Rhodium plating is commonly used in silver jewelry to enhance the luster, durability and smooth shiny finish to silver jewelry. Also, it can really enhance the brilliance of the swiss diamond.
- What is Rhodium? – precious element in a member of the platinum group and 10 to 25 times more expensive than gold. It is highly reflective and durable. Not tarnish or corrode. It’s very brittle and cannot be made into jewelry.
- Why should I rhodium plate my jewelry? – to increase the durability, luster and light reflection of silver jewelry. It’s scratch resistant.
- How thick should the rhodium plating be? – The ideal thickness is .75 to 1.0 microns that is enough for jewelry items that are exposed to rough wear. If the plating is too thick, it can crack due to its brittleness.
- Can I rhodium plate a yellow gold piece? – Yes, to change its color to white. However, once the plating starts to wear off, the yellow color will start to show through. The piece may require re-plating more frequently.
- Is rhodium plated jewelry safe to wear? Yes, it is hypoallergenic. The rhodium does not contain any allergens like nickel.
- What is the process of rhodium plating? – An electroplating process. First, the item must be cleaned to remove all contaminants. Distilled water, steam cleaning and electro cleaning are ways to clean before rhodium solution. A positive electrical charge is used to fuse the rhodium onto the base silver metal.
- How long does rhodium plating last? – Rhodium plating wears off over time and will need to be re-plated around 8-12 months and last for a few years in some cases. It can vary depending on the wear and the thickness of the plating and the color of the base metal. Sometimes the body chemistry is also a factor that can affect how quickly the plating wears off. However, in some cases, rhodium plating can last for a few years.
- How can I make rhodium plating last longer?
- Avoid rubbing the rhodium plating on your ring.
- Avoid exposing your jewelry to harsh chemicals, makeup, lotions, hairspray, perfumes and other personal care products.
- Take your jewelry off when swimming, taking a bath, and cleaning.
- What is the cost of rhodium plating? – The prices vary based on the quality of the rhodium, the jeweler’s skills and the size of the jewelry. Please contact us for more details.
- Will rhodium plating affect gemstones? This depends on the gemstone. Some gemstones like peridot, opals, topaz, rubies and emeralds are not able to cope with the sulfuric acids in the electroplating solutions.