Learning how to maintain your jewellery is essential, and this is no less true when it comes to maintaining plated jewellery. Here are some tips to follow.
White gold as a metal (whether 9ct/14ct/18ct) is not white when it is mined. The gold is yellow gold alloyed (mixed) with other white metals like rhodium/platinum to get the whiter colour. It means that the item may be rhodium or nickel-plated to achieve the shiny silver-white color of the jewelry piece. It is standard practice worldwide for all white gold jewellery and is easy to maintain.
Everyday Wear
When wearing white gold, avoid spraying perfume or harsh chemicals like hand sanitisers and bleach, as this will wear through the plating sooner. Clean your jewellery by using regular household dishwashing liquid and hot water.
On average, if you wear a white gold ring every day, you only need to replate it after one to two years. Especially if not exposed to harsh chemicals. People with very high acidity levels in their skin will also need to replate their items more often. Items like earrings, pendants, and bracelets that have less contact with the skin will last for many years before replating. If you resize or repair your white gold item, it will need to go through a replace process.
To avoid your sterling silver from becoming tarnished when exposed to oxygen, you can plate it. It will increase the price of the sterling silver item. In addition, you can plate your rose gold to get a consistent pinkish/reddish color, so the same maintenance above applies.
Platinum is a pure, unalloyed metal and, as such, does not require rhodium or nickel plating. Platinum may turn greyish over time, and it simply needs a proper polish to look brand new. You can book it into Night Sky or any reputable jeweller worldwide.
If you’d like to find out more about maintaining plated jewellery or if you’d like to get your jewellery replated or polished, please fill in a contact form.
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