41034. I NEED TO KNOW IF THIS MY RING BEING MADE W/O RHODUIM IS A SCAM OR LEGAL? [Michigan]

Letter 41034

I NEED TO KNOW IF MY RING BEING MADE W/O RHODIUM IS A SCAM OR LEGAL? [Michigan]

June 7, 2006

I have a "white gold" ring after 4 months it has begin to tarnish very badly. When I first went back to the jewler he told me it just needed cleaning. After several weeks it got much worse, then and only did he explain it was because of the rhoduim plating.....he states that he did not make his rings with that ingredient and that he would take care of it for me. So my question is should I invesitgate any further or is this how it is. 1. am I going to have to have this done all the time or will this one time be enough? 2. should I be demanding my money back because it should have been made with rhoduim in the first place? I was to get my fiancee's band there should I just go else where? is this a scam or legal?

KENYA T.
student - DETROIT, MI

June 8, 2006

If I understood your question, Kenya, you have a white gold ring which did not come with rhodium plating. That's fine if you like the look, and it's certainly not illegal. But some people like the gleam of rhodium plating, and there is nothing wrong with adding that if you like that look either. Years ago white gold was not rhodium plated; these days almost all of it is. Any plating, no matter how well done, is temporary because rings wear, and any surface plating will obviously wear before the metal underneath it can wear.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
finishing.com Inc. - Brick, NJ

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