Letter 12603

Rhodium plating only the surface detail of an engraved ring 

Hello,

I would like to get a 14K white gold ring I have flashed in rhodium, but it has some background (engraved) detail electroplated in 18K yellow gold that I would like to remain yellow in color.

Is there a resist that can be used to protect the detail? (i.e. Is there something that can be put into or cover up the engraved portion to protect the 18K finish so that won't be covered by the flashing process?)

Thank you very much for your help!

I have attached a picture of a ring that is similar to mine in that it has the same two-tone arrangement that mine does (made of 14K white gold, with 18K yellow gold electroplating for the background.)

The white gold on my ring, though 14K, does not look so white (the ring in the picture may be platinum and yellow gold), so I was hoping there was a way to rhodium flash just the surface detail, while somehow protecting the 18K yellow gold plating in the background. I have antique ring in 14K white gold that is flashed in rhodium, and it looks nicer, being that it is much whiter.

I am just looking for answers to be better educated before I go speak to a jeweler (I will definitely NOT be doing this myself!)

Thank you very much for any information you can give me on this subject. Take care...

Natalie Takao
- Mountain View, CA, USA

Most likely the ring in your picture has been plated all over with yellow gold and then polished to leave the gold in the recessed areas. Rhodium, while a harder metal, is usually so thin you would polish right through it trying to remove the gold plating from the raised areas. Masking the recessed areas with a very small brush would be unimaginably tedious keeping in mind that the invisible film left behind from wiping off unwanted masking lacquer would prevent you from getting good plating results. It may be possible to rhodium pen plate the raised areas but this design would be difficult to do and get a nice looking finish.

Neil Bell
Red Sky Plating - Albuquerque NM USA

Post a question on a different subject.

 

Answer or follow-up on this subject (in non-commercial fashion).