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Q&As since 1989


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Plating titanium jewelry with diamonds already inserted

I am in the precious jewelry manufacturing business in Texas and have run into a roadblock in a new project we are trying to complete. Our company is trying to rhodium plate finished titanium jewelry with diamonds already set in them. We know that this process has been successful overseas but we have not been able to achieve it here. If you could lead me to a company that could do it for us or if anyone could tell us how to plate it that would be so appreciated. We know that it is a very hard procedure, but are sure that it can be done.
We appreciate your help on this tough question.

Sue Gragg
Designer - Dallas Texas
July 16, 2008

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We can prepare titanium surface for plating, and then you can apply any material on it. Contact us for more information.

Anna Berkovich
Russamer Lab

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

July 21, 2008

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Remember that diamond is an electrically conductive form of carbon. Any electroplating process will deposit onto diamond unless you mask it.

Geoff Smith
Hampshire, England
August 12, 2008

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Sorry, I have to disagree, the diamonds will not plate.

Neil Bell
Red Sky Plating

Albuquerque, New Mexico

August 13, 2008

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We have successfully plated finished titanium jewelry with diamonds already set in them. Sue Gragg is very satisfied with the results.

Anna Berkovich
Russamer Lab

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

September 29, 2008

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Geoff,
Good quality diamonds do not conduct electricity - only doped ones do. This is due to the sp3 carbon structure in diamonds. Conversely, graphite is a good conductor due to it's sp2 carbon structure.
Although I have never done it, I would suspect that if any electrodeposit was put onto diamond during conventional wet electroplating, it could be easily rubbed off by simple polishing - adhesion to diamond will be very poor. Vacuum deposition, on the other hand, could be slightly more problematic.

back to the question - titanium can be used as a deposition surface by suitable pretreatments. The pretreatment is very important and can be found in good modern metal finishing books. Try talking with your chemical supply house

Trevor Crichton
R&D practical scientist
Chesham, Bucks, UK
October 2, 2008

Congratulations Anna! You and your company certainly are among the top participants here.

Guillermo Marrufo
Monterrey, NL, Mexico
October 6, 2008