Although rhodium plating is a fairly common term in jewelry today, few people know what it is. However, there are many reasons why choosing rhodium plating for your jewelry can be an excellent decision. Among them, the fact that it increases the brilliance, luster and durability of jewelry.
But we can not leave out that it also gives them a beautiful silver color and a smooth finish that is quite attractive. Above all, when it comes to diamond rings, since it allows to enhance the brilliance of these precious stones.
However, there are also certain disadvantages that you should be aware of before buying rhodium-plated jewelry. Therefore, it is possible that if you are not sure, you should know all the details about it and then we will tell you.
What is rhodium?
Rhodium is a silvery-white, hard, corrosion-resistant metal. It is very shiny and reflects up to 80 percent of light, giving off one of the best shines you can get, making it a very popular metal for jewelry.
It is a very rare metal, as it is never found as a single mineral. Rather, it is found in very small amounts within nickel and platinum ores. Being the production rate worldwide of only approximately 20 tons per year, which is actually very small compared to other metals.
Although it should be noted that almost 80% of all rhodium comes from platinum mines in South Africa. But also its scarcity and high demand has made it the most expensive precious metal in the world. To give you an idea of how rare and expensive this metal is, in March 2020, its price reached an all-time high of $13,800 an ounce.
Is there jewelry made entirely of rhodium?
Unfortunately, rhodium is a very brittle metal and is not easily molded or formed. As a result, pure rhodium cannot be made into jewelry. On its own as it can easily crack and break similar to glass. But when used to plate other jewelry, rhodium improves the metal’s durability.
How is the process to make the gold bath in a jewel?
Rhodium is plated using an electroplating process. In order for a piece of jewelry to be plated, it must first be thoroughly cleaned to remove all contaminants. If there is dirt on the piece, the veneer will not hold.
Distilled water, steam cleaning, and power cleaning are some of the ways the item is cleaned before being immersed in 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 electrical current is too high, the rhodium plating will turn black. The process takes about an hour and a half to complete.
Why should I silver my jewelry with rhodium?
Rhodium plating is used to increase the durability, shine, and light reflection of a piece of jewelry. Because it is a hard metal, rhodium plated jewelry will be more scratch resistant.
Rhodium plating is used primarily on silver-plated metals, such as white gold, palladium, or silver. Most rhodium plating is 0.75 to 1.0 microns thick.
How thick should the rhodium plating be?
The ideal thickness for rhodium plating is 0.75 to 1.0 microns. Although this may appear extremely thin, it is considered thick enough for rings and other jewelry items that are subject to rough wear. For jewelry items like earrings and pendants that are more protected or for jewelry that is not often worn, a thickness of .10 to .50 is acceptable.
If the rhodium plating is too thick, it may crack due to the brittleness of rhodium. However, if the rhodium plating is too thin, it can cause the jewelry to discolor. Jewelers should ensure that they coat jewelry to the ideal thickness.
Is it safe to wear rhodium-plated jewelry?
Yes it is. Because rhodium plating is hypoallergenic, you will not experience skin reactions when wearing rhodium plated jewelry. This is because rhodium does not contain allergens such as nickel. In fact, if you have a piece of jewelry that is causing skin reactions, rhodium plating can eliminate this problem.
Keep in mind, however, that while rhodium itself does not cause flares, white gold often contains nickel in its alloys. As the rhodium plating wears off, you may be exposed to nickel allergies when your skin comes into contact with the original metal of the jewelry.
How long does the rhodium plating last?
Many buyers believe that rhodium plating is permanent. Although it is permanent, like any other metal used in jewelry, it tends to wear out with exposure.
The rhodium plating wears off over time and will need to be re-plated. Generally, a ring should be replated once every 12 to 18 months, but this can vary depending on how much wear the part experiences, as well as the thickness of the plating and the color of the base metal.
Sometimes the wearer’s body chemistry is also a factor that can affect how quickly the liner wears. If the base metal is yellowish, there is a high chance that the color will fade before the 12 months are up.
Will rhodium plating affect gemstones?
It depends on the gemstone. Some softer gemstones such as peridot, pearls, opals, topaz, turquoise, coral, and treated or heavily included rubies and emeralds may be damaged during processing. These gemstones, and many others, cannot stand up to the sulfuric acids and heat in electroplating solutions and their surfaces can be damaged, becoming tarnished and studded.
Diamonds and hard gemstones like sapphires and rubies are strong enough to withstand rhodium plating. They do not need to be removed when plating the piece of jewelry and are not damaged by the process.
How can I make the rhodium plating last longer?
Rhodium plating is bound to wear off after a while, but there are a few steps you can take to make it last as long as possible.
- Avoid rubbing rhodium plating on your ring. For example, constant hand washing can make it go away faster.
- Avoid exposing your jewelry to harsh chemicals. Always remove jewelry when working with chemicals or wear rubber gloves to protect your rings.
- Remove jewelry when swimming in highly chlorinated pools, as chlorine can damage the lining.
- Perfumes and cosmetics can also affect the rhodium plating. Avoid contact with these and clean up any residue if you come into contact.
What is the cost of rhodium plating?
Because rhodium is very rare and expensive, plating is somewhat expensive. Plating a white gold ring can cost around $100, but prices vary depending on the quality of the rhodium, the skills of the jeweler, and the size of the jewelry.
The problem many people have with rhodium plating is that it is an ongoing cost that adds up significantly over time. To avoid this, you may want to choose a shiny metal that is already white and does not require a coating, such as platinum, as it is shiny and silver on its own. However, keep in mind that there are always maintenance costs involved regardless of the metal you choose.