Rhodium Plating Jewelry: Basics You Need to Know

Whether you’re a budding jewelry business or an established brand in the industry, you’ve undoubtedly seen and heard about?rhodium plating?on the market. But what is the deal with rhodium plating, and how can it help your business?

To help you decide, we’ve rounded up everything you need to know about rhodium plating jewelry – its composition, the plating process, and why it costs that much. We’ll also examine how rhodium plating can elevate your jewelry and business.

What Is Rhodium Plating?

Rhodium plating happens when jewelry made from gold, silver, or other metallic material is coated with a thin layer of rhodium. This layer adds durability to the jewelry, providing resistance to scratches, dents, and corrosion that extends its beauty. Additionally, as rhodium is shinier and more reflective than other metals, it also helps add a hint of glamour to your jewelry collection.

Rhodium Plating Process

Professional jewelry manufacturers like Nendine coat the jewelry with rhodium through a process called electroplating. This involves four intricate steps that ensure the rhodium coats the jewelry perfectly.

?? Step 1: Cleaning

The jeweler cleans the piece with a degreaser to eliminate any dirt or grease left from manufacturing. The piece is then rinsed, dried, and prepared for the next step.

?? Step 2: Soaking

The piece is placed into the plating liquid. This liquid contains a combination of sulfuric acid and rhodium sulfate.

?? Step 3: Electroplating

After waiting for around 30 seconds to a minute, depending on the jewelry’s details, the jeweler uses an electric current to make the rhodium stick to the piece.

?? Step 4: Rinsing

?Once the plating adheres to the jewelry, it’s rinsed off with water and dried up. Inspectors then check the piece, making sure the plating process is done up to industry standards.

Why Is Rhodium Plating So Expensive?

Rhodium plating may cost jewelry businesses an additional fee for the service. The charge is dependent on the following:

1. Quantity & Quality

The rhodium solution’s quality that will be used in the plating process influences pricing. Typically, rhodium plating goes for $25 - $100 per piece. However, thicker and heavier jewelry pieces require more rhodium for proper plating, increasing the cost.

2. Experience

A jewelry manufacturer’s talent, skill, and experience greatly affect the project’s pricing. The more seasoned the jeweler, the better results you get. Nendine’s jewelers have years of production expertise, ensuring you get the best results.

3. Turnaround Time

Rush order requests would typically charge more for prioritization.

4. Finishing

If you are looking for an extra finish on your jewelry collection, it would need more attention to detail and time for completion.

How Long Does Rhodium Plating Last?

e rhodium plating on the jewelry typically lasts?between 2-3 years. Though, the longevity of the plating depends on several factors.

• The first thing to consider is how often the jewelry is exposed to?chemicals?that can wear the layer down. The more often the exposure, the shorter its life span will be. Chlorine is one chemical that can eat away rhodium plating, along with constant exposure to perfumes and cosmetics.
• The second involves the wearer’s body chemistry. People with a more acidic skin condition tend to wear the rhodium plating layer faster than others.

One telltale?sign that rhodium plated jewelry needs maintenance?is when the material’s original shade is showing on the surface. Nendine’s time-honed rhodium plating process stays on for a long time, ensuring extended protection and luster that your customers will enjoy.??

Benefits of Rhodium Plating

With additional costs and time involved, why should jewelry businesses opt for rhodium plating for their jewelry collections? Rhodium plated jewelry brings a number of benefits to your brand, including:

?? Extra durability and longevity

The rhodium layer added to your jewelry through the plating process makes it stronger and more resilient to corrosion, scratches, and other potential damage. This covering additionally extends the lifespan of the jewelry.

?? Shiner finish

Due to its composition, rhodium has a natural shine and reflects up to 80% of light. These features, along with the existing properties of the base materials used on the jewelry, give your pieces a shinier and lusher finish that adds to their beauty.

?? Higher Product Value

A jewelry’s value relies on the quality of its design and materials used. Including rhodium plating on any jewelry showcases its quality and further highlights its intrinsic design while preserving the material quality. Rhodium plating makes your bespoke jewelry stand out even more.

Common Concerns with Rhodium Plated Jewelry

A question most people have is the?safety of wearing rhodium plated jewelry. As rhodium doesn’t contain any nickel that leads to skin reactions, it’s hypoallergenic and safe to wear. Plus, it also protects wearers from metals that may contain nickel.

Another concern about?rhodium plated jewelry?is if it will be too heavy for everyday wear. While rhodium has a durability similar to platinum, it weighs lighter than most heavy materials. As such, it won’t affect the weight of the final jewelry and is still comfortable to wear regularly.?

Pros and Cons of Rhodium Plating

As with all jewelry options, rhodium plating has its share of positives and setbacks that jewelry businesses and designers need to consider. Here’s a quick breakdown of the pros and cons of opting for rhodium plating:

Pros of Rhodium Plating

• Enhances the beauty of the final jewelry design
• Increases durability and resistance from damage
• Works with most base materials like gold, silver, and brass
• Improves the quality of the jewelry
• Hypoallergenic and non-toxic for wearers

Cons of Rhodium Plating

• Additional production costs and lead time for jewelry production
• May require periodic maintenance to keep the plated look

Rely on Nendine for Impeccable Rhodium Plating

Rhodium plating brings protection and luster to any jewelry piece and adds an elevated flair that makes them more captivating to wearers. And for jewelry brands, that translates to better brand appreciation and a boost in profit. Adding rhodium plated jewelry to your collection will surely attract more customers to your brand.

Here are some pro tips for designers who intend to develop?rhodium plated pieces of jewelry:?

Rhodium plating’s effects on diamonds and gemstones?attached to your jewelry collection is another point of concern for jewelry businesses.

• The typical rhodium plating process requires an electric current run through the metal, which binds the rhodium and coats it. Since diamonds and gemstones don’t conduct electricity, the process won’t affect these precious stones.?
• However, for softer gems like opals and pearls, additional work will be needed to protect them during the process.
• The?rhodium plating process?includes exposure to high temperatures to achieve the chemical reaction for the coating to adhere. If the softer gemstones are there, it could lead to discoloration and degradation.??
• To get the best results, have the metal part of the jewelry plated with rhodium first. Once the plating is set, that’s the best time to attach the gemstones.?

Nendine offers expert rhodium plated jewelry handled by seasoned industry experts. Our line of expertly-made rhodium plated jewelry has improved many jewelry brands' sales and will elevate yours too. Request your free quote today.?

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