Even though rhodium plating is used commonly in jewelry, most don’t know what it is or why it’s used. Because of this, it’s not common knowledge that rhodium plating needs to be replaced every so often to keep your jewelry looking as beautiful as it did on the day you purchased it. Read on to learn more about rhodium plating, why it needs to be replaced, and how often you should have it replaced.

What Is Rhodium Plating?

Rhodium is a platinum group metal that is predominantly used as an alloy to harden other metals. It is highly resistant to corrosion, and it provides an extremely reflective surface. Because of this, it is commonly used as plating or covering for jewelry and instruments. 

All 14k and 18k white gold is composed of gold mixed with another alloy to give it a near platinum white hue, though gold alloys have a yellowish tint due to the strong nature of gold’s color. Because of this, jewelry made with this gold alloy mixture is often coated, or “dipped,” with rhodium plating. This process gives it the sparkling white appearance that white gold is known for. It also increases the hardness of your jewelry, making it more resistant to abrasions and damage. 

Rhodium plating can also be applied to silver and platinum jewelry. In these cases, it exists to help prevent damage and tarnishing from everyday wear and tear. 

What Is The Lifespan Of The Rhodium Plating On Your Jewelry?

The process of plating a piece of jewelry means coating in an extremely thin layer of rhodium, only a few microns thick. Because this layer is so thin, it is easily subject to being worn off after exposure to:

• Occupational and lifestyle wear
• Excessive sweat
• Individual body chemistry
•  Chlorine
• Strong household cleaning chemicals
• Excessive abrasion

All of these things can shorten the lifespan of your rhodium plating, which normally lasts between 12 and 18 months before it becomes noticeably diminished. How long rhodium plating lasts also depends on the type of jewelry it has been applied to. Pieces like earrings that don’t see much rubbing or abrasion will last longer than rings or bracelets. The wearing away of rhodium plating can leave your jewelry looking tarnished and, in the case of white gold pieces, yellowed in places, just as it did before being plated initially. 

Replacing The Rhodium Plating

Fortunately, applying a fresh coating of rhodium to your jewelry is something that most jewelers can do for you. The process is quick, taking around 90 minutes to complete. First, the jewelry is cleaned thoroughly to ensure that bits of dirt or particulate don’t interfere with the rhodium bonding process. Some jewelers will even use an electrocleaning process to be truly certain that the jewelry is free from anything that could stop the rhodium from attaching when it is applied.  

Extending The Life Of Your Rhodium Plating

So, how can you ensure that your jewelry maintains that beautiful white shine? By taking the best possible care of your jewelry that you can. Because the rhodium layer is most often worn away by rubbing, avoid situations where your jewelry can be abraded. This is most common in occupations that involve frequent hand washing, such as the healthcare and culinary industries.  Remove rings and bracelets while at work to prevent damage to the plating of your jewelry.

If you plan to do any heavy cleaning using harsh products, prevent your jewelry from coming into contact with these products. Remove it entirely, or wear thick gloves if necessary. 

Cologne, perfume, deodorants, and some soaps have compounds that can slowly weaken the rhodium plating on your jewelry. You should not wear your jewelry in the shower in general, but especially avoid doing so if the jewelry is rhodium plated.