularly appealing, by enhancing the brilliance of the dazzling well-cut gem
Well there are a handful of loop holes for choosing rhodium as for the plating purpose, such as the time involved and the cost born
If you are still yet thinking if the Rhodium Plating is something worth considering, these are some quick facts you must know about the rhodium plating before you become an active rhodium buyer
The member of the platinum group, silver tinted and highly reflective that doesn’t corrode and lose color, rhodium is harder than gold and shows greater endurance.
Since rhodium is a brittle metal that is not easily fashion and hence the jewelry objects cannot be made of pure rhodium. In its original condition it’s as fragile as the glass, however, when used to plate other jewelry items the rhodium improves the strength of the metal
Reasons to rhodium plate a jewelry items
Since the rhodium plating is also known as the rhodium flashing, makes the certain metal durable and lustrous, highly reflective piece. Since the rhodium is a hard metal any item rhodium plated becomes less prone to scratches. Chiefly used to cover silver hued metals, such as silver, palladium and white gold
The ideal thickness for rhodium plating
The rhodium plating should be ideally thick as 0.75 to 1.0 microns. Though this might make you think as extremely thin, however it is considerably thick for the rings and other jewelry items that are carried out rough. For jewelries such as lockets and earrings that are frequently worn the thickness of .10 to .50 is acceptable
If the plating is too dense, it can crack due to the brittleness, if the plating is unnecessarily thin it can cause discoloration. Hence a jeweler should guarantee the plating is of the ideal thickness
What if the yellow gold be rhodium plated
The rhodium plating can be done on gold hence changing the color to white. But keep in mind that as the plating fades away the yellow color becomes apparent. Results will cause the jewelry to become paled or old looking. Hence to avoid certain things the piece should be plated frequently
Rhodium plated sterling silver
Sterling silver is itself a lustrous metal that doesn’t require to be rhodium plated however with time it becomes faded. To prevent the tarnishing of sterling silver rhodium plating will guarantee striking shine and newness of the object for longer periods
Over time, as the plating wears off, the white of the silver will come through, but will not be noticeable like gold. Those exposed sections may acquire some tarnish but this can easily be polished at home.
How safe is the rhodium plated jewelry?
The rhodium plated jewelry is completely safe since the metal is hypoallergenic and the user may not get skin reaction upon wearing rhodium
Hence the rhodium is free of allergens such as nickel. Even if you have a piece of jewelry that cause you skin reactions the rhodium can be the ultimate solution.
Since the rhodium is allergens free but white gold might contain nickel in its alloys. As the rhodium plating wears of your skin comes in contact with the metal jewelry causing certain reactions
What is the process of rhodium plating?
Rhodium is plated using an electroplating process. For a piece of jewelry to be plated, it must first be thoroughly cleaned to remove all contaminants. If there is any dirt on the piece, the plating will not hold.
Distilled water, steam cleaning and electro cleaning are some ways that the item is cleaned before it is dipped into the rhodium solution. A positive electrical charge is then used to fuse the rhodium onto the base metal.
Care must be taken, because if the electric current is too high, the rhodium plating will turn black. The process takes roughly around an hour and a half to be completed.
How long does rhodium plating last?
Many shoppers believe that rhodium plating is permanent. While it is permanent, like any other metal used in jewelry, it tends to suffer wear and tear with exposure.
Rhodium plating wears off over time and will need to be re-plated. Typically, a ring would need to be re-plated once every 12 to 18 months, but this can vary depending on the wear and tear the piece sustains as well as the thickness of the plating and the color of the base metal.
Sometimes the body chemistry of the wearer is also a factor that can affect how quickly the plating wears off. If the base metal is yellowish, there is a high chance that the color will bleed through before the 12 months is up.
Will rhodium plating affect gemstones?
This depends on the gemstone. Some softer gemstones such as peridot, pearls, opals, topaz, turquoise, coral and treated or heavily included rubies and emeralds can be damaged during the process. These gemstones, and many others, are not able to cope with the sulfuric acids and heat in the electroplating solutions and their surfaces can be damaged, becoming spotty and studded.
Diamonds aren’t affected by the rhodium plating process. See these here.
Diamonds and hard gemstones like sapphires and rubies are hardy enough to withstand rhodium plating. They don’t have to be removed when plating the piece of jewelry and don’t get damaged by the process.
How can I make rhodium plating last longer?
Rhodium plating is bound to wear off after a while, but there are some steps you can take to make it last as long as possible.
1) Avoid rubbing the rhodium plating on your ring. For example, constantly washing your hands can wear it off quicker.
2) Avoid exposing your jewelry to harsh chemicals. Always take off your jewelry when dealing with chemicals or wear rubber gloves to protect your rings.
3) Take your jewelry off when swimming in heavily chlorinated pools as the chlorine can damage the plating.
4) Perfumes and cosmetics can also affect rhodium plating. Avoid contact with these and wipe away any residue if it does come into contact.
What is the cost of rhodium plating?
Because rhodium is very rare and expensive, plating is somewhat costly. Re-plating a white gold ring can cost around $100, but prices vary based on the quality of the rhodium, the jeweler’s skills and the size of the jewelry.
The issue many people have with rhodium plating is that it is an ongoing cost that adds up significantly over time. To avoid this, you may wish to choose an already white lustrous metal that doesn’t require plating, such as platinum, as it is lustrous and silver-hued on its own. However, note that there are always maintenance costs involved regardless of the metal you choose.
Even platinum tends to acquire scratches and scuff marks and requires periodic polishing. For more information, check out our article on white gold vs platinum, which details the issues of plating and polishing.
Another solution is to purchase from a jeweler that provides free rhodium plating maintenance. Some reputable retailers, such as James Allen, offer a lifetime warranty that covers periodic rhodium plating services whenever needed, which can reduce your ongoing cost of re-plating. However, don’t forget to factor in shipping fees if applicable.
How do I know if my jewelry is rhodium plated?
All white gold rings are rhodium plated because that is not the natural color of the piece. As mentioned above, white gold in its original form is yellowish. Even so, it is a legal requirement that the retailer discloses whether your piece of jewelry has been rhodium plated or not.
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