We get alot of requests from our clients to "Dip" their jewelry so it will look new again. Contrary to public opinion, the jewelry is not "dipped". We must professionally apply a top coat of Rhodium to your jewelry to give it that shine it had when you first got it. Rhodium is a naturally white metal in the platinum family and works well at keeping your jewelry whiter longer and protects it from tarnishing. Eventually, with wear, the rhodium finish comes off and has to be reapplied.
Much like the clear coat on a car, the surface under the plating must be clean and meticulously polished. First the piece is inspected for defects and potential problems and these are addressed. The piece then goes through a polishing process using graduated methods and polishing compounds to bring the ring to new like condition. The jewelry is then cleaned in an ultrasonic bath and thoroughly steam cleaned. Now we can begin the plating process.
An electric current runs through the jewelry while it is in the electro cleaning bath and then it sits in an actuating bath to prepare the surface for plating. Finally it goes to the rhodium bath while an electric current is run through the piece which makes the rhodium fuse to the metal.
The cost is minimal to have this done and most often it can be done within one or two business days.
Lastly, how you wear your ring will determine how quickly the rhodium will wear off. Avoid chlorine and alcohol (like hand sanitizer) and cosmetics. Also, the alloy that your ring is made of will determine if it will yellow over time and may have to be plated more often. We are often asked if we can plate yellow rings and make them white. The answer is yes, we've done this with great success, but because it is a white plating over yellow metal, we can't guarantee how long it will last.
Much like the clear coat on a car, the surface under the plating must be clean and meticulously polished. First the piece is inspected for defects and potential problems and these are addressed. The piece then goes through a polishing process using graduated methods and polishing compounds to bring the ring to new like condition. The jewelry is then cleaned in an ultrasonic bath and thoroughly steam cleaned. Now we can begin the plating process.
An electric current runs through the jewelry while it is in the electro cleaning bath and then it sits in an actuating bath to prepare the surface for plating. Finally it goes to the rhodium bath while an electric current is run through the piece which makes the rhodium fuse to the metal.
The cost is minimal to have this done and most often it can be done within one or two business days.
Lastly, how you wear your ring will determine how quickly the rhodium will wear off. Avoid chlorine and alcohol (like hand sanitizer) and cosmetics. Also, the alloy that your ring is made of will determine if it will yellow over time and may have to be plated more often. We are often asked if we can plate yellow rings and make them white. The answer is yes, we've done this with great success, but because it is a white plating over yellow metal, we can't guarantee how long it will last.