Rhodium Plating
Kirkcaldy's one-hour workshop service
Rhodium Plating
If you own a white gold ring, whether you bought it from us or anywhere else, there's something you may not have been told: at some point it will need rhodium plating.
The honest truth about white gold
Almost every white gold ring leaves the jeweller with a coat of rhodium on top. That coating is what gives it the bright, mirror-white shine you fell in love with. With everyday wear it slowly rubs away, and the warmer, slightly yellow or grey colour of the gold underneath starts to show through.
It's completely normal and it doesn't mean anything is wrong with your ring. It's simply how white gold works. Most jewellers don't mention it when you buy, but we'd rather you knew from day one.
Only at Eloise
First rhodium plating FREE
when you buy a white gold ring from Eloise. When it starts to lose its shine, bring it back and Hayley will replate it on us.
What is rhodium?
Rhodium is a rare, bright white metal from the platinum family. It's highly reflective and resists scratches and tarnish, which is why jewellers electroplate a layer of it over white gold. It also makes diamonds look whiter and brighter.
Why does white gold need it?
Pure gold is always yellow. White gold is made by mixing gold with white metals, which lightens the colour but never makes it truly white. Left unplated, most white gold has a soft pale yellow or greyish tone. Rhodium plating covers this with a crisp, bright white finish.
Is my ring due a replate?
Look out for any of these signs
It looks warmer or slightly yellow, especially on the underside of the band
Patches look dull or grey rather than bright and shiny
Your diamonds don't seem to sparkle as much as they used to
It looks a different shade to a newer ring you wear beside it
How often does it need doing?
We recommend replating every 1 to 3 years. Rings wear faster than any other jewellery because our hands are always busy. Daily wear, hand washing, cleaning products and frequent hand sanitiser use all speed things up.
To help your plating last longer
Take your rings off for cleaning, gardening, the gym and swimming
Put hand cream and sanitiser on before your rings, and let it dry
Store rings separately so they don't rub against each other
Pop in for a replate as soon as you notice a change in colour
Our one-hour rhodium plating service
Our jeweller Hayley rhodium plates rings on-site in our Kirkcaldy workshop in just one hour, Tuesday to Saturday. No appointment is needed, simply call ahead on 01592 646340 to make sure a jeweller is available.
Before plating, Hayley checks your stones are secure and lets you know about any risks, then cleans your ring and gives it a fresh coat of rhodium.
Want to see it in action?
Watch Hayley transform some white gold rings on our Facebook page
How much does it cost?
Two-tone rings are an extra £10, as the jeweller has to mask off the coloured gold to protect it. White gold earrings, pendants and bangles are quoted individually.
Can you rhodium plate yellow gold?
Yes. If you prefer a white metal but fall for a yellow gold ring, rhodium plating can give it a bright white finish. The plating doesn't wear any faster on yellow gold, but the richer colour underneath can make wear more noticeable.
Good to know
We generally don't rhodium plate chains, as the process is intricate and time-consuming and can still leave an uneven finish.
Our workshop will check the security of any stones and make you aware of any risks first. If a stone comes loose during cleaning, we can re-set it for an additional charge.