How To Clean Rhodium Plated Jewelry
Rhodium plated jewelry is one of the most common in fashion jewelry types now-a-days. The main problem almost every rhodium plated jewelry owner runs into is the proper care and cleaning stuff for this delicate material.
In this article we will cover all the topics such as is Rhodium plated jewelry good, does it tarnish, can rhodium plated jewelry get wet and can you wear it while showering etc.
What is Rhodium Plated Jewelry
Rhodium plated jewelry is a jewelry having rhodium plated over a base metal like silver or white gold. In this way it acts as a sealant and adds extra shine to base metals addressing problems like tarnishing specifically in the case of silver.
Though it is not your very common type of jewelry plating, it’s still high in demand and fashion.
Does Rhodium Plated Tarnish
No, rhodium plating does not tarnish. Common metals subjected to tarnishing are silver, copper and alloys containing any of these. However, it must be kept in notes that if rhodium plating is done on silver or copper, it will get tarnished in case plating wears off.
That’s why it is always better to know how to remove tarnishing from brass, copper or silver.
Can You Wear Rhodium Plated Jewelry in the Shower
Yes you can shower or wash your hands with rhodium plated jewelry but prolonged usage will ultimately lead to faster wearing off. Soaps, shampoos and detergents contain strong chemicals which will ultimately tear off rhodium plating from the top exposing the base metal. It is necessary to take special care in case of plated jewelry.
How Long Does Rhodium Plating Last
To be true, nobody can give you an exact time for which your rhodium plating is going to last. This time depends on your daily usage and how you save your jewelry from external factors like scratching, sweating and dirt.
On average, it can last anywhere from 8 months to 1.5 years if maintained well. In case you can’t maintain it , it is going to last about 3 months. Luckily there are many jewelry brands offering free rhodium plating every 3 months. So, you basically get your rhodium plating for free.
Why Should You Have Rhodium Plated Jewelry
Usually when we think of plated jewelry, the most common metal comes to our mind in Gold plating. But since gold plating is only available in yellow, there might be some people interested in other types of plating. One of the those types of plating is rhodium plated jewelry.
Rhodium is a very white platinum like element with a high shine. Sometimes silver jewelry is plated with rhodium to make it less exposed to tarnishing and appear more shinier. White gold is also often plated with rhodium to have a more whitish and shinier as white gold is never really pure white.
Despite the fact that rhodium is quite an expensive element, rhodium plating is relatively inexpensive as a microscopic layer of the element is used in the process. On an average it will cost you around $50 to $70 per ring depending on the market price of rhodium.
This can be a con for some people but it saves you from a lot of maintenance hectic in case of silver.
Cleaning Rhodium Plated Jewelry
Since rhodium plated jewelry will never show any signs of corrosion or tarnishing unless plating wears off, the only thing you need is some basic soap cleaning. Any gentle mild soap of a good brand can be used for this purpose.
Step by step guide for restoring your rhodium plated jewelry is:
1. Take a gentle warm bowl of water and add some mild soap to get enough foam.
2. Dip in your rhodium plated jewelry for 5 minutes and after that start rubbing it gently with a tooth brush. Note that tooth brush should be specific for this purpose or it can damage your jewelry.
3. Do not add any other chemicals such as baking soda or detergent. These chemicals are highly reactive and can remove plating layer.
4. Once all dirt is removed, take out your jewelry and wipe off all water.
Precautions to be Taken:
- Do not put jewelry for more than 5 minutes in the water.
- Do not use highly reactive chemicals.
- Always use soft cloth such as velvet for final cleaning.
- Avoid tissue paper or paper towels as they may cause scratches.
- Always use a dedicated tooth brush for cleaning.
- Do the final cleaning as soon as possible to avoid water stains.
How To Care For Rhodium Plated Jewelry
Rhodium plated jewelry also demands some level of jewelry care when purchased. Here are some jewelry care instructions for your rhodium plated jewelry.
- Make certain that you keep your rhodium-plated earrings in a smooth pouch or a lined ring field to shield them from scratches.
- Ensure that you do not keep many portions together so that they no longer tangle or scratch each other up.
- Save your jewelry from moisture at all costs.
- It is best to remove jewelry while doing contact sports, swim, cleaning house or washing dishes.
- Use silica gel packets to absorb any extra moisture in storage box.
- Use anti-tarnish strips in the jewelry storage box.
- Visit your jeweler every 3 to 6 months for jewelry check-up.
When Should You Clean your Rhodium Plated Jewelry
If you’re a regular user of rhodium plated jewelry, cleaning your jewelry after every 1 to 2 months becomes necessary. Including this, there are multiple signs which indicate that your jewelry is in need of cleaning.
1. Poor Appearances
The only time you are required to clean your jewelry is when it loses its shine which implies the presence of diamonds. They will alarm you when it becomes necessary. It is actually because they serve as signals; they help us to know if we need to wash them.
2. Glimmed Sparkle
Jewelry stones such as diamond, emerald or diamond dust can appear glimmed if they are dirty or oiled. For example, diamond brilliance is diminished when smeared with mud while most other stones have minerals like talc in them which act as lubricants making cleaning necessary when luster fades so one should clean his/her jewelry cases frogs included.
3. Skin Irritation
Uncleaned jewelry can also cause skin irritation or allergies is some cases as bacteria and dirt collectively lead to itching and rashes. Skin irritation can also be caused by using certain metals your skin is not used to.
Alternatives to Rhodium Plating Jewelry
Rhodium plating is known for its brilliant white color but it can be expensive as rhodium is a rare and expensive metal. Some of the alternates of this white metal are:
Common Questions About Rhodium Plated Jewelry
Using toothpaste to clean rhodium-plated jewelry is a good idea?
Toothpaste is abrasive, which is not great for gentle rhodium plates because it causes scratches on it. It will be better to stick with just mild soap as well as water.
Is Rhodium Hypoallergenic?
Rhodium is hypoallergenic. It means that it can be worn by people with sensitive skin without any problem. An important thing to consider here that some rhodium plating contain nickel as well as a part of impurity. Make sure that your rhodium plating does not contain nickel.
Is Rhodium Magnetic?
Rhodium is not strongly attracted towards a magnetic field just like other expensive metals like gold, platinum etc.
Can ultrasonic cleaners be used safely on rhodium-plated jewelry?
Never. They can harm rhodium plating. Just use manual delicate cleaning methods for keeping intact the beauty of rhodium plating.
Is it viable to ease rhodium-plated earrings with vinegar or lemon juice?
No, you can not do this because vinegar and lemon juice are acidic and can corrode the rhodium plating.” Just use water and cleaning soap.”
Conclusion
Rhodium is one of those metals which require minimal care and maintenance. Cleaning of rhodium plated jewelry is quite an easy task to do compared to cleaning of copper or brass metals. For cleaning, simply use gentle soap together with some hot water to eliminate any dust particles or grease without damaging its thin layering while gently brushing them by a toothbrush before rinsing.
Therefore with a few instructions provided above if you can handle rhodium-plated jewelry properly then you would never go out without looking stunning.