[Jewelry making - Article 00335] - Re: [Orchid] Rhodium plating platinum?

[Wise Blood]

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>     as we like to say down here in the south "shoving down the
>     consumers throat what we think we cannot change about mass
>     produced lines of jewelry".

    Being from the south I can't say I ever heard that one, but you did
    hit on one good point in your post, MONEY. What ever sells do it.
    Now there is an ethical way, explaining and teaching a customer
    about the pros and cons of what ever, I'm not just talking about
    plating here it does not matter what is in question. Then on the
    other hand you could just flat out lie to the customer to get their
    money and get them out the door which some of our jewelry kin have
    elected to do. So to plate or not to plate, that IS NOT the
    question, the real question is are you the jewelers as ethical in
    your salesmanship as you are in your craftmanship? 

>     It's not just that casting nickel white alloys are against the law
>     in our European countries. The true reason we all see as much
>     "Off-Colored White" Karat jewelry as we do is because these alloys
>     are a better metal for casting. Defect rates go down porosity is
>     all but eliminated incomplete casting trees are rare. it all boils
>     down to dollars.

    And that's not the true reason, but it is a good one. The high
    nickel whites are against the law in Europe because the high nickel
    concentration is not too good for you, and can cause some bad side
    effects (Nickel Dermitits)hence the ban.  If you do require the
    white use the palladium alloys, its a bit more expensive, but it is
    much more workable and should not have to be plated. The true reason
    is because many are not willing to drop the extra dime and get
    quality product, when they can get it cheep and plate it. 

    P.S. If you plate platinum, hand up your hack saw, burn your bench,
    and work at Mc Donald's.

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