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Can I Tungsten Carbide plate a white gold ring?

My brother-in-law recently got married and he has a Tungsten Carbide ring. My wedding band from our wedding last year is made of White Gold and got dull and scratched quite easily. I'd love to know if instead of re-rhodium plating my ring all the time is it possible to Tungsten Carbide plate it? My brother-in -law said it's one of the hardest metals and doesn't scratch or dull easily and that is exactly what I'm looking for! I just hate to trash my real ring (I'm sentimental) and I'd rather just get it Tungstenized.... if possible. :-)

Thanks,
-- Chris Housepian

Chris Housepian
- Long Beach, California, USA
August 19, 2008

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Hi, Chris. It isn't practical (tungsten carbide isn't an electroplateable material), and it would do little good anyway. Rhodium is a very hard material, too -- the plating is just too thin for it to impart the ruggedness you'd like. The same would be the case with a tungsten carbide coating (your brother-in-law's ring is solid tungsten carbide rather than coated) Get a really proper rhodium plating and it will last a long time while retaining a good polish.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
August 20, 2008

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