[Jewelry making - Article 00199] - Re: [Orchid] Is rhodium plating a common practice?

[MillsGem]

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    All, It is interesting to note that those who benefit most from
    rhodium plating are the ones who defend the practice. From the point
    of view of the bench person who has to deal with plated goods, there
    is no question about its being a pain in the rear. And, while it
    (rhodium plate) does not usually peel off of gold jewelry it
    certainly often does so with other metals. Furthermore, when heated,
    as in retipping prongs or sizing, it often turns greyish black. 

    Justifying a questionable practice solely on the basis of its
    enhancing customer appeal is a tenuous piece of logic. It IS a form
    of deception just as 24 K plating of yellow gold is. The only time
    that alteration of a Karat piece is justified, in my opinion, is
    when you have a design that has impossible to polish recesses. In a
    case of this type I use bombing while leaving the remainder of the
    piece in its true Karat finish. When I have a repair that may require
    re-plating I simply turn it down. Lately a number of pieces have
    come into my shop with rhodium plated channels. They also have
    another questionable practice wherein the melee have been set in the
    usual burred recess on one side while using a bead on the other
    side. Unfortunately this practice tends to result in lost stones,
    especially when cleaned in the ultrasonic. I urge you to stay away
    from this kind of involvement, unless, of course, you are
    masochistic. Ron at Mills Gem, Los Osos, CA.  

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