Jewellery Cleaning, Polishing and Rhodium Plating
Bring back the original sparkle and shine to your jewellery with a professional clean and polish
Everyday wear and tear, or tarnish from storage can dull the appearance of your jewellery. While a basic clean at home can remove the dirt, only a skilled craftsperson can remove scratches and polish precious metals to restore the original high shine.
As good as the day you purchased it
You will be amazed at the difference our Brighton, Chichester and Eastbourn workshops can make to your jewellery and this service can cost from as little as £20.
This is how we professionally polish jewellery...
Step 1: Assessment of materials and checking for loose stones and condition of metal
Step 2: Hand buff the surface of the metal to remove any scratches and indentations to give a smooth finish.
Step 3: Using a high-speed polishing wheel and compounds including rouge, the metal is polished to a mirror shine finish (or a matt finish can be achieved if you prefer)
Step 4: The item is bathed in an Ultrasonic Cleaner where high frequency vibrations literally shake out any debris.
Step 5: The heat and pressure of our Steam Cleaner removes any final debris and cleaning solution
Step 6: The jewellery is carefully wrapped in acid-proof tissue so it reaches you in mint condition.
Rhodium Plating
Rhodium plating is included in the price of all workshop repairs to white gold. If your jewellery is being re-plated on a very regular basis, we may advise a Hard Rhodium Plate, which is a service we outsource, which applies a much thicker coating.
We also offer Gilding and Gold Plating services, applicable to yellow gold plated items of jewellery.
What is Rhodium Plating?
Rhodium (Rh) is in the same group of metals as platinum, it is a naturally bright silvery white coloured metal. Using electroplating techniques a thin layer of rhodium is bonded to the surface of jewellery to enhance the colour of white gold.
To rhodium plate your jewellery we use the same steps as described in the polishing technique. Plating is the final stage as the jewellery must be immaculately clean to form a perfect layer and finish.
What happens when a Rhodium Plating Wears Off?
If you have noticed that your white gold jewellery is starting to show tinges of yellow or is a duller colour in patches, it is probably because the Rhodium plating is beginning to wear off.
Where can I get Rhodium Plating done and how much does it cost?
Gold Arts in Brighton, Chichester and Eastbourne offer an excellent Rhodium Plating service in our workshops. It is an affordable, on-site service which restores the beauty of your jewellery, with prices starting from £40.
Why is Rhodium Plating Used?
White Gold is not a naturally occurring metal, it is an alloy of natural yellow gold with other metals that have a whitening effect. Unlike platinum and silver, white gold doesn’t have a perfect white colour, and may have tinges of yellow, grey or brown. To create the bright white colour, it is an industry standard to Rhodium Plate white gold jewellery, however over time (and depending on the type of jewellery and how it is worn) this plating wears off and alloy colour will begin to show.
