If you have a white gold ring, then when you bought it, it was probably plated with rhodium.
This is because, even when you mix gold with ‘white’ metals like silver or palladium, it's still a bit yellow. Rhodium is a very white metal, so plating a ‘white’ gold ring with rhodium makes it look brighter and ‘whiter’.
Depending on how long you've had the ring and how much wear and tear your ring gets, it might still be rhodium-plated or the plating might have worn away. There are some areas of rings that get more wear and tear than others, so you might notice some yellower patches where the plating has worn away.
This is totally normal, and it doesn't affect your ring in any other way than it looks yellower wear the plating has worn off.
When we resize a ring or do any other sort of repair, we either cut through or sand a ring, which removes the plating, so we have to re-plate. The process to replate a ring is quick and easy and we can do this in our workshop while you wait. If you are having your ring resized with us, we will ask if you would like your ring replated after sizing at an extra cost of £25
If you would like to book your ring in for a clean, polish and rhodium plate, please follow this link.
Rhodium plating FAQ’s
Are all white gold rings rhodium-plated?
Not all white gold rings are rhodium-plated, but a high percentage are. There are no figures available, but I would estimate that at least 90% of white gold rings are rhodium-plated. 5-10 years ago I would have put this figure even higher, but in that time higher palladium content alloys have become more popular. These ‘whiter’ gold alloys mean there is less need for plating, though when new, these rings are often still plated. It is less noticeable when the plating wears off as the metal underneath is less yellow than more traditional white gold alloys.
Also, some people like the natural colour of ‘white gold’ often described as being champagne-like like and choose not to have their rings rhodium-plated as a matter of taste.
What is rhodium?
Rhodium is an element, Rh on the periodic table and is a very rare, silver/white coloured metal. Is it considerably rarer and more expensive than gold and platinum. It is a ‘platinum group’ metal and as well as jewellery it is used in catalytic converters which account for about 80% of global demand.
What is white gold?
When gold comes out of the ground, it is gold coloured and to make ‘white gold’ we mix it with silver coloured metals like silver and palladium to change its colour. Rose gold is gold mixed with copper, so it's more red, and yellow gold is the closest to what gold looks like when it is freshly mined.
There are different purities of white gold, just like there are with yellow and rose gold. The gold content is the same, but the other mixtures in the alloy are what change to give it its colour.
9ct white gold - 37.5% pure gold
14ct white gold - 58.5% pure gold
18ct white gold - 75% pure gold
There can also be specific alloys, such as high palladium content white gold, which makes the metal look less yellow. As palladium is a very valuable metal on its own, white gold alloys with more palladium in cost more.
How much does rodhoum plating cost?
To have something rhodium-plated it generally costs from £25-£50, depending on what the item is. Large items like heavy chains, pendants or bracelets could cost a lot more.
How does rhodium plating work?
The process of rhodium plating is an electroplating process using an anode and a cathode. A current runs through a rhodium solution, and the atoms are attracted to the piece. For the process to work properly, the item must be very clean and have been in a degreasing solution before going into the rhodium solution. Gently moving the piece while it is in the solution helps it to plate evenly.