WG polishing and replating...

[Laila619]

I've read that you do have to polish before you can add the rhodium plating and for it to adhere well. That is what really bothers me about WG, because you're polishing away gold over the years.

 

[heididdl]

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.

exactly.............I'm a55 years young and have never had to replate or redip any of my 14k white gold .....I am so confused. I use my sonic cleaner and jewelry cloth and all my jewelry looks just beautiful. Why would you polish it , buff it maybe but polishing would take away metal......

 

[Missy]

I think it depends on your body chemistry and that is a good part of the reason some have to replate more often. I cannot wear white gold rings at all because in a couple of months they start getting a bit yellow (14K or 18K) so I stick to platinum for rings. Interestingly my platinum rings have not yet begun to patina. None of them. My white gold necklaces are still good so I guess the rings come into contact with more of my body's chemicals and that is what is causing the oxidation.

 

[TC1987]

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.

Yes, if the rhodium is in solution in the liquid, it's being continually removed from the solution and deposited onto the jewelry. The rhodium leaves the solution and goes out with the jewelry. So, if they have a weak or worn-out solution, it's not going to give the same result as having an adequate amount of rhodium in there. That would explain why you might have gotten only a thin coating, regardless of how long they left the ring in there. I don't know how to run a rhodium plating bath, but with electroplating in general, ion concentrations and electrical current voltages and also the surface condition of the piece to be plated have to be done a certain way for optimal results.

Cyanide bath: I think the one that my jeweler referred to was used for removing oxidation from the gold. Since there are health, safety, and environmental risks to handling cyanide and also waste disposal issues with the chemical soup of dissolved metals in a cyanide-containing solution, maybe they don't use it anymore. Or they only use it for some heavy oxidation, like decades worth. The piece of jewelry I am thinking of was a '20s piece that has green, yellow, and rose gold, and I had it cleaned and refurbished in the late 1980s, and they used a "cyanide bath" to strip the heavy tarnish off of it.

Google "cyanide bath for jewelry" and there's a PDF about electroplating from Preciosa.

 

[msop04]

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.

Yes, if the rhodium is in solution in the liquid, it's being continually removed from the solution and deposited onto the jewelry. The rhodium leaves the solution and goes out with the jewelry. So, if they have a weak or worn-out solution, it's not going to give the same result as having an adequate amount of rhodium in there. That would explain why you might have gotten only a thin coating, regardless of how long they left the ring in there. I don't know how to run a rhodium plating bath, but with electroplating in general, ion concentrations and electrical current voltages and also the surface condition of the piece to be plated have to be done a certain way for optimal results.

This is what I was thinking... would it be rude for me to ask my private jeweler if they use a more concentrated rhodium solution? They were the ones that told me about this, so I would imagine they wouldn't mind my asking??

 

[msop04]

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.

exactly.............I'm a55 years young and have never had to replate or redip any of my 14k white gold .....I am so confused. I use my sonic cleaner and jewelry cloth and all my jewelry looks just beautiful. Why would you polish it , buff it maybe but polishing would take away metal......

I've never had any issues with 14K either (could probably replate after 10-12 years or so, but no big deal) -- only my 18K ering! Ugh!!

 

[Andelain]

How much does it cost to get something dipped? I just got a pair of studs in YG, but think maybe I should have stuck with WG I usually get for earrings. YG looks better for my rings and pendants, not so much for my earrings.

 

[bgray]

I recently purchased a bracelet that is made of palladium white gold. They say it doesnt need dipping/replating due to that alloy. I will be curious to see how it wears.

 

[motownmama]

I'm no longer redipping my white gold. I'm cleaning in ultrasonic and with a Maas brand cleaning cloth. Maybe not as white as some you prefer, but I've decided to just be happy with the color - and it's working! I'll post some examples later......

 

[junebug17]

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?

You are definitely not being a big baby! But, since the top of the ring has remained shiny, I'm thinking maybe it's better to live with the shank being slightly off color? I wasn't aware that polishing is part of the process every time a piece is dipped, maybe it's better not to mess around with it too much - My ring is 18k with a palladium alloy, and so far still looks white and shiny, but I'm thinking I'm going to go with motownmama's comments and just live with however my ring looks overtime.

 

[Niel]

I'm no longer redipping my white gold. I'm cleaning in ultrasonic and with a Maas brand cleaning cloth. Maybe not as white as some you prefer, but I've decided to just be happy with the color - and it's working! I'll post some examples later......

There were quite a few aesthetic reasons I picked unplated white gold, but also for the reasons you guy are mentioning in this thread. I knew I was entirely too lazy to ever get it redipped. And I didn't want to watch it wear off. Plus I just want to see the gold Im paying for.

Sorry msop I have no idea why you have to do it so often. Tell your hubby that you're spending too much money on rhodium dipping, probably be more economical just to buy a bigger ring less visible metal.

 

[msop04]

Sorry msop I have no idea why you have to do it so often. Tell your hubby that you're spending too much money on rhodium dipping, probably be more economical just to buy a bigger ring less visible metal.

HA! I wish! He'd never go for a bigger ring -- even if I was actually paying for the replating, he'd say NOOOOOOO!!!!

I guess I'll try to go as long as possible until I replate -- I may have my private jeweler do the rhodium next time, too. This way, at least I'll know their "dip" is more concentrated than what DD's may be... hopefully their replating will last longer.

 

[msop04]

Thanks for all the great info, everyone!!

 

[TC1987]

Instructions for jeweler to do the plating: http://www.stuller.com/benchjeweler/resources/bencharticles/view/rhodium-plating-how-do-i-get-a-good-finish/

They suspend a piece of rhodium metal in the bath, per that. ^ The time and voltage are what deposits the rhodium on the ring "The more time in the rhodium the less volts; the less time, more volts"

So, if it's a very thin plating, then I guess the jeweler just is miserly.

 

[NICHLO]

msop04:
While on here looking for a new setting for my engagement ring (had for 13 years), I stumbled across yours. I want a halo (have a round 2.24) , but I want it to be substantial enough so it can be a "right hand ring" as I wear stackable bands on my left. Right now, I have a 3 stone ring with a 2.24 round center and sides of .44 each. While I really want a cushion cut halo, yours is the first I have seen that I like with the round diamond. My jeweler uses a CAD program and I would really like to see if he could make something like yours....I live in FL so we won't run into one another with the same ring. I LOVE your ring, but am hesitant to go that blingy because I am a very active mom of 3 and very busy etc....hence the right hand ring thoughts. Anyhow, do you have any pics that you can share that I would be able to show my jeweler of all sides etc of the setting? Yours did a fantastic job and it looks so great on your hand. Also, I can't afford platinum for this--I didn't know that white gold wears though---is this true? I have been out of the game for awhile...now that my baby is in kindergarden, I'm ready to bling out though!! Thanks for your great posts