Broken Arrow
613 North Aspen Avenue
Broken Arrow, OK 74012
Tue–Fri 10–6 · Sat 10–5
Closed Sunday & Monday
At the Bench
Rhodium Plating
At J. David Jewelry our own goldsmiths re-plate white gold in rhodium at all three Tulsa showrooms, in Broken Arrow, South Tulsa and Brookside. White gold wears a thin coat of rhodium, and on a ring worn every day that coat lasts about one to two years. When the white turns warm, bring it in. It is scheduled onto a goldsmith's bench and home in two to three weeks.
The white you fell in love with
The day it was chosen, the ring was a bright, mirror white. That white is rhodium, a rare metal from the platinum family, laid over the gold in a coat too thin to see. White gold on its own is still gold, and gold is warm. The rhodium is what makes it brilliant.
So nothing is wrong when that coat begins to wear. It means the ring has been worn, which is what it was made for.
What wearing does
Rhodium wears first where life touches it. The underside of the band. The edges. The places that meet a steering wheel, a stroller handle, the ring beside it. A faint warmth shows through, and the mirror goes soft. Most people notice it the way they notice a child growing: not from one day to the next, and then all at once in a photograph.
On a ring worn every day, one to two years is usual. Earrings and pendants touch almost nothing and can go far longer. Go by your eyes, not the calendar.
How we bring it back
Each of our three showrooms has its own full-service shop, with goldsmiths at the bench. One of them looks the piece over first, every crown and every setting, because a finish should never go over a problem. Then the ring is polished by hand until the metal underneath is smooth. Rhodium follows the surface it is given, and it will not hide a scratch. It is cleaned until nothing at all is left on it, then lowered into the bath, where a small current lays new rhodium over the gold, evenly, all the way around. It is rinsed, dried and checked under the light.
Plating is scheduled onto the bench like any other repair, so allow two to three weeks. What comes back is the ring you remember.
Come In, or Text Us
Bring Back the White.
There are two ways to start, and neither is the wrong one. Bring the piece to any of our three Tulsa showrooms and we look at the finish and every setting with you — that is the solid answer, because the piece is in hand. Or text us what you are seeing, and we’ll do our best from there.
What we will tell you honestly
Rhodium is a finish, not a repair. It will not tighten a diamond, fill a nick or rebuild metal that has worn thin, and we will say so if your ring needs one of those first. Some pieces are better left as they are. A two-tone design needs its yellow or rose gold protected, and an older piece may carry a soft patina that is part of why you love it. We ask before we brighten anything.
Why white gold wears a coat at all is in our guide to jewelry metals, and how it compares with platinum is in Wedding Band Metals, Compared.
Good Questions
The things people actually ask.
How do I know my ring needs rhodium plating?
Turn it over and look at the underside of the band, where it meets your other fingers and everything you pick up. If the white there has gone faintly warm or yellow, or the ring still looks dull after a cleaning, the rhodium has worn through. That is ordinary wear, not a flaw in the ring.
How often does white gold need to be re-plated?
About every one to two years on a ring worn daily, and far less often on earrings or a pendant. Hands, soaps, lotions and work all change the pace, so go by what you see and not by the calendar.
Will rhodium plating remove scratches?
No. Rhodium is a very thin finish and it follows the surface it is given. That is why the goldsmith polishes the piece first. The brightness you see afterward is the polish and the plating together.
Do you check the setting before plating?
Yes. We look at every crown and every setting before any work begins. Plating is a finish and does not hold anything in place, so if a setting is worn or a gem is loose, we tell you first.
How long does rhodium plating take?
Two to three weeks. Plating is scheduled onto a goldsmith's bench like any other repair, at whichever of our three showrooms you bring it to.
What does rhodium plating cost?
It depends on the piece, so we do not quote from a description. Bring it to any of our three showrooms and we will tell you before anything starts. Nothing begins until you say yes.
Visit a Showroom
See it in person.
Three showrooms across Tulsa, one family since 1994. Bring your questions, or just come and look.
South Tulsa
8200 E 101st Street, Suite B
Tulsa, OK 74133
Tue–Fri 10–6 · Sat 10–5
Closed Sunday & Monday
Brookside
3646 S Peoria Avenue
Tulsa, OK 74105
Tue–Fri 10–6 · Sat 10–5
Closed Sunday & Monday
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In Their Own Words.
Every heirloom begins with a story. Hear from the families who let us be a part of theirs.
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Katelyn helped me resize and refresh my wedding ring. She was knowledgeable, professional, and incredibly sweet. She made the experience easy and enjoyable, and I couldn’t be happier with the results. I highly recommend asking for Katelyn
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Had a fantastic experience at J David! Bought an engagement ring last year and a wedding band this year. Maelei and Susan were especially super helpful and patient with us and found us the perfect matches!
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One big request I had for Hayley was to make sure any leftover gold from the ring was returned to me. Not only did she make sure I got the gold, but Scott even turned it into a small pendant!