We're sorry, but Fox Fine Jewelry's plating services are for walk in clients only. If you are not local to our store in Ventura, CA, we recommend you contact your local jeweler.
Types of plating
Rhodium Plating
Rhodium plating (or dipping) is done over yellow or white gold to make your jewelry bright white. Silver is also rhodium plated on occasion to prevent tarnishing.
Gold Plating
Yellow gold plating can be done over white gold, sterling silver, or costume jewelry in 10k, 14k, or 18k.
What is rhodium plating?
Rhodium is a white, shiny, scratch resistant metal in the platinum family that doesn't tarnish. This makes it a perfect choice for plating yellow or white gold jewelry to protect it and make it bright white. It's used most often over white gold.
White gold is yellow gold with alloys (different metals) added to it to make it white. But it is akin to adding milk to orange juice—it never gets fully white. So virtually all white gold is rhodium plated.
What's the cost?
If your jewelry is white, yellow or rose gold:
- Rhodium plating: $86 for most rings; larger items by quote
- Gold Plating: Small items (rings and small pendants) are $150; larger items are by quote, beginning at $200.
If your jewelry is silver or costume:
- Plating starts at $145 for both gold plating and rhodium plating.
- Certain metals cannot be plated; please inquire for more information.
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Can yellow gold be plated?
Yes, but if it’s a ring, we don’t recommend it. When the rhodium wears off just a tiny bit, you’ll see bright yellow underneath. It's best to remake your ring in white metal (white gold, platinum, or silver).
On the other hand, dipping yellow gold earrings or a necklace in rhodium will last much longer and may be a good choice.
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How long does it last?
Rhodium plating on rings with daily wear typically last an average of 2 - 4 years, although the length can be much shorter or longer depending on your body chemistry, contact with chemicals, and the amount of contact your ring receives.
Rhodium plating on necklaces and earrings can last for many years because of the limited number of surfaces they touch.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Rhodium is a bright white metal from the platinum family of metals, so it’s hypo-allergenic. It is brighter, shinier, and more scratch resistant than white gold. Rhodium plating is a “coat” of rhodium applied to your jewelry, and it makes a tremendous difference in how beautiful your jewelry looks!
The cost of rhodium plating varies between jewelers. Since jewelers must thoroughly clean and polish your jewelry before rhodium plating, the cost will probably be higher for larger pieces of jewelry.
The cost to rhodium plate a ring, for example, is less than having it sized. Most people are extremely happy with the result compared to the cost. For an exact quote, contact us, or visit your local jeweler.
Rhodium plating is commonly used for jewelry that is intended to be worn every day. This metal finish gives you the peace of mind that you can enjoy your jewelry without worrying about it cording or scratching with wear.
Rhodium plating is cosmetic. It makes your jewelry look beautiful! But it doesn’t change the value or make it last longer. So the frequency is up to you.
For rings worn daily, most people prefer to rhodium plate them every couple to few years.
Rhodium plating can last for many years on necklaces and earrings, because they don’t get touched much. Over years of daily wear, you may see the rhodium wearing off the back side of your pendant, for example. It’s common for people to go for many years before they have their necklaces and earrings rhodium plated.
Rhodium plating will wear off depending on the amount of contact the jewelry receives. Rhodium plating will also come off when exposed to chemicals, especially bleach. Therefore, remove your ring before:
- House cleaning or dishwashing with bleach based cleaners
- Going into a pool or hot tub
- Using hand sanitizer with chlorine
Most people can not tell if a piece has been rhodium plated, but there are a few signs.
Rhodium plating wears off over time, and more quickly on a ring, as they get touched more often than other types of jewelry. The areas of a ring that get touched the most are the tips of the prongs, and the back of the ring. If you examine these areas closely and see a bit of a different color, that is a sign that your ring was rhodium plated and it is wearing off.
You may have a white gold ring and the color is warmer and a bit off-white (similar to the photos above on this page). If this is the case, the rhodium plating on your ring has worn away, or it was never rhodium plated.
Similar to great paint job, a good rhodium plating job is all about the preparation. At Fox Fine Jewelry we begin with secure take-in procedures. In our on-site workshop, your jewelry is thoroughly cleaned. Next, using a microscope, every surface is polished. Then your jewelry is cleaned once again, and this step is crucial. If there is any particle remaining, it will affect the rhodium plating.
Rhodium plating is done in an electrically charged “bath” for a precise amount of time. It’s not easy to get this process exactly right! At Fox Fine Jewelry we’ve been rhodium plating for many decades. Contact us for rhodium plating or visit your local jeweler.
Rhodium plating will make your jewelry brighter, shinier, and more scratch resistant. But the affect in value is virtually nothing at all.
Rhodium is a member of the platinum group of metals and does not rust.
Rhodium is a bright white metal from the platinum family of metals, so it’s hypo-allergenic. It is brighter, shinier, and more scratch resistant than white gold. Rhodium plating is a “coat” of rhodium applied to your jewelry, and it makes a tremendous difference in how beautiful your jewelry looks!
The cost of rhodium plating varies between jewelers. Since jewelers must thoroughly clean and polish your jewelry before rhodium plating, the cost will probably be higher for larger pieces of jewelry.
The cost to rhodium plate a ring, for example, is less than having it sized. Most people are extremely happy with the result compared to the cost. For an exact quote, contact us, or visit your local jeweler.
Rhodium plating is commonly used for jewelry that is intended to be worn every day. This metal finish gives you the peace of mind that you can enjoy your jewelry without worrying about it cording or scratching with wear.
Rhodium plating is cosmetic. It makes your jewelry look beautiful! But it doesn’t change the value or make it last longer. So the frequency is up to you.
For rings worn daily, most people prefer to rhodium plate them every couple to few years.
Rhodium plating can last for many years on necklaces and earrings, because they don’t get touched much. Over years of daily wear, you may see the rhodium wearing off the back side of your pendant, for example. It’s common for people to go for many years before they have their necklaces and earrings rhodium plated.
Rhodium plating will wear off depending on the amount of contact the jewelry receives. Rhodium plating will also come off when exposed to chemicals, especially bleach. Therefore, remove your ring before:
- House cleaning or dishwashing with bleach based cleaners
- Going into a pool or hot tub
- Using hand sanitizer with chlorine
Most people can not tell if a piece has been rhodium plated, but there are a few signs.
Rhodium plating wears off over time, and more quickly on a ring, as they get touched more often than other types of jewelry. The areas of a ring that get touched the most are the tips of the prongs, and the back of the ring. If you examine these areas closely and see a bit of a different color, that is a sign that your ring was rhodium plated and it is wearing off.
You may have a white gold ring and the color is warmer and a bit off-white (similar to the photos above on this page). If this is the case, the rhodium plating on your ring has worn away, or it was never rhodium plated.
Similar to great paint job, a good rhodium plating job is all about the preparation. At Fox Fine Jewelry we begin with secure take-in procedures. In our on-site workshop, your jewelry is thoroughly cleaned. Next, using a microscope, every surface is polished. Then your jewelry is cleaned once again, and this step is crucial. If there is any particle remaining, it will affect the rhodium plating.
Rhodium plating is done in an electrically charged “bath” for a precise amount of time. It’s not easy to get this process exactly right! At Fox Fine Jewelry we’ve been rhodium plating for many decades. Contact us for rhodium plating or visit your local jeweler.
Rhodium plating will make your jewelry brighter, shinier, and more scratch resistant. But the affect in value is virtually nothing at all.
Rhodium is a member of the platinum group of metals and does not rust.