rhodium? Industry standard process??

[dianej]

Hello folks,

Can anyone confirm if process for dipping my gold rings in rhodium is the same everywhere?
My jeweler is about an hour away, but I found a local mom-n-pop shop who said they can do it too.

Should I trust that the process is the same as the jeweler in the gift center in san fransisco??

thanks-so-much!

 

[Ribbon Ring]

Heck, they could be better than the jeweller. Ask how thick of a coating each of them would put on. The thicker the longer it will last. Other than that, maybe someone else can provide more advice.

 

[denverappraiser]

Like all bench skills there is definitely a talent to getting a good rhodium job and it helps to be compulsively clean but the basics of the process , the tools and the supplies used are pretty much the same no matter who does the work. There’s a lot to be said for using a craftsman you’re comfortable with and if that means going into town occasionally this seems worthwhile to me. Perhaps you might take a piece that you’re less attached to down to the local guys to work on and see how good a job they do and to give them the opportunity to earn your business.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver

 

[Rockdiamond]

Great advice given so far...
One aspect of Rhodium plating that requires a special skill is masking- if the piece has any yellow gold on it the person doing the plating needs to "mask" the yellow parts so they don''t also turn white.
Is the ring all white metal?

 

[oldmancoyote]

It should be. The key questions are:

1. How "fresh" is the electrolyte solution?
2. For how long is the ring being kept in the solution?
3. Is the ring being cleaned/prepped properly prior to dipping?

However, I don''t see why a small store should offer a different quality in these respects compared to a larger business.