Letter 26618

Rhodium/re-rhodium plating a white gold ring with engraved detail  

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My question concerns a white gold ring with engraved detail on the band. According to the jeweler, it has never been rhodium plated. It is currently a dull somewhat grayish color. The color is not terrible it just in not half as bright as the rhodium plated rings. Also, the engraved detail is a bit black in the grooves (maybe dirt, although it has been cleaned almost on a daily basis using a liquid cleaner) Is there any reason why this ring should not be rhodium plated? I am wondering whether the engraving will effect the rhodium plating. Also, if the ring needs to be replated (as all my research tends to indicate) will removing all the first layer of rhodium plating so as to prepare it for the 2nd plating harm the engraving? Does rhodium plating flake off or just gradually wear off?

Kristine Keates Roche
hobbyist - Warwick, RI, USA

Hi Kristine,

I'm doing platinum plating and rhodium plating on white gold rings why b'coz it needs if also I add 50% alloy of white gold in pure 24k gold to make it white gold. Still it'll look some how yellowish but you will need to plate rhodium or platinum. More white gold are mixed 25% that is for 18k WG but as I have wrote above just to explain u.

Before doing rhodium or platinum plating all things have been done polishing, engraving etc then plating so it'll not effect engraving. Plating lasting it's depends on your jewelers how they say to his platers, like I'm doing plating of other goldsmiths they send me ring before 15 mins and his customer is standing right there and he calls me do it now I say them don't tell me that plating is coming off soon b'coz you need urgently. More thick plating of platinum or rhodium it cost more money so it all depends on your jeweler.

Dipen Pattni
jeweler/goldsmith - Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania

Hi Kristine, there is no reason your white gold ring can't be carefully polished and cleaned. The engraved area will not be affected by plating of bright rhodium. No detail of the engraving will be lost or filled in by the plating process. If you need to replate the rhodium later, there are simple steps to replate over the old rhodium and still achieve excellent adhesion of the new rhodium coating.

Best Regards,

David Vinson Metal Arts Specialties Leonard, Michigan

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