Rhodium (what is rhodium) and gold

The color is the most obvious difference between rhodium and gold - gold is warm yellow, while rhodium is cold silver. Both of these metals are durable, precious, and expensive. Jewelry can be made of pure gold, just like platinum; However, rhodium is only used for electroplating other metals. Unless you want to turn your gold jewelry into silver, it is not recommended to plate it with gold in rhodium. Over time, gold will appear through rhodium. Before rhodium plating, gold is often bleached and combined with other metals to turn white.

The Price of Rhodium Against Gold

According to the market, the price of rhodium is twice or even higher than that of gold. Pure gold jewelry is more expensive than rhodium plated jewelry, but they are of high quality. Compare the price and color of a 14k gold blue topaz ring with a rhodium plated blue topaz ring.

Is it all platinum rhodium plated?

Most platinum jewelry in the commercial market is actually rhodium plated. If your "platinum" jewelry is glossy silver, it may have a layer of rhodium. If it has a light yellow hue, then it may be true platinum. But having rhodium plated platinum is also good - rhodium plating adds value and durability. You only need to prepare some maintenance to maintain the shiny reflection.

Rhodium Plating

Pure gold is not white, but slightly yellow. Plating with rhodium can remove the yellow hue. Gold of different depths is formed by alloying or combining metals. In order to manufacture platinum, nickel is often added as a bleaching agent. A layer of rhodium will protect your skin from contact with nickel in platinum.

How long can rhodium plating last?

The average time for rhodium plating is one year. Prepare to replace jewelry once a year. But the lifespan of rhodium plated jewelry depends on the frequency of friction it is subjected to. Besides, this metal is very durable. If you wear rhodium plated jewelry every day, you may need to wear it again after 6 months. But if you save your rhodium jewelry for special occasions, you can wait a few years before remaking it. The best way to determine if your rhodium jewelry needs to be replicated is to observe it. If you can see the base metal through rhodium, then it's time to remake it. When to replace the rhodium plating also depends on the type of jewelry. Rhodium plated rings will wear faster than rhodium plated necklaces, unless you wear the necklace more times than the ring.