Oh Rhodium, Rhodium, what for art thou?
Posted by kingofrocks on June 20, 2008
“This piece has a rhodium finish” is one of those lines jewellers toss out without much thought, and which jewellery buyers hear and accept without question – even when they don’t know what it means. So, for those of you too shy to ask, here’s all you need to know.
Rhodium is a shiny, white precious metal, in the same family as platinum and palladium, and is most often used in the jewellery business to plate white gold items. Why would anyone want to plate white gold with another white metal? Well, because gold is naturally yellow and is made white by mixing it with nickel or silver or palladium, the resulting “white” gold is actually more of a gray (with a yellowish tint). Also, gold is a relatively soft metal that can be easily scratched. Plating white gold with rhodium gives it shiny white appearance, extra protection from scratching, and a resistance to tarnishing.
Rhodium plating does not last forever. With jewellery items that are worn often or constantly, (think wedding and engagement rings), the plating can wear through in as little as a year. If you notice dull or slightly yellow areas on your white gold jewellery, it is likely that the rhodium has worn through. Replating an item is a quick and simple process for any equipped jeweller. Note though, that replating will not fill any scratches or dents, so be sure that your jeweller polishes and repairs your piece if necessary before the final plating.
(KingOfRocks.com is a Montreal-based online jewellery retailer focussing on quality diamond and gold pieces, offered at reasonable prices and provided with the very best of customer care. )
