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WG polishing and replating...

msop04

Super_Ideal_Rock
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Dec 3, 2011
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My ering is 18K WG, so I feel like I could have it replated every couple of months or so if I had the time (or if I wasn't so lazy)! :lol:

The thing is, I'm kind of hesitant to have it done too often, since some of the gold is polished off each time. I didn't really think anything of it until the last time I had it done. The band is a modifed knife edge, but the last time it was polisted and plated, I noticed that it is more "rounded" than anything. My ering is quite thick (about 3 - 3.5 mm), I rather like that it's more rounded, and it's only on the bottom half, but it still made me take pause... ::)

So, my question is: "How much is too much??" when it comes to this? I know it depends on the thickness of the band, but I don't want to damage my ering or let it get to where it's too thin. Ugh! I wish I'd gotten a WG alloy that didn't require plating, but you know what they say about hindsight... :blackeye: :| ::)
 
Then:
compare_widths.jpgside_profile.jpg

Now:
2nd_polish.png

Hopefully ya'll can tell a little more from these photos...
 
My wife's 14K WG ring is starting to turn yellow after 9 yrs. the next reset will be in PT.
 
msop04|1390522295|3599792 said:
Then:
compare_widths.jpgside_profile.jpg

Now:
2nd_polish.png

Hopefully ya'll can tell a little more from these photos...
msop...it still looks OK, just wait till it turns to a more yellowish color.
 
Dancing Fire|1390522974|3599799 said:
msop04|1390522295|3599792 said:
Then:
compare_widths.jpgside_profile.jpg

Now:
2nd_polish.png

Hopefully ya'll can tell a little more from these photos...
msop...it still looks OK, just wait till it turns to a more yellowish color.

The bottom one is newly plated and very white (I just had it done yesterday)... It may be reflecting off my beige jacket. The top one is after about 3 months after replating. When I first got my ering (July 2012), it stayed really white for a long time. But after I had Diamonds Direct replate it for the first time, it only lasted about 4 weeks. I have tons of 14K and never had this problem until after many years. This 18K is killing me. Is it possible that Christopher Designs applied a much thicker layer of rhodium??
 
Dancing Fire|1390522616|3599797 said:
My wife's 14K WG ring is starting to turn yellow after 9 yrs. the next reset will be in PT.

I thought about platinum, but I just love the look of WG and don't care for the patina platinum gets. I'd always had 14K, so I thought 18K would react the same way -- WRONG. :( Also, I was already overbudget with my setting with WG, so platinum wasn't gonna happen anyway. My next setting will either be in 14K or in an alloy that doesn't require plating to look white (like X1) or platinum. I sort of had to go with 18K due to lots of pave work (it was recommended by CD).
 
msop04|1390524105|3599816 said:
Dancing Fire|1390522974|3599799 said:
msop04|1390522295|3599792 said:
Then:
compare_widths.jpgside_profile.jpg


The bottom one is newly plated and very white (I just had it done yesterday)... It may be reflecting off my beige jacket. The top one is after about 3 months after replating. When I first got my ering (July 2012), it stayed really white for a long time. But after I had Diamonds Direct replate it for the first time, it only lasted about 4 weeks. I have tons of 14K and never had this problem until after many years. This 18K is killing me. Is it possible that Christopher Designs applied a much thicker layer of rhodium??
could be, but my wife's cheap 14k WG setting held up for 8 yrs before it started to turn yellowish.
 
Dancing Fire|1390524550|3599821 said:
could be, but my wife's cheap 14k WG setting held up for 8 yrs before it started to turn yellowish.

That's the only thing I can figure?? I've had 14K WG rings that were not the greatest (i.e. they were kinda cheap :lol: ) and they are still white as ever. I am very careful with my ering. I don't wear it when I wash my hands, shower, clean, work out, or anything else that might damage it.

Has anyone asked to have a thicker plating applied? Is that even done?? :confused:
 
msop04|1390524326|3599818 said:
Dancing Fire|1390522616|3599797 said:
My wife's 14K WG ring is starting to turn yellow after 9 yrs. the next reset will be in PT.

I thought about platinum, but I just love the look of WG and don't care for the patina platinum gets. I'd always had 14K, so I thought 18K would react the same way -- WRONG. :( Also, I was already overbudget with my setting with WG, so platinum wasn't gonna happen anyway. My next setting will either be in 14K or in an alloy that doesn't require plating to look white (like X1) or platinum. I sort of had to go with 18K due to lots of pave work (it was recommended by CD).

My e-ring is 18k and like you I feel like I should have it replated every 6 months or so to keep it looking a white as I'd like it to. Last year I purchased an eternity from WF and asked them to make it in 14k...my eternity looks as white as it did on day one....my e-ring has needed replating again for the past 6 months. :(( I don't like being without my rings and shipping back and forth is a PITA. Like you I don't like the patina of platinum, so I purchased 18k simply because it felt more luxurious to me....my next setting will be 14k if I go with a white metal!
 
