Why does white gold fade and yellow? It’s natural for white gold to fade, sometimes yellowing a little. White gold is a mixture of pure yellow gold & other metals resulting in a white gold alloy. This alloy still looks a little yellowish, so it’s usually covered with a thin layer of rhodium. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

But what is rhodium?

Rhodium is a silver-white precious metal that belongs to the platinum group of metals. It doesn’t oxidise and maintains a bright white appearance, giving a smooth, shiny finish to the jewellery. In a white gold diamond ring, it will really enhance the brilliance of the diamond.

How long does rhodium plating last?

It’s important to know that rhodium plating is a surface treatment and will wear off in time, revealing the underlying natural white gold colour. Its lifespan depends on the type of jewellery it’s applied to and how much friction the jewellery gets. A ring worn daily will experience alot of wear and tear and generally speaking, white gold rings need to be rhodium plated every 2 years to restore them to their elegant, reflective white finish

If you would like to speak to a member of our team about rhodium plating you can contact us here.