When you see a yellowish tint in your white gold jewelry, it's not because of poor quality. Instead, you see the inner layer of gold alloy under the rhodium plating. Because rhodium is applied in such a thin layer, usually only a few microns thick, it can wear off over time.
Try to avoid getting your white gold jewelry wet, soapy or dirty. Take it off before showering, swimming or splashing around in the ocean. Or you can opt for an alloy that's less yellow to begin with.
When you see a yellow sheen on your white gold jewelry, it is not the result of oxidation or another chemical reaction, meaning the metal does not actually change color. The outer layer of rhodium slowly wears away over time, eventually revealing the creamy-yellow color of un-plated white gold.
Replating a white gold ring may cost around $100-$200. But it still depends on the thickness, quality of the rhodium, and the expertise of the jeweller.
Can White Gold be Reverted to Yellow Gold? The simple answer is no. The more complicated answer is that, while it is technically possible to remove the white alloys that give white gold its color, it isn't very feasible.
Don't swim while wearing white gold as the chemicals in the water (chlorine) can react with the plating. Remove white gold items when bathing and sleeping. Keep your white gold away from other metals. For example don't wear a yellow gold ring next to a white gold ring, as the plating may rub off quicker.
Each person's experience will vary with how long it takes for the rhodium plating to wear away and need re-doing but each time you want it brought back to bright white, you will need to hand your ring back to your jeweller and they will re-polish it and plate it.
We can simply clean and polish the item and dip the item in rhodium using an electric current and make it bright white again. We usually recommend getting white gold items rhodium plated every 1-2 years.
The short answer is no. Toothpaste is not a good option for cleaning your ring. Toothpaste contains scrubbing particles to polish your teeth, but these particles are often harder than the metals in your ring, especially gold or white gold. Using toothpaste on your jewelry could cause scratches or pitting in the metal.
How Do I Replate White Gold? In order to restore the color of your white gold jewelry, you'll have to take it to a jeweler. The jeweler will polish your item, and rhodium plate it. Rhodium is a rare precious metal that does not tarnish and has a very strong, bright white color.
When you see a yellowish tint in your white gold jewelry, it's not because of poor quality. Instead, you see the inner layer of gold alloy under the rhodium plating. Because rhodium is applied in such a thin layer, usually only a few microns thick, it can wear off over time.
There's nothing you can do to "clean" the yellow away. Fortunately, getting new rhodium plating on your white gold ring is simple. Just take it to your jeweler and they'll re-plate it for you by dipping it in rhodium. If you purchased a warranty on your ring, they'll usually do it free of charge.
Anything you do that wears down the rhodium plating will cause the yellow hue to appear faster. So what you want to do is not stress the plating of rhodium. To keep your white gold white longer, take off your rings before washing your hands. Remove your white gold jewelry before you shower or go for a swim.
White gold, on the other hand, is more likely to be damaged by hand sanitizer. This is because white gold has a rhodium plating that can wear off. It's not uncommon for white gold jewellery to require replating at some point, but frequent use of hand sanitizers can speed up the wear and tarnishing.
Never use toothpaste, baking soda, or a commercial metal cleaner on gold. If you use these abrasives, you may scratch the gold.
Does Coke Clean Gold? This is a handy and maybe unexpected tip, but Coke does indeed clean gold. You can dip your gold in a small bowl of Coke and make sure that it is completely covered. Leave the gold plated jewelry in the solution for 10 minutes and then rub with a soft cloth and rinse.
Although Windex shouldn't harm any hard gemstone, we seriously recommend using this method only for diamonds, and only for platinum, gold, and silver. Windex is an ammonia solution, and harmful to soft gemstones (for example, emeralds and pearls), so using it for anything else is just too big a risk of damage.
3. How much does rhodium plating cost ? Typically the cost for rhodium plating can range from $60 – $120 for a fine engagement ring. The price may vary depending on the quality of the rhodium solution, the skill of the jeweller, turnaround time, and the finished effect.
How Much Does it Cost to Dip your Ring? At a retail store, you can expect to pay anywhere from $60 to $120 to have your ring dipped, depending on the complexity of the setting and style. But at With Clarity, ring dipping is free! We offer a lifetime warranty that covers ring replating and polishing.
Since white gold is a mixture of durable metals, it is much lower in price and more affordable than platinum." However, it's not all about up-front costs. While white gold may be more affordable to buy at first, keep in mind that it needs to be replated every five to 10 years to keep its color.
Solid Gold Jewelry
Whether it's regular gold, white gold, or rose gold, it's safe in the shower. However, it loses its shine over time due to soap scum and shampoo residue.
Over time, white gold rings tend to wear thin and you will see a “yellowish” colour start to appear. To give white gold rings their dazzling look again, they need to be re-plated with rhodium to give them their sparkle and shine back.