Christina...|1390525832|3599840 said:
msop04|1390524326|3599818 said:
Dancing Fire|1390522616|3599797 said:
My wife's 14K WG ring is starting to turn yellow after 9 yrs. the next reset will be in PT.

I thought about platinum, but I just love the look of WG and don't care for the patina platinum gets. I'd always had 14K, so I thought 18K would react the same way -- WRONG. :( Also, I was already overbudget with my setting with WG, so platinum wasn't gonna happen anyway. My next setting will either be in 14K or in an alloy that doesn't require plating to look white (like X1) or platinum. I sort of had to go with 18K due to lots of pave work (it was recommended by CD).

My e-ring is 18k and like you I feel like I should have it replated every 6 months or so to keep it looking a white as I'd like it to. Last year I purchased an eternity from WF and asked them to make it in 14k...my eternity looks as white as it did on day one....my e-ring has needed replating again for the past 6 months. :(( I don't like being without my rings and shipping back and forth is a PITA. Like you I don't like the patina of platinum, so I purchased 18k simply because it felt more luxurious to me....my next setting will be 14k if I go with a white metal!

First world problems... :lol:
I know how ya feel... My eternity diamond band is 14K, but the sapphire eternity shown is 18K. Guess I don't notice with less metal showing!
 
I actually think it's the opposite where they plated too much rhodium such that your shank has become thick and round.

Eta: I don't see yellow in your first unplated photo, more like grey. Did you ask them what alloy they use? I think you got an ok alloy with no yellow, or else I am really just not color sensitive.
 
WG is a pain in the booty! Your setting is just beautiful--maybe down the road you could reset in Platinum. I know people say they hate patina, but it really depends on the Plat alloy. I have yet to see any patina on my pieces.
 
Ashleigh|1390540297|3600059 said:
I actually think it's the opposite where they plated too much rhodium such that your shank has become thick and round.

Eta: I don't see yellow in your first unplated photo, more like grey. Did you ask them what alloy they use? I think you got an ok alloy with no yellow, or else I am really just not color sensitive.

The first photo was more to show the shape of the bottom of the band. It was showing a little yellow, but nothing like it did before I had it replated... I didn't think they used too much rhodium because it's not as thick or as pronounced as the the edge used to be.
 
Laila619|1390543837|3600084 said:
WG is a pain in the booty! Your setting is just beautiful--maybe down the road you could reset in Platinum. I know people say they hate patina, but it really depends on the Plat alloy. I have yet to see any patina on my pieces.

That's definitely an idea if I change settings, but I doubt they'd be able to duplicate mine in platinum (I'm so OCD, the whole process would probably make me have a meltdown). :shock: :D
 
msop04|1390574562|3600195 said:
Ashleigh|1390540297|3600059 said:
I actually think it's the opposite where they plated too much rhodium such that your shank has become thick and round.

Eta: I don't see yellow in your first unplated photo, more like grey. Did you ask them what alloy they use? I think you got an ok alloy with no yellow, or else I am really just not color sensitive.

The first photo was more to show the shape of the bottom of the band. It was showing a little yellow, but nothing like it did before I had it replated... I didn't think they used too much rhodium because it's not as thick or as pronounced as the the edge used to be.

The rhodium plating is microns thick - a "thicker than normal" plating isn't going to visually alter the form in any way. I agree that an overly enthusiastic polishing is much more likely to be the culprit for the extra roundedness...

I know plating can wear at different rates for different people but 6 weeks seems awfully fast - my first setting from WF (plated WG) was chrome-shiny for almost a year of regular wear! I wonder if it would be worth trying another vendor - maybe your current vendor's rhodium is consistently lower-quality?
 
Yssie|1390577821|3600248 said:
The rhodium plating is microns thick - a "thicker than normal" plating isn't going to visually alter the form in any way. I agree that an overly enthusiastic polishing is much more likely to be the culprit for the extra roundedness...

I know plating can wear at different rates for different people but 6 weeks seems awfully fast - my first setting from WF (plated WG) was chrome-shiny for almost a year of regular wear! I wonder if it would be worth trying another vendor - maybe your current vendor's rhodium is consistently lower-quality?

I agree, Yssie. I couldn't believe how little time it took to wear off! I didn't sent to the vendor, as I bought through Diamonds Direct... they will polish, replate, repair, etc. at any time while you wait free of charge. I do have a regular jeweler that I could go to -- how will I know if they have a better-quality rhodium?

I feel like I'm going in circles with this, but I've never had a ring "yellow" so quickly! Of course, this is the first 18K WG I've owned. I would say that I have pretty minimal wear as far as that goes -- especially for an ering. I wear it 12 hours a day on workdays and probably 2-6 hours on offdays. Rarely gets wet, never worn while working out or cleaning.
 
