Rhodium Plating?

[two_little_birds]

I'm getting an upgraded e-ring for my 15th - yeah, thank you DH!

My new setting will be in 14k white gold, but the jeweler asked if I wanted it rhodium plated.

So the question is, should I get it plated?

I know the plating looks much nicer, but how often would I have to get it replated?

Thanks for any input.

P.S. The mount is a solitaire, and the WB is a plain 3mm comfort fit.

 

[KaeKae]

Congratulations on your 15th anniversary!

I did the same thing for my 20th. Went from a yg solitaire to a wg split shank solitaire. I love the clean look of a solitaire and really prefer the white gold on my hand.

To answer your question, there is no perfect answer. If you prefer the bright, shiny finish of the rhodium plating, then that's the way to go, but the frequency of replating seems to be different for different people. From what I can tell, it's a combination of your body chemistry, the wear and tear of daily use, personal preference of the wearer, and possibly, the skill or methods of the jeweler. Don't quote me on the last one, it's a feeling I've got is all.

Personally, I have yet to have my rings re-plated. If you look at the underside of my solitaire closely, you can see the difference in color, but that slight difference reallly doesn't bother me. I didn't really start to see a difference until after two years, actually, The top portion of the shank is still bright and shiny, like new, after more than three years of daily wear.

There are comparison pictures her on PS somewhere, but does your jeweler have a sample of the unplated gold so that you can compare the looks in person? I wish I'd thought about that, I think it would be a good way to see if you might prefer to just go without the plating to begin with, you could always add it later, right?

 

[two_little_birds]

Thanks KaeKae, appreciate your reply.

I also found this old post which was very helpful (pictures too) and might help others as well.

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/re-plating-white-gold-ring.146203/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/re-plating-white-gold-ring.146203/[/URL]

Personally I think I'm going to go with the plating, hopefully I won't regret it.

 

[GMUAlum08]

i like the way the plating looks and personally think its worth it to pay to have it re dipped every few years.

just curious, for those that have re-dipped their rings does this process remove scratches and imperfections on the ring leaving it looking like new?

 

[distracts]

i like the way the plating looks and personally think its worth it to pay to have it re dipped every few years.

just curious, for those that have re-dipped their rings does this process remove scratches and imperfections on the ring leaving it looking like new?

No. The rhodium plating is incredibly thin, and any imperfections that are on the ring prior to plating will show through the plating. However, rings are repolished before plating, so only really deep scratches would remain.

 

[Enerchi]

How long the rhodium plating will last, is an individual thing. I had a ring for 7 months and it was replated a total of 4 times --- however, it had manufacturing defects and metal issues, so I do not think this is the norm.

Wear will be noticed first on the underside where you have the most contact with 'things', the setting portion will remain 'white' for far longer.

 

[motownmama]

Totally person thing. I wear a lot of WG; it's taken a long time for the rhodium to wear off, but now that it has I've decided I like the warmth and am gonna wear it like that from now on.

 

[valchiria]

i like the way the plating looks and personally think its worth it to pay to have it re dipped every few years.

just curious, for those that have re-dipped their rings does this process remove scratches and imperfections on the ring leaving it looking like new?

I have different experience, but usually scratches go away and the ring come back like new. The results and durability of the work can vary.
The most beautiful work I have ever see was for my Damiani band (the one in wg with the 7 pointer diamond), I used it 24 hours a day, every day for 7 years (if I remember well), at the end I heavy ruined it, many scratches, some really deep between the diamond and the brand, and then a day I wash it with an agrassive thinner and partially clean off the plat.
I send it to Damiani to rodiate, and it come back (all for free) like new. I rodiate it in 2008.
I post some pictures (take with my phone) of the ring today, 4 years later, near my e.ring (no Damiani)that my husband bought in the same month I send my Damiani to rodiate. I use them together. The Damiani still reflect what I have around, the window, the plant even if I never clean it in this 4 years after the traumatic experience.
p.s. When I was trying to take photos the D band is dropped on the floor and bounced a couple of times, so new scratches , fortunally the little diamond is still in place.
Now the photos. Front view and back view (where rings are usually to ruined more) with e-ring
Sorry for the dust and my fingerprints, but as I say I don't clean it. And sorry for my english.

 

[Niel]

congratulations!!
i am actually having a ring made for me and I specifically asked them NOT to plate it. I know you said you think it looks better with the plating but IMHO i like it unplated. I even requested a slightly "yellower" WG alloy. I feel like it has a great warmth that way and is a beautiful metal without the plating.

and, truth be told, I am a tad lazy
I wouldnt want to plate it all the time. Plus I dont think Id want to look at my ring and thing " does it need fixing, is it time again?". Id rather not go LOOKING for something to fix about my ring. Along with cleaning and all, i dont think I personally would want to worry about the plating too.