Rhodium plating

Rhodium is a precious metal that belongs to the platinum group. It also includes platinum itself, palladium, ruthenium, iridium and osmium.

Rhodium was discovered in 1803 by the English scientist William Wollaston. This specialist is known to us for the fact that it was he who first began to make small diamonds of high quality from large stones with defects, and was also able to extract platinum from the ore.

PRICES FOR RODIUM

Everyone knows very well that precious metals cannot be cheap. And since rhodium also belongs to this category, the price per gram of metal, which is also quite rare, is also quite high.

Until November 2008, the cost of rhodium rose inexorably, reaching its shocking critical level of $ 10,100 per troy ounce (about 31.5 grams), after which it collapsed to $ 900. As of April 8, 2015, the price of rhodium is $ 37.13 per gram, which is not cheap at all.

Also, according to the latest data in 2021, the price of raw materials has increased significantly.

Silver + 41%; Rhodium + 200% (which is by far the most expensive raw material in the world). Palladium, gold and platinum are up over 20%.

Why, then, isn't rhodium used as a base metal in jewelry?

The reason is the fragility of this metal. At the same time, it has an amazing resistance to wear and damage, and compared to platinum, it is much harder. And jewelers have found an excellent use for it, offering the world rhodium-plated jewelry.

WHY DO YOU NEED RODIUM COATING?

Platinum and white gold are often coated with rhodium. This gives the products their brightness and protects them from damage. It should be noted that a separate metal called "white gold" does not exist in nature. White gold is called an alloy of gold with any white metal - palladium, silver or nickel. The alloy turns out with a yellowish tint, which somehow does not match the name. And the higher the sample of the material, the brighter the yellowness. Therefore, in order to give a beautiful color and shine to jewelry, they are rhodium-plated - they are plated with rhodium of jewelry.

This procedure has a positive effect not only on the appearance of the product, but also on its durability. Rhodium plating has a protective function, as this metal does not tarnish over time and does not lose its color. Rhodium is less prone to scratching than gold, and a product with such a coating may not deteriorate for a long time, even with daily wear. But this procedure is popular not only for white gold - rhodium-plated silver retains its shine much longer, does not turn black so quickly.

PROS AND CONS OF RODING

Learning more and more about this expensive and rare metal, in the end, one cannot help but wonder whether rhodium is harmful to health or is it not? We hasten to reassure you: rhodium cannot do any harm to health. Including rhodium-plated jewelry or jewelry. Moreover, for those who wish to wear jewelry made of silver or gold, but are prone to allergies to these metals, rhodium can come to the rescue, because this metal is completely hypoallergenic.

The disadvantages of rhodium plating include the fact that it is a temporary measure. Even rhodium can wear off over time and requires a second procedure. It is difficult to determine exactly how long the effect will last. It depends, first of all, on the thickness of the coating and on the frequency of wearing the product (from contact with other products and leather, the metal is erased).

When shopping for platinum, silver, or gold jewelry, be sure to check if it is rhodium-plated. Although this can significantly increase the cost of the product, it is still more profitable to purchase it already with a protective layer than to restore the faded jewelry later.