Rhodium Plating on White Gold Setting with Rose Gold Inside

[rstyle]

Hi guys,

So I am at the stage to make the setting choice. The one I am looking at is this Verragio setting with white gold outside and rose gold inside. It looks great but then I start to wonder if this type of ring could be replated in the future should they need to be. Would it cause trouble since the Rose Gold part could potentially get replated as well? Anyone with similar rings please jump in!

Also, Verragio owners, if you purchased your setting online (in my case, it would be through WF), would your local Verragio dealer honor your warranty? Your help is much appreciated!

http://www.verragio.com/Verragio-Engagement-Rings/Classic-Engagement-Rings/Classic-903R6-TT?slide

 

[lovemybling]

Re: Rhodium Plating on White Gold Setting with Rose Gold Ins

HI
I don't have a Verragio ring but as you can see I have a two tone Mark Silverstein ring. I have had to have it replated, at least once a year, since I eat through rhodium. It is no problem for it to be done. I have no idea though if you need to have it done by an authorized dealer or not. I know that most bench workers should be able to do it. Though I would say I wish I had known about how often I would need to have it done. For me the cost between the white gold and the platinum was a few hundred dollars at the time I wish I had gone with platinum. I prefer the weight of it and not having to have it related.

Hope this helps

 

[rstyle]

Re: Rhodium Plating on White Gold Setting with Rose Gold Ins

Thank you so much! It really seems like the need for replating varies by people. Some say every 5 yrs while others like you need to redo it quite often. Good to know that replating such kind of ring would not cause a big problem but I would need to seriously consider whether to go with White Gold or not.

 

[denverappraiser]

Re: Rhodium Plating on White Gold Setting with Rose Gold Ins

Here's a jewelers secret:

The supply houses sell a plating resist solution to do two tone plating but it's not actually necessary. Standard fingernail polish is both better and cheaper, as well as coming with it's own handy brush. Pick a color that shows off easily against gold, like candy apple red, and paint whatever you DON'T want plated. Then plate the whole piece. When it's done, soak it in acetone or nail polish remover. Easy peasy.

 

[rstyle]

Re: Rhodium Plating on White Gold Setting with Rose Gold Ins

wow, can't believe such job on a precious metal is done with nail polish. Thanks for sharing.

 

[VRBeauty]

Re: Rhodium Plating on White Gold Setting with Rose Gold Ins

Here's a jewelers secret:

The supply houses sell a plating resist solution to do two tone plating but it's not actually necessary. Standard fingernail polish is both better and cheaper, as well as coming with it's own handy brush. Pick a color that shows off easily against gold, like candy apple red, and paint whatever you DON'T want plated. Then plate the whole piece. When it's done, soak it in acetone or nail polish remover. Easy peasy.

Neil I'm trying to read between the lines here - are you saying there's an easy (read less expensive) way and a more difficult (read more expensive) way to do rhodium plating, and if you use a resist, such as this nail polish trick, the jeweler can use the easier method? Or that if we do the nail polish resist ourselves, the re-plate should cost less?

 

[VRBeauty]

Re: Rhodium Plating on White Gold Setting with Rose Gold Ins

Bump!

 

[denverappraiser]

Re: Rhodium Plating on White Gold Setting with Rose Gold Ins

Theoretically you could do it yourself but it's trickier than it seems. For starters, rhodium plating solution is poisonous as hell and deserves serious respect. It's also a tad expensive, easy to contaminate, and the underlying polish takes some practice. Plating doesn't hide scratches, it just makes them white. I mention the technique only because I thought people would find it interesting. Most jewelers I know charge about the same for 2-tone as 1-tone unless it's a super complicated piece but it's really just a matter of labor. Nail polish is cheap but time usually isn't.

If you've ever made Ukrainian Easter eggs, it's the same idea.

 

[VRBeauty]

Re: Rhodium Plating on White Gold Setting with Rose Gold Ins

Thanks for the explanation, Neil!