Rhodium is a silvery-white precious metal and a member of the platinum family. It is the material most often used to plate jewelry because of its highly-reflective finish, hardness, and corrosion resistance. It is also hypoallergenic, and will prevent yellow and white gold from leaving a greenish tinge on the skin. Rhodium-plated sterling silver jewelry will resist tarnishing, and new white gold and platinum jewelry are often rhodium-plated to provide a brighter finish. The current trend is toward white gold, so many women are having their yellow gold rings plated in rhodium, which is relatively inexpensive compared to buying new jewelry! Plating can be done by a qualified jeweler, and can also be removed again if desired.

Rhodium plating may wear off in time, or it may last a lifetime! The life of the plating depends on many factors, such as the thickness and quality of the plating, individual body chemistry, the amount of wear the jewelry receives, and the type of metal being plated. Replating may be done if the finish begins to wear off.

To care for your rhodium-plated jewelry, clean it with a mild detergent mixed with a little water, rinse well, and dry thoroughly. It may also be cleaned with a silver-polishing cloth. Don't use liquid jewelry dips; the chemicals used can cause the plating to wear off more quickly. Avoid rubbing rings against other surfaces (such as resting your hands on the steering wheel) and remove rings when doing heavy work.