- NEW!
by Thriftymaid on September 26th, 2009
Because gold is not white. It's plated so it will be white. The rhodium can, in time, wear and you will see the yellow color peek through. Platinum jewelry is also generally coated with rhodium.
by Merfish on September 26th, 2009
To make it brighter. To make it shine.
Rhodium plating is most often found on white gold. The term white gold is something of a misnomer. Gold is actually yellow, what jewelers call white gold today is an alloy (mixture) of gold and a white metal – usually nickel, silver, or palladium (another member of the platinum family). Metals known as white are actually more of a gray color, so white gold has a yellowish cast. The higher the karat weight, the more gold there is in the alloy, the more yellow the cast appears. Since the wearer of white gold is looking for a bright white look, a very thin layer of rhodium electroplating is used to make that jewelry shine. White gold plated with rhodium will also keep its good looks longer - rhodium will not tarnish or discolor, and since it is a harder substance, it is much less likely to get scratched.
It is important to be aware that rhodium plating does not last forever.
http://www.essortment.com/lifestyle/rhodiumplating_skvm.htm
by Anonymous on June 4th, 2009
That seem unusual to me. It's true that even gold will tarnish but I've never heard of plating 14K with anything unless it's a colored 14K gold.
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Comments
Trivia: The better police badges are also rhodium plated.
by J and B on September 26th, 2009
Thanks. Guess I'll never own one of those unless I buy at a garage sale. :)
by Thriftymaid on September 26th, 2009