White gold has always been a popular metal for jewellery, especially for engagement and wedding rings, however, some people are unaware that white gold is coated with a thin layer of rhodium to give it that crisp white shine. Over time this shine can fade as the rhodium wears off. We often hear people asking if they can get their rings re-coated, or re-dipped, or to just bring back the shine. This is done through the process of rhodium plating.
Rhodium is a silvery-white metal that is extremely rare and also known for being one of the most expensive metals on the planet! It is a very brittle metal, which means it tends not to be used to make jewellery. However, due to it being highly reflective and non-reactive (it will not cause an allergic reaction), it is often used to coat white-gold to give it that lovely bright and silvery glow.
Rhodium plating is applied to almost all white gold. Why? because pure gold is allied with white metals such as silver or nickel to produce “white” gold. This bleaches and whitens the colour, so it looks more off-white, leaving it looking dingy rather than the colour of platinum or highly polished silver (both of which do not get coated in any other metal). To achieve a nice, crisp white colour, white gold jewellery is coated in rhodium (rhodium plated). This plating significantly enhances its appearance.
Rhodium isn’t a permanent coating but can be far longer lasting on some items than others. Rhodium will wear differently depending on a whole host of factors such as its exposure to substances like shampoo, any friction against the jewellery, and even the differing body chemistry in each individual wearing the jewellery can have an impact. If you wear your rings every day, work with your hands, and wear them to bed, the rhodium plating will most likely wear off quicker, leaving them looking dull and dingy.
Rhodium plating is included in our clean and polish service. For white gold jewellery, it costs £65 per ring. We also offer a multibuy discount. You can ask in store for more information.
As we have our workshops onsite, our expert goldsmiths will be able to have your jewellery cleaned, polished and rhodium plated within just one hour. So you can drop your jewellery in whilst you are shopping, or you can watch them work their magic through our viewing window.
We pride ourselves on offering the best service we can, and that is why we go to great lengths to ensure our clean & polish service is far superior to that of most other jewellers. Below is what you can expect from a Custom & Co. Clean & Polish:
If you have any questions contact us at enquiries@customandco.com or you can pre-book your appointment here.
