Can gold plating be washed away?

[thecat]

Or does the ring has to be rhodiumed again to get back the white color? Ring was platinum but as it was 40 years old and dull, I had it gold plated. Didn't like gold color. I went to a few jewelers but all said to rhodium to get back white color. But I wish to just wash the gold plating away. Is it possible?

 

[bcavitt]

Gold plating doesn't really bond to platinum chemically, so it can just be buffed or sanded off. Sounds like you have some lazy jewelers according to our bench goldsmiths (or at least some that wanted to make a buck on the rhodium).

 

[OECsareforLovers]

I once had a yellow gold ring that was rhodium plates (pre-PS and knowing better) and they were able to buff off the plating, but the buffing was too much for the pave and I started losing diamonds. I'm not sure if the same thing would happen when plating is buffed off platinum, maybe someone here will know. At any rate it sounds like you need a good bench. Often times if you let us know what city you are in (or near) someone here can recommend a bench. Good luck!

 

[thecat]

Gold plating doesn't really bond to platinum chemically, so it can just be buffed or sanded off. Sounds like you have some lazy jewelers according to our bench goldsmiths (or at least some that wanted to make a buck on the rhodium).

Thanks for the info. But if they are reluctant to buff it for me now, insisting on rhodium, can I just use scotch brite to buff it out myself since I can't find any jeweler to buff it out for me.

 

[thecat]

I once had a yellow gold ring that was rhodium plates (pre-PS and knowing better) and they were able to buff off the plating, but the buffing was too much for the pave and I started losing diamonds. I'm not sure if the same thing would happen when plating is buffed off platinum, maybe someone here will know. At any rate it sounds like you need a good bench. Often times if you let us know what city you are in (or near) someone here can recommend a bench. Good luck!

Thanks for the response. I'm sorry to hear that happened to your band. Mine is just a plain band. I'm not in US. Maybe I try scotch brite on my band if I can't find anyone to do it for me.