Need to have your white gold rings rhodium plated?

Is your white gold ring starting to look a little dull? Can you see spots of yellow starting to emerge beneath the shiny surface of your ring? If so, it might be time to get your rings rhodium plated.

SilverStone Jewellery offers professional in-house rhodium plating services at our fully equipped North Shore, Auckland workshop. The process typically costs just $75 for the average sized ring and we’ll have your jewellery back to you within three days - and the difference can be astonishing.

Give us a call on 021 184 6467 for a no-obligations chat, or read on to learn more about rhodium plating, how long it lasts and when you should get it done.

What is rhodium plating?

It’s a little known fact that white gold is not actually very white - rather, it’s sort of a pale yellow. While it’s not an unattractive colour, it does lack the shimmering sparkle that so many people look for in their jewellery.

So, what gives white gold jewellery that extra twinkle?

Rhodium plating.

A super precious, super shiny metal that is often far more expensive than gold, rhodium is the by-product of platinum mining and is used to enhance the appearance of jewellery. While unsuitable as a base-metal for jewellery production, rhodium is often used as a plating, which is applied to white gold jewellery to give it that special glittering, reflective quality.

The actual process of rhodium plating your jewellery is fascinating. It involves:

• Cleaning the jewellery with dry acid salt
• Polishing it with ultrasonic equipment
• Cleansing it with deionized water
• Soaking it in a heated rhodium plating solution

Why does my white gold jewellery look dull?

Rhodium shines like no other metal, but that doesn’t mean that your jewellery is going to retain that sparkle forever. Over time, the rhodium plating on your white gold jewellery will inevitably wear off due to things like:

• Scuffing
• Friction between surfaces and your body
• Natural oils in your skin
• Moisture in the air
• Exposure to chemicals such as those commonly found in household cleaning products

No matter how thick the rhodium plating is, it will eventually erode. When this occurs, your jewellery will start to look a little dull and you’ll probably be able to see spots of yellow emerging from beneath the rhodium plating. Some people don’t mind this effect, while others can’t stand the contrast between the original gold and the remaining rhodium. Whether you choose to get your jewellery rhodium plated at the first sign of erosion or continue wearing it with the original yellow gold shining through is entirely up to you.

Check out our blog for further insight into why your white gold jewellery is turning yellow.
 

How long does rhodium plating last?

As we’ve learnt, it’s inevitable that the rhodium plating on your jewellery will eventually wear off. However, it’s difficult to give a precise estimate of when that will happen, as there are a number of factors to take into account - the most important being how often you wear it.

A white gold engagement ring that you wear every day is going to continually be rubbing against your finger and at constant risk of being knocked. As such, the rhodium plating on an engagement ring will almost certainly begin to show signs of erosion within about 12 months.

On the other hand, a brooch that you wear only on special occasions is probably not going to be subject to the same level of wear and tear. If cared for properly, this type of jewellery can retain its rhodium plating for years and years.
 

Where can I get my ring rhodium plated in Auckland?

 
With more than 30 years of experience under our belts, SilverStone Jewellery is your first stop when it comes to getting your white gold rhodium plated or repairing your precious jewellery.

Our studio is located on the North Shore, Auckland and is open 10am - 4pm Monday to Friday via appointment, if you need to see us outside these times, please ask as we are pretty flexible and will try to fit in with your schedule. Unlike some franchise jewellery stores, all our work is carried out in-house in our fully equipped studio workshop, so you can rest assured that your jewellery is in safe hands from start to finish.

Bring your jewellery in for a consultation with our master jeweller, Alex. Alternatively, for greater convenience, you can send your jewellery in via signed courier from anywhere in New Zealand.
 

How much does it cost to get my jewellery rhodium plated in Auckland?

We’re proud to offer a competitively priced service. We can rhodium plate most white gold rings for just $75, though this can vary in some instances depending on the size and thickness of the ring in question.

We’ll have your jewellery plated, sparkling and ready for you to wear again within just three days.

It’s time to restore your rhodium plated jewellery to its beautiful former glory. Send us an email to find out how we can help.