All About Rhodium in Jewelry

Jewelry containing at least a small particle rhodiumare very popular among most consumers. A few decades ago, getting this metal from platinum was quite problematic. However, today the situation has changed for the better, so rhodium is periodically used to create jewelry.

According to the periodic table rhodium is an element in the subgroup 8 of the 5th period group. It corresponds to atomic number 45. Translated from Greek, "rhodium" means "rose." He represents a very expensive silver-white metal. Most people know it precisely as a substance that covers expensive jewelry.

It is worth noting that in the nature of rhodium is very small. It can be found in platinum or nickel ores, gold sands mined in South America.

As for the properties of rhodium, they are as follows:

• the temperature at which this metal melts is 1964 ° C;
• hardness, measured on the Mohs scale, is 6 units;
• Rhodium is resistant to chlorine, fluorine and sulfur, which gives it an advantage even over platinum;
• Despite its rather high resistance to various mechanical damages, this metal is considered to be very fragile, which means that rhodium cannot be used in jewelry as a base material - it is usually used as a coating for expensive jewelry or jewelry.

Despite the small amount of mined rhodium, the demand for it is very large. It is used in various fields. It could be production of mirrors or sensors for measuring temperatures. But this metal is most in demand in jewelry production. So, with its help, they make special filters that help to grow crystals of precious stones in artificial conditions.

However, most often rhodium is coated with various products made of white gold, silver or platinum. After rhodium plating, jewelry becomes not only beautiful, but also more shiny. The resulting product can have different shades: it is white, and even black. As for the latter, with the help of black rhodium plating, the craftsmen artificially age their creations. This color will enhance the luster of stones such as sapphires or diamonds.

If there is a coating of rhodium, all jewelry will be additionally marked:

• silverware is labeled as rhodium silver jewelry;
• black rhodium-plated gold jewelry is marked black rhodium gold;
• white gold items that have a 375 assay are labeled as rhodium plated white gold.

To learn a little more about what rhodium is useful or harmful, you need to familiarize yourself with its pros and cons.

First of all, such a metal used to protect the finished jewelry from wear for several decades, and also give them shine and beauty. After all, if this is not done, then after some time, the products will fade and will not look as aesthetically pleasing as before.

In addition, rhodium makes jewelry durable and resistant to any mechanical stress. Rhodium-plated products are excellent Suitable for people allergic to silver or gold. They are absolutely harmless.

As for the shortcomings, there are very few of them. First of all, it is worth noting the effect of time on rhodium-plated jewelry. After a certain period of time, it will be erased or simply cracked - it all depends on the thickness of the layer, as well as the wearing conditions of such products. However, many, in order not to make additional purchases, simply re-cover.

In addition, if a person wants to sell his jewelry, then the integrity of the coating will need to be violated. Indeed, only in this way can they be fully evaluated. Another drawback is high cost both rhodium technology and rhodium mining. Accordingly, the price of jewelry is quite high.

This process is the application of a very thin layer of rhodium to the decoration surface. Most often, its thickness does not exceed 0.25 microns. To make a plating, the masters follow simple instructions.

1. To begin with, the jewelry is ground and then polished until the surface becomes perfectly smooth.
2. The next step is to thoroughly rinse, dry, and then degrease the products.
3. After that, they are carefully placed in a galvanic bath in which there is a special solution.
4. Further, an electric current is passed through this solution. As a result, rhodium is released. After a certain period of time, the products begin to become covered with a thin layer of this unusually beautiful and expensive metal. Its thickness depends entirely on the time spent on the process, as well as on what intensity the current discharge will be.

After a certain period of time, the rhodium coating is erased. This is especially noticeable in those places where the product touches the skin of a person. The same applies to chains or bracelets, in which the links are constantly in contact with each other. As mentioned above, the wearing time of such products depends entirely on the thickness of the rhodium-plated layer. In the event that the coating is made with high quality, even with daily use, the decoration can last a long time. For example, rings - about 5 years, earrings - about 10 years, bracelets and chains - about 4 years.

But even when it is partially or completely erased, it can be upgrade at any jewelry workshop, which is in the city. The cost of such a service will depend on the amount of coverage and how noticeable the changes are.

To slightly delay the moment you go to a jeweler, you need to know how to properly care for your purchased accessories.

1. It is necessary to store such jewelry in a casket, also separate from other products. It is very important that they do not come into contact with each other. A box in which there are several compartments is best suited for storage.
2. It is worth trying to avoid any contact of jewelry with household chemicals. Therefore, it is best to remove them before starting cleaning.
3. They must also be removed before going to the gym, pool or sauna. It is advisable to do this before bedtime.
4. Jewelry with rhodium-plated should not come into contact with makeup and makeup. Therefore, before applying the cream to the hands, the ring must be removed. You can put it back on only when the cream has completely absorbed into the skin.
5. Do not use a product such as toothpaste or toothpaste to clean products. as they can destroy the rhodium coating layer. To clean it, just wash the jewelry in warm water, and then wipe it with a special “jewelry” napkin. At the end, the product must be polished.
6. Once every 5 years you need to go to a jewelry workshop, to ensure the safety of the coating. If necessary, the coating must be adjusted.

Jewelry using rhodium will appeal to everyone, without exception. In addition, caring for them is as simple as using ordinary jewelry made of precious metals. The only drawback is that due to the rarity of this material, products with such a coating are quite expensive.

About rhodium jewelry see below.