rhodium plated
for
Wedding and engagement rings
Rhodium plating is used to increase the strength, durability, and brilliant appearance of silver, platinum, and white gold rings.
This plate on rings will wear off over time and it is important to purchase a ring that is the proper plating thickness to prevent discoloration of the ring and constant re-plating.
Couples must also decide if they want to deal with the added expense and time it will take to continually reattach the rings throughout their lives. Sometimes alternatives to rhodium plating can be a much better option, and one that will cost less over time than replating over time.
Quick trivia about
rhodium plate!
All rings made with white gold require rhodium plating to maintain a bright, reflective white color.
The rhodium plating of the wedding rings is, on average, 1/100 the width of a human hair.
The rhodium plating increases the scratch resistance of the surface of white gold and silver rings.
When properly plated, rhodium can increase the durability of the surface on white gold and silver rings.
Please read below to learn more about rhodium and the plating process to determine if this is the right choice for your rings. And if you have any questions not answered here about rhodium plate, just use the helpful comment box atend of pageto send your questions!
What is rhodium?
Rhodium is a pure silvery-white element and is listed as a transition metal on the periodic table. It is a member of the platinum group, along with iridium, osmium, palladium, platinum, and ruthenium. It is a precious and very rare metal.
Rhodium, based on the current rhodium market price, is typically the most expensive of the precious metals; an ounce of rhodium typically costs between $2,000 and $2,500 an ounce, but prices fluctuate wildly (it's been well over $10,000).
- Rhodium is extremely durable, resistant to corrosion, tarnishing and scratching, and has extremely high light reflective characteristics.
What is rhodium plating?
Rhodium plating, also known as rhodium plating, is a process that coats white gold, platinum, and silver rings with a thin layer of rhodium to increase their durability and shine.
Rhodium's shine is not permanent and will fade over time. The wearing time depends on how much the jewelry is worn and the thickness of the original coating. For example, a pair of earrings can retain their plating for many years, but a wedding band exposed to daily wear will typically require re-plating in 1-3 years. If the initial plating is extremely thin, additional plating may be required on a wedding band within a year.
Rhodium ring replacement doesn't take long and most professional jewelers offer this service.
White gold will start to yellow over time if it is not rhodium plated; Once a ring begins to turn yellow, the original white gold color can be restored with a plating of rhodium.
How thick should the lining of a wedding band be?
The ideal thickness of rhodium in a wedding ring is 0.75 to 1.50 microns. To give you an idea of how fine this layer is, the thickness of a human hair is approximately 100 microns.
Jewelry that is not worn daily can retain its plating for years with 0.10 - 0.50 plating, but for wear and tear that wedding rings are exposed to, a thicker plating is better.
Rhodium plating less than 0.75 microns will wear faster, and plating less than 0.10 microns can cause discoloration and tarnishing of the ring.
Anything plated with a rhodium thickness of 2.0 microns or more can become brittle.
How much does the rhodium ring plate cost?
Quality veneer, with the extra thickness needed for wedding bands, typically costs $100-$200.
Commitment Top White Gold and
Wedding Ring Selections (all with matching bands available)
Brilliant Earth Wedding "Petite Twisted Vine" Round Diamond and Diamond Ring in 18k White Gold
Blue Nile Men's 4mm 14k White Gold Comfortable Lightweight Wedding Ring
Lab 'Mayfair' created a round diamond with a large diamond band in 18k white gold from Clean Origin
Gemvara Two Tone 18k Yellow and White Gold Engagement Ring
Blue Nile 18k Emerald and Double Diamond Men's Wedding Band
The extremely thin rhodium plating, which wears off in a few months (and in some cases a few weeks), usually costs around $20 to $30 per ring.
Tips for buying rhodium-plated rings
A word of caution about cheap rhodium flash rings:
Jewelry retailers and sellers are not always candid about the rhodium treatments on their products; This is especially true for sellers who specialize in extremely inexpensive silver and white gold jewelry, or rhodium-plated copper-nickel alloy jewelry pieces.
If you unknowingly buy a ring that has been treated with a very thin layer of rhodium, you may notice that within a few weeks the ring's shine has dulled and it is discoloring. Depending on the type of metal alloy used to create the ring, your finger may even start to turn green as the metal under the rhodium flash is exposed and reacts with the oils from your skin.
For wedding and engagement bands, avoid any type of ring that contains copper or rhodium-plated brass. If you're looking for an affordable ring that has the white look of quality white gold or platinum, look no further.Cobalt,Titanium,Tungstenostainless steel rings- are cheaper and are made of extremely strong metals.
Remember that all white gold is rhodium plated, but silver and platinum are only occasionally rhodium plated.
- If a white gold ring has been mixed with nickel and the plating wears off, the wearer may begin to have an allergic reaction when the nickel comes into contact with the skin. If you are allergic to nickel, be sure to purchase a white gold ring that has not been alloyed with nickel.
- Rhodium plated platinum rings will not discolor when the rhodium wears off; the rings will look a little less reflective and shiny. Platinum is such a beautiful and strong metal in its own right, although platinum rings do not require rhodium plating treatments unless the buyer likes the extra reflective and shiny look of rhodium.
- Rhodium is rare and difficult to mold into shapes; for this reason, pure rhodium rings are not available, so be careful if someone is trying to sell you a 'rhodium ring'. This type of ring is probably white gold or rhodium-plated silver.
- If the plating has worn away and the ring is scratched before it can be replated, the rhodium coating will make the scratches appear more noticeable. If you want to plate or re-plat a scratched ring, have the ring analyzed by a professional jeweler to see if the scratches can be removed or polished.
Some types of gems do not hold up very well to the plating process. Any gemstone that is susceptible to sulfuric compounds, including enhanced peridot, topaz, and rubies, can be damaged during a rhodium application. Features on old rings too, such as soldering, can also be damaged during the rhodium plating process. If you want to buy a white gold gemstone engagement ring or wedding band, or an antique white gold ring, double check for rhodium concerns before you buy.
When does it make sense to buy a rhodium-plated ring?
*If you are looking for a cheaper ring than aplatinum wedding ring, 18k white and 14k gold are great alternatives.
*If you like rings made with intricate designs and/or two-tone features, white gold offers many more options than more modern metals like cobalt, tungsten, and titanium.
*If you like the brilliant white look of rhodium plating that no other metal can match, and is extremely complementary with the enhanced diamonds.
When not to buy a rhodium plated ring
*In most cases, gemstone rings should not be subjected to repeated rhodium plating processes; Instead, for this type of ring, the best is platinum, palladium, yellow gold or rose gold.
*If you have the budget for a platinum ring, it makes sense to choose this metal, as platinum is extremely durable and does not require rhodium plating to maintain its color. * Palladium is a wonderful alternative to white gold, and in many cases, palladium rings are priced the same as white gold rings. Palladium metal has a softer color than rhodium plate.
*If you are looking for a simple yet highly durable men's wedding band, metals such as cobalt, tungsten, and titanium would be an excellent choice. *For the long-term value of a wedding ring and for luxury wedding bands, platinum, palladium, and 18k yellow or pink metals are the best choices.
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