Jewellery Plating & Finishing
Gold plating, rhodium, rose gold, silver plating and specialist surface finishes.
How It Works
1. Inspect the jewellery | 2. Confirm the desired finish | 3. Prepare and polish where required | 4. Apply the plating / finish |
5. Final clean and quality check | 6. Return to customer |
Plating is a surface finish Plating does not permanently change the entire metal of a piece. It adds a surface layer or finish that will gradually wear depending on thickness, jewellery type, friction, skin chemistry, chemicals and how often the item is worn. |
Plating Services
- Black rhodium
- Gold plating
- Rhodium plating
- Rose-gold plating
- Silver plating
- Specialist colour and surface finishes where suitable
Rhodium plating is commonly associated with white gold, but we can offer rhodium finishing on a range of suitable precious-metal jewellery after assessment.
Why Jewellery Is Plated
Plating can restore colour, create a different surface appearance, refresh a worn finish or provide a bright white rhodium surface. It can also be used creatively for two-tone or contrast details.
A good plating result depends heavily on preparation. Scratches, old plating, solder marks and surface contamination can show through if the jewellery is not properly prepared first.
Rhodium Plating
Rhodium is a bright white precious metal commonly used as a surface finish on white gold. White-gold alloys themselves can have a warm or grey tone, so rhodium gives the crisp white appearance many customers associate with newly finished white-gold jewellery.
The rhodium layer wears with use. Rings and bracelets normally experience more friction than earrings or pendants, so there is no honest universal answer to how long a rhodium finish will last.
Gold, Rose Gold and Silver Plating
Gold plating can change or restore the visible colour of suitable jewellery. Rose-gold plating creates a warmer pink tone, while silver plating can refresh the appearance of suitable pieces.
The underlying metal, existing finish and intended use all matter. We inspect the item before confirming whether plating is appropriate and what preparation is required.
Black Rhodium and Specialist Finishes
For customers looking for a darker or more distinctive finish, black rhodium can provide contrast on suitable jewellery. We also offer antique finishing, sandblasting and diamond-cut decorative finishing.
Diamond-cut finishing in this context refers to using a diamond-cutting tool to create reflective decorative patterns on the jewellery surface. It is not the cutting of diamonds themselves.
Before Plating
Loose stones, damaged claws, cracks, deep wear or previous poor repairs should be addressed before surface finishing. Plating can improve appearance, but it should not be used to disguise structural problems.
Where appropriate, we may recommend cleaning, polishing, repair or stone checking as part of the job.
Aftercare
- Avoid unnecessary contact with perfume, chlorine, bleach and strong cleaning chemicals
- Remove plated rings for heavy manual work where practical
- Store jewellery separately to reduce abrasion
- Do not use aggressive polishing compounds on plated surfaces
- Have the jewellery inspected if the finish wears unevenly or a stone becomes loose
Normal wear of plating is not automatically evidence of a fault. The rate of wear varies significantly between customers and jewellery types.
Turnaround
We do not offer same-day plating. Time depends on the jewellery, preparation required, repairs, type of finish and current workshop workload. We provide a quotation and estimated timeframe after assessment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can plating hide scratches or damage?
Preparation can improve the surface, but structural damage should be repaired before plating. Deep wear may also require polishing or restoration.
Do you offer rhodium plating?
Yes. We offer rhodium plating on suitable precious-metal jewellery after assessment.
Do you offer rose gold and black rhodium?
Yes, where suitable for the item.
How long will plating last?
There is no fixed universal lifespan. Wear depends on the jewellery, thickness, friction, chemicals, skin chemistry and use.
Is plating same-day?
No. We do not offer same-day plating.
Talk to Gold Factory Visit us at 294 Farnham Road, Slough, SL1 4XL, call 01753 536800, email sales@goldfactory.co.uk, use live chat or contact us through WhatsApp on www.goldfactory.co.uk. Appointments are welcome for detailed enquiries, although customers can generally visit without one. |
Visit Gold Factory
Monday to Saturday: 11:00 am to 6:30 pm. Sunday closed.