Topaz dragonfly pendant problems ... advice?

[Almandine]

Hi everybody --

Longtime lurker and art deco fan unlurking here to ask a question.

I have a blue topaz dragonfly pendant that is sterling clad in rhodium. The blue topaz just sparkle and glow, and while I have many other gemstone pieces, this was my favorite. I wore it all the time. This was, as you know, a mistake, because the rhodium plating wore off the back and is soon to be flaking off everywhere else.

I have searched high and low and cannot find anyone willing to replate sterling. The (five) jewelers in my area I've visited aren't very nice about this, to be frank, and look down their noses at me when I ask for ring resizing for any of my gemstone rings set in silver or for information about replating this piece. One snorted and told me it was worth nothing and was *extremely* surprised when I told him as I was walking out that those stones were blue topaz that I really liked so I wanted to reset or replate it. (Really? But I digress.)

My question is this: so the rhodium plate has worn off, but is what's underneath sterling silver? If so, why is it so grayish? I have plenty of sterling -- love vintage turquoise too, so I know the color of it when it's unplated. (And I prefer it. Why so much rhodium plate? UGH) This is much grayer, almost like the color you see when there's coin silver. It is marked .925.

Another question: Anyone know where I can get the pendant replated? If not, I'd love to get it redone in unplated silver. I can't find any castings that aren't plated and am unsure where to find a silversmith with the skill to make it.

 

[distracts]

I would keep searching... my local jeweler will rhodium-plate sterling. I would look for someone who carries/fixes costume jewelry in addition to fine jewelry.

 

[chrono]

The grayishness is tarnish which can be easily removed with the polishing cloth for silver. The rhodium plating helps keep the tarnish off. I don't understand why it cannot be worn without plating. I wear an unplated silver bangle everyday and just the rubbing on my wrist keeps it shiny white for months.

 

[Almandine]

I tried polishing it, but it doesn't get any nicer.

When I loupe it, I can see that maybe there are pieces of rhodium still on there, so perhaps it's just that awkward stage where it isn't all the way off yet so I can't reach the silver to polish it. As I said, I have a lot of 935 unplated so I'm familiar with polishing. This is a darker color, almost a muddy gray.

Thanks for the tip about costume jewelry. I don't see anyone around here with that -- mostly mall chains and 1 silversmith -- but I will keep looking. Does anyone know of any reputable place online I could send this to? I found one place but they never call me back.

 

[Lady_Disdain]

What you are seeing is probably the nickel layer under the rhodium (this is to avoid silver contaminating the plating bath). This could be removed by polishing. However, since it is such an intricate, gem set piece, I would be afraid that getting into some of the nooks would be impossible and the integrity of the pave.

I have heard of these guys: http://www.artisanplating.com/ but I have never dealt with them.

 

[Almandine]

Ah ... a nickel layer -- that makes sense!

Those are the folks I've both emailed and called, with no response.

 

[LD]

It's late here and I'm just about to go to bed otherwise I would do this for you but just do a quick internet search because I'm pretty sure you can buy a silver plate solution fairly easily. It's a bit like a dip - HOWEVER, I'm not sure how safe it would be to dip the Topaz. Have a search and see what you come up with.

 

[periwinklegirl]

I bought my silver plating kit on Amazon. It's easy to use! You rub it on, not like electroplating.

My local jeweler happily resizes and re-plates silver. But she's a real goldsmith, not just a snotty salesperson in mall store.
I would just keep looking.

 

[Jax172]

Have you tried Daniel M on etsy? He works in silver all the time.