Plating is for walk in clients only in our Ventura, CA store.
We can recreate your jewelry in gold or silver.
Prices begin at $1,000.
Plating Jewelry
There are two types of plating processes. The first is plating over silver or costume jewelry, and begins at $145. We plate in white and yellow gold; we do not plate in rose gold.
The second plating is rhodium plating, also called "dipping," and is done over white, yellow or rose gold jewelry.
We are happy to help you in person with plating your jewelry. We are currently not accepting remote plating repairs.
Gold and silver plating services
We replate just about anything that can be plated! Exceptions include items that are very large (over about a foot in length) and items that are part nonmetal. For example, we can not plate a purse buckle if it can't be removed from the purse. Fox Fine Jewelry will plate:
- Sterling silver jewelry
- Costume, vintage and antique jewelry
- Some watch bands and watches (if the movement can be removed)
- Items with gemstones (removal and resetting may be necessary for certain gemstones)
Plating over costume jewelry
Gold plating can be done on most items, including costume jewelry, watches and sculptures. We strip off any old gold plating, polish and clean your items. Next, we remove any dents or scratches where ever possible, to give you the best results. Finally, we put on several layers of gold plating, with a curing time in between. This service can take up to three weeks. The cost begins at $145 for small items like rings and small pendants. Items like earrings, large pendants and bracelets are usually between $170 - $225, depending upon the intricacy, size and condition of the piece.
Gold plating is suitable for jewelry that will not get heavy wear or rubbing on other items. Rings and bracelets receive more contact than pendants, earrings and brooches. The plating will wear off more rapidly, exposing the metal below. We recommend that you considering remaking the item in yellow gold, especially for rings.
The old gold plating had worn off of this ring. We replated it in 18k yellow gold to look like new.
Silver plating is a misnomer. To plate in a silver color we usually plate your ring first in nickel and then in rhodium (a platinum metal), resulting in a bright white color. Each item is fully polished and refurbished. If there is existing plating, it is first removed. 
A costume jewelry lapel pin, before and after silver plating.
Rhodium plating or "dipping"jewelry
Plating in white is done with rhodium, which is a platinum metal. It is sometimes called dipping. Virtually all new white gold jewelry is rhodium plated. This is because white gold isn’t bright white. The rhodium makes the white gold bright white, shinier, and more scratch resistant. Like all plating, rhodium wears off over time, usually beginning with the areas that get touched the most. For example, the backside of rings and the tips of the prongs. Rhodium plating begins at $72 and includes cleaning, polishing, and rhodium plating.
Ring before rhodium plating (left) and after rhodium plating (right).
Plating Costs
How much it costs to plate your jewelry depends on the type of metal your item is, and how big it is.
Gold Jewelry Plating Costs (Rhodium or dipping)
Rhodium plating is $72 for most white gold rings. This includes cleaning, polishing, removing scratches, and then dipping your ring so it's bright white and shiny, like a new ring.
Rhodium plating larger gold items are by quote.
Costume Jewelry Plating Costs
We can plate sterling silver or costume jewelry white rhodium (platinum) or yellow gold. We do not offer rose gold plating. We are currently accepting plating from walk in clients only at our store in Ventura, CA.
Rings
Plating starts at $145 for small items, like rings and lightweight chains.
Pendants
Large pendants, earrings, chains, and bracelets typically cost $170-$225 to plate.
Chains
Heavy, long chains and large necklaces start at $250 to gold plate.
Watches
Gold plating watch bands and watch bezels start at $250.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does plating last?
Plating does not last forever, and it wears off when it receives contact. If you avoid sleeping with it on, showering, swimming, and going into a hot tub, your plating will last longer. Plating typically lasts longer on earrings and necklaces than rings, because rings get more contact.
How long does it take to plate my jewelry?
Sterling silver or costume jewelry: About 3 weeks.
White or yellow gold jewelry: About 2 weeks.
What colors can you plate?
White: We use bright white rhodium plating for most jewelry (a platinum metal).
Yellow: We plate in 10kt, 14kt, and 18kt. The pricing is the same for all karats of gold plating.
Rose: We do not offer rose gold plating.
What metal can you plate?
Can be plated: Gold and silver, along with brass, copper, and some steel.
Can not be plated: Soft metals like aluminum, cobalt, pewter, titanium, zinc, tin, and lead (called "pot metal"). Can not be plated: Organic materials like leather, shells and leaves.
My costume jewelry has gemstones in it. Can you plate it?
Cubic zirconia's (CZ's): If the CZ's are set with prongs, we can usually plate your jewelry. If the CZ's are glued in, then they will need to be removed before plating and replaced afterward.
Porous stones: In most cases if your jewelry has porous stones, like amber, coral, pearls, opals, turquoise, lapis,or larimar, your jewelry can not be plated.
Can you plate my watch?
We plate watch bands and watch cases. The movement and crystal must be removed before you bring it in to Fox Fine Jewelry. Seiko, Citizen, and Apple watches cannot be plated. We accept watch plating jobs in person only in our Ventura, CA store, and are not accepting plating work from remote clients.
Most vintage watches have a coating than can't be plated over. Please inquire if you have any questions.
I'm not local. Can you plate my jewelry?
We are sorry, we do not plate remote jobs. Fox Fine Jewelry is currently accepting plating jobs for walk-in clients only. Please visit us in Ventura, CA, to have your jewelry plated.
My jewelry is yellow gold. Can you dip it white? Yes, but we may not recommend it. Learn more about plating yellow gold jewelry white.
Plate your Jewelry
Ready to have your jewelry plated? Fox Fine Jewelry is here to help! We're located in Ventura, CA. At this time, we work with local plating clients only.