[Jewelry making - Article 00057] - Re: [Orchid] Rhodium as White gold finish

[Michael R. Mathews Sr.]

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    Hello Doug and All: 

    You write "do you think we are being misleading by not explaining to
    them that the silver is plated with rhodium?" It is not like your
    selling CZ's as diamonds or yellow gold as white but, to tell a
    consumer that an item is plated with gold when it is in fact plated
    with Rhodium just because the average person doesn't know the
    difference is in my opinion misleading and you should not do it.
    Explain to them that Rhodium is a member of the platinum family and
    is more durable than gold plating. Explain that the rhodium plating
    is applied to keep the item from tarnishing as quickly. Most
    consumers have seen tarnish on silver in some form or another and
    will see the benefit of the plating. Do not imply that the rhodium
    plating increases the precious metal content of the item. 

    I mean to say that you should not represent the item as silver and
    rhodium. 

    Now this might get a little controversial, but I think that any
    plating should be disclosed at the time of sale. The consumer has the
    right (in my opinion) to know that if they buy that item and it later
    needs repair or sizing that they may have to pay a fee for replating.
    I charge $40 extra to replate. 

    Your impression that all or nearly all white gold jewelry is rhodium
    plated is becoming more true as the industry is using more of what I
    call "off-colored" white gold. There are many reasons for using low
    nickel or no nickel white gold alloys especially in 18K. I do not see
    much 14K white jewelry that is plated but almost all the designer
    lines that our store carries that make 18K white items rhodium plate.
    As I stated before I think that if it is plated you should tell the
    consumer at the point of sale. I have been very long winded about
    this topic in the past and if you want to search the archive you can
    read more. 

    The average person knows little about jewelry. They know that 18K is
    more gold than 14K and therefore think 18K is better. Off colored
    18K white with a rhodium plating usually becomes an ugly yellowish or
    grayish color after it is worn for awhile. 

    In closing I personally feel that surface treatments such as plating
    that change the color of an item unless fully disclosed at the point
    of sale is a unfair trade practice. 


Michael R. Mathews Sr.   Victoria,Texas  JACMBJ
www.geocities.com/waxcarver



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