On Wed, 14 Dec 2005 18:59:31 -0800, in rec.crafts.jewelry "Ronald"
wrote:

Hello all,

Here's another crazy question. I just talked to a jeweler who tells me
a solid 14k gold ring has some rhodium plating at the diamond area to
improve upon the setting strength. In other words, he says the rhodium
helps keep the diamonds secure.

This is a mens channel set diamond ring.

I've never heard of rhodium being used to strengthen a setting. Because
rhodium wears away in time, wouldn't the setting be compromised?

Am I a naive rookie and is this common or is someone telling me
something funny?


Rhodium plating is commonly used behind diamond settings in order to makethat
metal very white, non-tarnishing, and somewhat more scratch resistant. It
doesn't usually improve the security of the diamond setting, but does improve,
in some cases, the appearance.

One possible exception to this might be that rhodium plating covers the white
gold with a metal that is more resistant to corrosion than nickle based white
golds can be, especially if exposed to chlorine, such as swimming pool water and
the like. This can cause, over time, stress corrosion that can weaken white
golds, but it's normally an issue with prongs, not channel settings. Butin
those cases, the rhodium plating might lessen the potentially damaging effects
of the chlorine in the water (or a couple other things that can also attack the
gold). This isn't, by the way, a major problem for most people. But thefolks
who wear the white gold jewerly while swimming at the club every day, might be
affected...

The other aspect that might be true to the statement is simply that rhodium is
indeed a harder surface than most white golds, so for at least the periodof
time while it exists on the exposed surfaces of the ring, it will slow down the
abasion and wear on the gold. Not eliminate it, but slow it for a time. Once
you've worn off the rhodium (and you will, as you note, on exposed areas,but
not in recessed ones behind the stones), then the rate at which the whitegold
will be worn down will increase.

So while one can say your jeweler was not lying, it would also be fair tosay
that he's overstating the case. The actual increase in durability of the
mounting is somewhat small, and possibly not very significant. But thereis
some increase. And certainly, the potential for the rhodium to improve the
appearance of the mounting is significant, and the main reason it's widely used.

Peter