Plating is a cosmetic of Jewelry. Without a proper plating you donot have the charm and attraction of your jewelry. Many companies ignore this fact and donot allocate enough time and budget for this step. In order to have an excellent finishing, all steps including the small ones need to be followed carefully. To start with, you need to ensure that your polishing process is done perfectly to get a nice polished surface which is ready to be plated. Plating starts with a good ultrasonic process, make sure you are using the right Ultrasonic solution, washing detergent does not give a clean surface. Then after rinsing the piece in water you need to degrease and rinse the items,there are both cold and hot solution for this step. we prefer the degreasing at 60-70 C. Then you conyinue with your plating process.
F.A.Qs ?
1. I’m mad, I was not aware that my jewelry was plated! Is it illegal to use rhodium plating over white gold jewelry and not advise the buyer about it?
No, it is not illegal to sell rhodium plated white gold without disclosing it to the customer. The best quality jewelry stores will always tell you. Some will even post small consumer signage within their display case. Often the customer does not hear the sales person’s disclosure due to the excitement of the moment.
2. After years of wear my mother’s white gold wedding band still looks great. Why didn't hers need constant re-plating like mine has? I am real tired of this.
Your mothers white gold ring probably used palladium as its only whitening alloy instead of the more common. nickel used as an alloy today. Palladium white gold is chemically stable and remains a pleasing warm “gray white” and does not require rhodium plating to remain attractive or to resist discoloration from chemical exposure.
3. I want to have a signet ring plated, will rhodium plating conceal or obscure the fine details on engraved areas or hallmarks on the ring itself?
No, the plated layer while thick enough to provide a bright finish is quite thin. Even 100 micro-inches of rhodium will not conceal surface details, including scratches, engravings, and hallmarks. Sometimes during the polishing process a zealous polisher will buff out the details and diminish the overall aesthetics of the piece.
4. A few weeks ago I had my ring re-sized and the back of the band has developed small spots on the surface of the white gold, what is going on here?
There was a very good chance that the rhodium plating bath was contaminated with some other metal such as silver or iron. They were co-deposited with the rhodium. As they oxide, tiny spots show up on the plated surface. The plating on the ring needs to be removed and re-plated onto a clean surface using a fresh plating bath.
5. I keep having to have my ring re-plated with rhodium about every six months, what can I do to have it last longer?
You need to have it plated with an adequate layer of rhodium. A minimum 30-40 micro-inches of uniform rhodium plating would provide excellent durability and would help eliminate so many frequent trips to the jewelry store. Some stores will send their jewelry items out to specialty plating shops who can provide the heavier coatings.
6. I just recently replaced my nickel based white gold ring with a new palladium white gold ring and yet I am still getting a skin rash, what is going on here?
It would appear that your new ring also contains nickel. It is quite common to combine nickel with palladium as a bleaching agent for white gold. In general, a good balance is achieved between color and workability of the metal. Be aware, just because it contains palladium does not mean that it does not contain a nickel alloy!
7. I don’t get it, my jewelry was expensive! Why is it that my jeweler won’t provide a guarantee in writing for my rhodium plated white gold ring?
Probably because of the numerous factors that determine the durability of the plating. These variables include, thickness of the rhodium, is the jewelry cast or die struck, exposure to chlorine from hot tubs, cleaning chemicals, and occupational contact with hard surfaces; all play a role in the durability of the rhodium plated jewelry.
8. I was told that the reason my rhodium wore off my bracelet so quickly is due to the perfume I wear. Is there any truth to this?
There is no doubt that exposure to chemicals can play a role in the diminished life of rhodium plating. Having said that there is much that can be done to minimize the effects of incidental contact with perfumes, soaps and chlorine. Its starts with a thick, pore free, layer of rhodium applied over a clean surface using the correct methods.
9. I want to have a yellow gold chain bracelet re-plated, how thick should the rhodium be and how long can I expect it to last?
Chains have to survive in an environment of perspiration, cologne, and constant soft abrasion of the links itching together as part of normal movement of the human body. Worn 24/7, they present one of the most significant challenges for a plated coating. You need at least 40 micro-inches of uniform rhodium; durability is 1-3 years.
10. I have had several silver jewelry items tarnish slightly despite being plated with rhodium, why did that happen?
The rhodium layer is probably too thin! The discoloring is due to the corrosive oxides that are "rising" through the microscopic pores within the rhodium's surface. This type of surface tarnish will eventually appear "yellowish” bright to the observer and is commonly found on decorative items such as jewelry chains and bracelets.
11. I am in the doghouse! The plating on my fiancé's new engagement ring has worn off. Its only been 4 months, why did it wear off so soon?
If the ring was re-sized than probably the repair area was not properly cleaned prior to re-plating or there just was not a thick enough layer of rhodium applied for adequate long term wear life. If the ring was created from a casting and not die struck, there could be porosity in the setting that caused the rhodium to wear off too soon.
12. I am confused, what are the jewelry industry standards for decorative rhodium plated finishes?
For decorative coatings, there are no formal standards for the thickness of rhodium plating. There are some recommendations depending on the type of item to be plated. However, none reflect the technical inroads made recently by the electronics industry that produce dense, bright, pore free coatings. The jewelry industry is behind
13. I have developed a skin rash from my white gold ring! Would plating it with rhodium be an option for preventing this annoying rash from occurring?
This is a tough question. If you apply a thick layer of dense, pore free rhodium plating over the entire contact surface of the ring, including the inside contours, than yes, nickel rashes can be virtually eliminated. Just bear inmind that any breach in the rhodium layer can cause re-exposure to the nickel in your white gold.
Please feel free to contact us for detail process explanation for variuos plating process including Rhodium, Palladium, Rhotanium, Gold, silver, bronze, nickel and cupper plating. In the following you will see more explanations.