Rhodium Plating: Explanation, Costing, and Tips
Understand the Rhodium Plating in detail
Many people know about Rhodium Plating, but they don’t have a clear idea of what rhodium plating is exactly. On what metal can it be done? Can it be done on yellow gold? So, this post will provide information about Rhodium Plating.
What is Rhodium plating on jewellery?
Rhodium is a member of the platinum family, which is one of the rare and precious metals and costs 10-20 times more than gold. It has a silver shade with high reflective quality. It is harder than metal gold.
Rhodium is a very hard metal, and it is not easy to make a shape. So, due to this quality, it cannot be fully used in the making of jewellery. But it can be used as the plating of the jewellery, which increases the durability of the jewellery and the metal. It is famous for its White Gold jewellery and can also be used with silver and other metals.
On what metal can we do a rhodium Plating?
The Rhodium plating helps the jewellery in the increment of its durability and luster. The Rhodium plating is more famous with Platinum, white gold, silver, and palladium. As, the jewellery with the white gold is not pure gold but with some alloy metals with it, so to give a proper luster to the jewellery pieces the process of rhodium is done. It also helps in making the jewellery more scratch-resistant.
How much thickness of the plating is to be done?
The Rhodium should be plated with a thickness of about 0.75 to 1.0 microns. This may be thin, but it is enough for the rings and other jewellery that are to be worn daily. If the plating is too thin it will waive off in a few months and make the jewellery look dull. So, maintaining proper thickness is very important for making the perfect jewellery.
Can a rhodium plate be done on yellow gold jewellery?
The answer is Yes. If anyone wants to change their yellow-gold colour to white, then this is one of the options they have. But the only problem with this option is the plating will be waiving off from the jewellery in some time and turning the jewellery back in its original colour.
Can the plating affect the diamonds on jewellery?
No, it doesn’t affect the diamonds. As the process requires the electric current to run through the metals, and the diamond doesn’t conduct electricity, so they will be safe from damage. The diamond doesn’t have to be removed when the Rhodium process is taking place.
Is it safe to wear such rhodium-plated jewellery?
Yes, it is safe. It won’t give any skin reactions. As it doesn’t contain any allergens like nickel. Also, the rhodium plating can eliminate the skin reaction by jewellery of any other metal.
Can any gemstones be affected by rhodium plating?
There are many gemstones available and it generally depends on the gemstones. As, some softer gemstones like pearl, topaz, opals, and many more stones can be damaged as they cannot cope up with the acids and heat in the electroplating solutions.
Costing of the Rhodium plating on your jewellery?
When we talk about the cost of rhodium plating, it is quite costly because rhodium is one of the very rare and expensive metals in the world. And the costing can be based on the quality, the Thickness of the rhodium, also the size of the jewellery. The costing is not like a one-time cost. It might cost you every year like for maintaining your jewellery for a longer period.
Tips for making the plating last longer:
The rhodium plating will eventually wear off after some time, but some steps can help you make the plating on your jewellery last longer:
- Avoid jewellery exposed to water too. Like washing hands with the ring can wear off the plating.
- Protect and take off the jewellery when dealing with harsh chemicals.
- Avoid contact with jewellery in chlorinated water.
- Perfumes and cosmetics will surely damage the appearance of the plating on the jewellery.
