Should You “Dip” Your Ring?

Customers commonly voice questions and concerns about having their rings “dipped”.

While some jewelers find both pros and cons to dipping jewelry, we like to offer a solution-based answer to each individual customer – what’s best for you?

First, what does having your ring dipped mean?

In jewelers terms, having a piece of jewelry dipped means your jewelry will be rhodium plated. In this process, electric currents are used to bond the rhodium to the existing metal on your jewelry.

Rhodium plating is most often used on white gold jewelry, specifically white gold rings. Since white gold is a mixture of both a white metal and yellow gold, it makes sense that the metal in white gold jewelry would have a tint of yellow to it’s coloring.

However, once a white gold piece is rhodium plated, it will then have the distinct, bright white shine that white gold is intended to have.

How often should I have my ring dipped?

To start, all white gold rings should have been plated, or dipped, before they are considered a true white gold piece. Over time the rhodium plating begins to wear off of the rings underlying metal. On average, the plating on a white gold ring should last about a year, depending on how often the ring is worn.

Once you begin to see your ring fade in brightness, or spots of a yellowish-gold peek through the rhodium plating, it’s safe to stay it’s time for your ring to re-dipped.

Since this should not happen within a year’s time, having your ring re-plated every year could actually cause more harm than good. In order to re-plate your ring, any scratches must be buffed out and all old plating stripped clean.

White gold wears differently on everyone. This can be caused by medicines you take, lotions, how active you are, etc.”

Is rhodium plated jewelry the right choice?

Honestly, whatever suits you or the eventual wearer is the right decision, choose something that will enjoy being worn.

Remember, anything that has been plated will need touched up and re-plated every so often.

However, if you are looking for the same bright, white shine without the frequency of the upkeep, you may want to consider a platinum metal option. Keep in mind, like all jewelry, it will still require regular cleaning and maintenance.

We want to make sure you are getting the perfect ring for you lifestyle. You should have a ring that you can enjoy wearing everyday, and not worry about it looking dull or faded.

For more insider precious metal tips, check our “Basics of Precious Metals” blog. Or shoot us an email with any questions or jewelry concerns you may have.