Solid rhodium jewelry

[wingnut]

What are the pros and cons of using solid rhodium or some rhodium/platinum alloy for jewelry, specifically engagement rings? Who can melt down and refine rhodium for custom jewelry?

 

[boonerings]

One major con would be the price of rhodium. It maxed out at around $10,400 per ounce. It''s somewhere around $4200/ounce now. Compare that to platinum at $1200 or palladium at $250. They all look fairly similar, so someone off the street won''t know the difference.

 

[wingnut]

I know my question seems like an odd one, seeing that the appearance of rhodium and platinum is so similar. But I am not concerned about cost because I have a piece of scrap rhodium (probably an alloy) from a laboratory instrument. I want to design a custom engagement ring for my girlfriend and I am wondering if it is even worth finding someone to refine the rhodium I have. Is it too much trouble to work with? What are its properties? I have read some of the physics mumbo-jumbo about it, but are there any jewelers, goldsmiths, platinumsmiths out there who have experience working with rhodium (aside from electroplating)? Any info would be very helpful.

 

[oldmancoyote]

The little I know of rhodium comes from another area - glass fibre manufacturing. It''s used in dies for glass fibre extrusion because it gives very good thermal stability, lower friction and greater hardness to the platinum-based dies. All of which makes me think that it''s probably a pain in the neck to work with in its pure state.

 

[PawnShopHustler]

This is the email I got back on the 16th from American Elements (they make rare metal rings):

Hello Ms. ------,


Thank you for your recent inquiry. I am writing on behalf of our person who
typically handles our rare-earth requests as they are out of town at a
conference this week. I will pass your request along and we should be in
touch with more details early next week.

In the meantime, please don't hesitate to contact me directly with any
additional questions or comments you may have.

I appreciate your patience,
Laura


Laura J. Dengel
American Elements
[email protected]
T: 310-208-7071
F: 310-564-1929