Yssie|1390577821|3600248 said:
I know plating can wear at different rates for different people but 6 weeks seems awfully fast - my first setting from WF (plated WG) was chrome-shiny for almost a year of regular wear! I wonder if it would be worth trying another vendor - maybe your current vendor's rhodium is consistently lower-quality?

Was your ring 14K or 18K, Yssie? When I first got my ring, it stayed white for at least 6, maybe 7 months until I started to notice it changing a little.

EDIT: It is only on the very bottom (palm-side) of my ring, and the top is super chrome-shiny and has never looked otherwise. Am I being a big baby about this? :oops: :|
 
Polishing it too hard or with too coarse of an abrasive will remove detail and round off formerly square or crisp edges. I doubt that rhodium "quality" varies, but the thickness can vary. A thin deposit of rhodium plating will sure wear off faster than a thick one. If the metal is just yellowing or oxidizing, can't the jeweler just soak it in the "cyanide bath" or whatever they use for removing oxidation? Then either replate it or not?

I have an 18kt WG pave ring. The original rhodium plating wore off it years ago. It yellows when it sits unworn. (Acidity or alkalinity of a person's skin can affect the oxidation or tarnish rate, too.) I just gently polish that ring myself, using Mother's Mag and Aluminum Polish from WalMart or auto parts stores. I only take rings in sporadically for the jeweler to polish, and that's only if they are badly scratched or need prongs checked or need a repair or something. The Mother's polish works quite well to remove patina w/o removing metal. Simichrome is another good polish, but Mother's seems to be better at leaving a mirror finish.
 
msop04|1390578818|3600270 said:
Yssie|1390577821|3600248 said:
I know plating can wear at different rates for different people but 6 weeks seems awfully fast - my first setting from WF (plated WG) was chrome-shiny for almost a year of regular wear! I wonder if it would be worth trying another vendor - maybe your current vendor's rhodium is consistently lower-quality?

Was your ring 14K or 18K, Yssie? When I first got my ring, it stayed white for at least 6, maybe 7 months until I started to notice it changing a little.

EDIT: It is only on the very bottom (palm-side) of my ring, and the top is super chrome-shiny and has never looked otherwise. Am I being a big baby about this? :oops: :|

14k vs. 18k shouldn't matter re. how quickly the electroplating wears off (I'm sure oxidation/reduction differs, technically, but I would think those sorts of differences would have to be discussed per alloy, not between different karats of varying alloys, I mean) but if the 14k is a much whiter alloy than the 18k it's very likely that the 14k seems to wear more slowly because the colour difference between metal and rhodium doesn't contrast as much!

But to answer your question mine was 18k. It was actually a relatively yellow 18k WG under the rhodium, so if the plating had started wearing I'd definitely have noticed ::)

TC - I don't know enough about the rhodium preparation and plating process to judge what "lower-quality" could mean, but I'm sure thicker vs. thinner is part of it!
 
Is it possible to request for rhodium plating without polishing since polishing is causing the loss of shape and metal? Is there a reason why they need to polish before plating? I was under impression that one polishes the shank to make it shiny. But there's no need to have a mirror finish if need to plate over it.
 
I would not have the ring polished but maybe once every 10 years. You do not need to polish in order to do rhodium plating. None of my gold rings were ever polished since it takes away metal.
 
TC1987|1390582092|3600330 said:
Polishing it too hard or with too coarse of an abrasive will remove detail and round off formerly square or crisp edges. I doubt that rhodium "quality" varies, but the thickness can vary. A thin deposit of rhodium plating will sure wear off faster than a thick one. If the metal is just yellowing or oxidizing, can't the jeweler just soak it in the "cyanide bath" or whatever they use for removing oxidation? Then either replate it or not?

I have an 18kt WG pave ring. The original rhodium plating wore off it years ago. It yellows when it sits unworn. (Acidity or alkalinity of a person's skin can affect the oxidation or tarnish rate, too.) I just gently polish that ring myself, using Mother's Mag and Aluminum Polish from WalMart or auto parts stores. I only take rings in sporadically for the jeweler to polish, and that's only if they are badly scratched or need prongs checked or need a repair or something. The Mother's polish works quite well to remove patina w/o removing metal. Simichrome is another good polish, but Mother's seems to be better at leaving a mirror finish.

Thanks, TC... can you tell me more about the cyanide bath. I will look into these. :))
 
Yssie|1390583159|3600343 said:
14k vs. 18k shouldn't matter re. how quickly the electroplating wears off (I'm sure oxidation/reduction differs, technically, but I would think those sorts of differences would have to be discussed per alloy, not between different karats of varying alloys, I mean) but if the 14k is a much whiter alloy than the 18k it's very likely that the 14k seems to wear more slowly because the colour difference between metal and rhodium doesn't contrast as much! <-- yes! this! :))

But to answer your question mine was 18k. It was actually a relatively yellow 18k WG under the rhodium, so if the plating had started wearing I'd definitely have noticed ::)

TC - I don't know enough about the rhodium preparation and plating process to judge what "lower-quality" could mean, but I'm sure thicker vs. thinner is part of it!

