-----
Rhodium plating in my jewelry shop
2003
Hello Down Under,
I am just beginning to set up my little jewelry studio and have decided that instead of paying someone to rhodium plate my yellow gold to white I would like to do it myself. I'm hoping you can help with the information I need to do this. I will need step by step instructions and a list of materials needed to do this. Perhaps you could recommend a book where I might find all of this? Thank you in advance for any help you can give me.
Best to you,
Wild Heart - Laguna Beach, California, USA
Rhodium plating does not make yellow gold into white gold. You must use a white gold alloy to start with.
Neil BellAlbuquerque, New Mexico
2003
Although the best way to effectively Rhodium plate is to start out with a white gold alloy, it is also possible to plate over yellow goods. The amount of time that the Rhodium over gold will last, is less than that of Rhodium over White Gold.
Sam Obermeister- Brooklyn, New York
2003
January 1, 2013
Hi Kim. For your situation I think Neil is more correct than Sam. While Sam is right that a consumer can have a yellow gold item changed to white by heavy rhodium plating if s/he chooses, the issue is different on new items. A jeweler should not, as a matter of convenience, turn their yellow gold items white by plating; rather, s/he should make new ones out of white gold:
"In most countries, rhodium plating of yellow gold and passing it off as white gold is not allowed and is considered fraudulent."
-- Dr. Christopher W. Corti Managing Director, International Technology World Gold Council London, U.K., writing in "What is a White Gold? Progress on the Issues!"
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Ted is available for instant help
or longer-term assistance.
Q, A, or Comment on THIS thread -or- Start a NEW Thread