QuestionWhen I purchased my daughters college ring she was wearing yellow gold. She has decided she wants to wear white gold now.Is there a way to have her ring dipped in white gold or silver plate or something so she will wear it. Thank you!
AnswerKathy, you have run right into the trend for everything to be white and not yellow. : ) Yellow is starting to make a comeback, slowly.
Yes, the ring can be made white and that means rhodium plating. The ring must be buffed and polished well first then cleaned thoroughly. Then the plating is done and the ring comes out white. Cost can run about $40 or so depending on the labor and the actual size of the ring.
If the ring has a dark patina between letters, etc., this will likely have to be replaced at additional cost.
Your best course is to call around and see what local jewelers do rhodium plating and tell them what you have. They can likely give minimum pricing on the phone. They will actually need to see the ring to give an accurate quote as to cost.
Please keep in mind: Rhodium or other plating is a temporary thing and not easily undone. That is not a contradictory statement. You see, depending on the thickness of the plate and how the ring is worn, the rhodium and the white can last 6 months or more or last less time that that. I cannot predict how long the white will endure everyday wear. Rhodium is the way to go and is the hardest and most durable plate. This is likely also the only white plate available. Rings are not plated with white gold.
The "not easily undone" means that rhodium wears off and is not removed by chemical or other methods. If not desired, the rhodium must be buffed away which essentially a accelerated wearing away of the white. Recesses may still show the white color. This is all to consider.
The process is called "electroplating" since electricity is used to deposit a surface of one metal onto an object, such as a class ring. The solution is watery and heated to about 140 f max temp. Dipping is a common term but no metals are dipped into a molten pot of anther metal to provide a nice uniform coating. The dipped item would be ruined! So, it is electro plate and rhodium plate when talking to a jeweler about the job. I hope that helps.
Best wishes with the ring. I mean that.
God Bless and Peace. Thomas. November 28,2007 7:41pm
