Rhodium is a precious metal that is a member of the platinum family. Rhodium is used on jewelry to provide a surface that will resist scratches and tarnish, and give a white, reflective appearance.
Rhodium plating is most often found on white gold and other precious metals. The term white gold is something of a misnomer. Gold is actually yellow, what jewelers call white gold today is an alloy (mixture) of gold and a white metal – usually nickel, silver, or palladium (another member of the platinum family). Metals known as white are actually more of a gray color, so white gold has a yellowish cast. The higher the karat weight, the more gold there is in the alloy, the more yellow the cast appears. Since the wearer of white gold is looking for a bright white look, a very thin layer of rhodium electroplating is used to make that jewelry shine. White gold plated with rhodium will also keep its good looks longer - rhodium will not tarnish or discolor, and since it is a harder substance, it is much less likely to get scratched.
It is important to be aware that rhodium plating does not last forever. The plating on something that takes a lot of wear, like a wedding ring, can wear away in as little as two years, while a necklace or pin that is worn less frequently or comes in less contact with your skin or the elements can keep its plating for ten or more years. You can tell when the plating is wearing away by the look of the piece; the area without the plating will show the yellowish color of the original white gold. Discoloration can also occur on the unplated areas, and in some rare instances, your skin will have a slight reddening reaction to the exposed alloy. In that case, a quick trip to the jeweler’s is all it takes to bring your piece back to life.
Sometimes, platinum or silver jewelry is rhodium-plated. In the case of platinum, it is because rhodium is a bit brighter than platinum, so it is used to enhance the shine. For silver, it is a little bit different. Silver is actually more reflective (shinier) than rhodium, but silver is also a much softer metal, and can be scratched very easily. So the owner of a rhodium-plated silver piece is trading a small bit of shine for a longer, scratch-free life.
When the plating begins to wear away from a platinum or silver piece, it will be much less noticeable–the color difference is not as great, because the metal underneath will appear to be gray, not yellowish. Silver can tarnish, but platinum won’t, and neither sterling silver nor platinum will cause a skin reaction if exposed. In this case, have the item replated when the look of it is bothersome.
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