I agree with you that the rhodium will wear off at the same rate, regardless of whether 14K or 18K. I just thought since the 18K has a higher percentage of pure gold, it would show more (look "yellower") when plating wears off (since pure gold is yellow).

Damn this 18K business!! I love it and hate it all at the same time! ::) I wouldn't mind paying for a thicker plating, if need be... would I appear crazy for requesting this? :wacko: :wink2:
 
Ashleigh|1390585376|3600376 said:
Is it possible to request for rhodium plating without polishing since polishing is causing the loss of shape and metal? Is there a reason why they need to polish before plating? I was under impression that one polishes the shank to make it shiny. But there's no need to have a mirror finish if need to plate over it.

Ashleigh, to my knowledge, the ring has to be really clean for the the rhodium to bond well, and the polishing provides a smooth finish for an even plating... I guess I could ask for them to do a little lighter polishing though.
 
diamondseeker2006|1390593004|3600470 said:
I would not have the ring polished but maybe once every 10 years. You do not need to polish in order to do rhodium plating. None of my gold rings were ever polished since it takes away metal.

I wonder why jewelers tell you it needs to be done each time it's replated? Maybe that's just what they've always done, so they see it as the procedure?? I've had three separate jewelers tell me that (Diamonds Direct and two private jewelers...) Hmmm... :confused:

But I certainly see what you're saying, and it makes sense. If this is the case, then I'm good with no polishing when I replate it. :))
 
TC1987|1390582092|3600330 said:
I doubt that rhodium "quality" varies, but the thickness can vary.

It's interesting you mention this, TC... My (private) jeweler proposed that maybe DD's solution needed to be changed out more often -- something about the rhodium concentration being lower if not a "new batch." <--- of course, this is me paraphrasing on a topic I'm not familiar with, so anyone please correct me if need be. :bigsmile:
 
My 14k white gold ering has yellowed significantly in the 4 months I've been wearing it. Only on the underside of the shank though. The rest of the ring is as shiny as the day it arrived. I do think it's the antibacterial gel I used to clean my hands. I used it a lot though. I've stopped now as I read it can take the rhodium plating off.
 
Yssie|1390583159|3600343 said:
msop04|1390578818|3600270 said:
Yssie|1390577821|3600248 said:
I know plating can wear at different rates for different people but 6 weeks seems awfully fast - my first setting from WF (plated WG) was chrome-shiny for almost a year of regular wear! I wonder if it would be worth trying another vendor - maybe your current vendor's rhodium is consistently lower-quality?

Was your ring 14K or 18K, Yssie? When I first got my ring, it stayed white for at least 6, maybe 7 months until I started to notice it changing a little.

EDIT: It is only on the very bottom (palm-side) of my ring, and the top is super chrome-shiny and has never looked otherwise. Am I being a big baby about this? :oops: :|

14k vs. 18k shouldn't matter re. how quickly the electroplating wears off (I'm sure oxidation/reduction differs, technically, but I would think those sorts of differences would have to be discussed per alloy, not between different karats of varying alloys, I mean) but if the 14k is a much whiter alloy than the 18k it's very likely that the 14k seems to wear more slowly because the colour difference between metal and rhodium doesn't contrast as much!

But to answer your question mine was 18k. It was actually a relatively yellow 18k WG under the rhodium, so if the plating had started wearing I'd definitely have noticed ::)

TC - I don't know enough about the rhodium preparation and plating process to judge what "lower-quality" could mean, but I'm sure thicker vs. thinner is part of it!

Yssie: Interesting! I automatically assumed that one was wearing faster than the other due to the fact that one was 18kt and the other 14kt..but as you said, maybe it has more to do with the quality of the rhodium itself.

:errrr: I tried taking a photo of the rings side by side to demonstrate, but I wasn't able to take one that showed the obvious difference that I see. I will try again tonight or tomorrow when the light is better.

Off topic but, did you receive my email?
 
Christina...|1390600783|3600590 said:
Off topic but, did you receive my email?
I didn't! I was going to poke you this weekend - let me double check... nope :nono: Resend?

//Sorry msop!
 
Yssie|1390605486|3600635 said:
Christina...|1390600783|3600590 said:
Off topic but, did you receive my email?
I didn't! I was going to poke you this weekend - let me double check... nope :nono: Resend?

//Sorry msop!

Sorry msop! I will resend...though I promised a more detailed one and haven't done it yet. :lol:
 
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