Rhodium plating a ring – how to restore the brilliant shine of white gold

Has your white gold ring lost its original luster? Has its surface become greyish or even yellowish with use? This is completely normal: the rhodium plating on white gold rings naturally wears off over the years, revealing the underlying shade of the white gold alloy.

Rhodium plating a ring restores its light and mirror-like brilliant surface, making the ring as good as new. During servicing, the ring is also professionally cleaned and polished. Welcome to Kulta-Aika stores in Kamppi, Helsinki, or Tammisto, Vantaa – leave your jewelry in the care of our skilled goldsmiths.

Cost and duration of rhodium plating a ring

The cost of rhodium plating a ring is usually 60–75 euros. The final price depends on the ring's style and the surface area to be plated. The price always includes thorough cleaning and mechanical polishing of the ring at the goldsmith's workbench. At Kulta-Aika, we always provide a free and accurate price estimate before starting the service.

Typically, rhodium plating is completed within 3–5 business days. If the service involves a separate price estimate, the delivery time may extend by a few business days. After the service, you can pick up your renewed ring from your chosen store.

What does rhodium plating a ring mean?

Rhodium plating is a process where jewelry is coated with rhodium. Rhodium is a very valuable and hard white metal belonging to the platinum group. The coating makes the surface of the jewelry exceptionally shiny and light. Since the natural color of white gold alloy is often dark grey or yellowish, rhodium plating is essential to achieve a beautiful light shade. Especially in diamond jewelry, the bright rhodium surface beautifully enhances the sparkle of diamonds.

Why does rhodium plating wear off?

Rhodium plating is a surface treatment only microns thick, which wears off with use due to mechanical abrasion. Rings are more exposed to wear than other jewelry, for example, during gym workouts or household chores. We recommend renewing the rhodium plating approximately every 2–3 years to keep the jewelry presentable.

At Kulta-Aika, we use high-quality palladium white gold, which has a beautiful grey tone and does not cause nickel allergies. Lower-quality nickel-containing alloys, when exposed, can cause skin irritation, which is why regular maintenance and correct materials are important.

Cleaning and maintaining white gold at home

Cleaning your white gold ring at home helps maintain its shine between services. You can soak jewelry in mild dish soap water to remove grease and dirt. Gently clean the jewelry with a soft toothbrush, rinse thoroughly with plenty of water, and dry carefully. Diamond rings should be cleaned a few times a month so that the stone can sparkle brightly. We also offer professional gold cleaning cloths and liquids for home use.

Ring polishing by a goldsmith

Home cleaning is not always enough to remove scratches accumulated with use. Polishing a ring by a goldsmith removes surface scratches and costs approximately 20 euros as a separate service. Regular maintenance and professional cleaning with an ultrasonic cleaner ensure that dirt does not damage settings or cause allergic reactions.