9 Characteristics of Rhodium Metal

 

1.High Cost

Rhodium is a rare and precious element, part of the platinum group, and one of the most expensive metals on the market. It is even more expensive than gold and platinum.

 

2.Bright Luster

Rhodium has a beautiful silver color with high reflectivity, bringing an elegant and bright luster to the overall appearance of jewelry.

 

3.Hardness

Rhodium is harder than gold and sterling silver. Rhodium plating provides protection for jewelry, enhancing the durability of the metal. However, care is still needed when handling your jewelry.

 

4.Low Allergenicity

Rhodium plating is hypoallergenic, so wearing rhodium-plated jewelry does not cause skin reactions. This is because rhodium does not contain any allergens. In fact, if you have a piece of jewelry that causes skin reactions, rhodium plating can eliminate this issue.

 

Please note that while rhodium itself does not cause any rash, the metal alloy you wear may contain allergenic components. As the rhodium layer wears off, your skin may come into contact with these metals, triggering an allergic reaction.

 

Explore: 925 Sterling Silver Collection

 

5.Reasonable Plating Thickness 

The thickness of jewelry plating should be determined based on the characteristics of the metal, and thicker is not necessarily better. For rhodium, if the plating is too thick, it may crack due to the brittleness of rhodium.

The ideal thickness for rhodium plating is less than 1.0 micrometers. Although this may sound very thin, it is considered to provide sufficient protection for rings and other jewelry exposed to rough wear.

 

6.Can Gold Be Plated with Rhodium?

Yes. Rhodium can be used on gold to change its color to white. However, remember that any object whose metal color is changed by plating, such as gold plated with rhodium (white) or silver plated with gold, will start to show the underlying color as the plating wears off. This will cause the jewelry to look discolored or yellowed. You must replate it to avoid this condition.

 

7.What is the Rhodium Plating Process?

Rhodium plating uses an electroplating process. For jewelry to be plated, it must first be thoroughly cleaned to remove all contaminants from the metal surface. If there is any dirt, grease, or dust on the workpiece, the plating will fail. After the metal object is thoroughly cleaned with distilled water or steam, professional platers immerse the object in a rhodium solution and use a positive charge to fuse rhodium onto the metal.

 

8.Why Not Make Jewelry Directly from Rhodium

Although rhodium has many advantages, its metallic properties are hard and brittle but lack ductility. This is why it is only suitable for plating. Moreover, if you were to make jewelry entirely out of rhodium, its high cost would significantly impact the price.

 

9.Does Rhodium Plating Harm Gemstones?

For hard gemstones like diamonds and corundum, the plating process generally does not affect the gemstones. However, this is a general statement, and everything still depends on the condition of the stone itself. However, care must be taken with softer gemstones. Don't worry, these risks can be well managed by adjusting the jewelry production process, such as setting the gemstones after the jewelry has been plated. Professional jewelers will make the best assessment for you.

 

Further Reading: 8 Advantages of Rhodium-Plated Silver Jewelry