Rhodium Plating

Learn about Rhodium Plating

Rhodium is a rare platinum-group metal prized for its exceptionally bright, reflective white finish and its resistance to tarnish and scratching. Most white gold jewelry is plated with a thin layer of rhodium at the time of manufacture to give it that crisp white appearance. Over time, this plating wears away through contact with skin, soap, and everyday friction, revealing the slightly warmer, more yellowish tone of the white gold underneath.

Replating restores that original brightness and also adds a thin layer of protection to the surface of the metal. The process involves cleaning the piece thoroughly, applying the rhodium plating via electroplating, and polishing to a finish. At Wise Family Jewelers, replating is handled in-house and is typically a quick turnaround service. If your white gold ring is starting to look more yellow or grey at the high-contact points, it is almost certainly time for replating.