What no plating sales page tells you: rhodium on a daily-wear ring does not last forever. A brand in Melbourne came back to us after 18 months because customers complained the white gold was turning yellow. It was not turning. The 0.25 micrometre rhodium layer had worn through on the high-contact shank, and the yellow gold beneath was showing. The fix was not a new alloy; it was a thicker plate at manufacture and a replating service schedule. Here is how we model plating wear for our wholesale brands.
How fast plating actually wears
Rhodium wear is contact-driven. A ring shank rubs against desks, handbags and door frames thousands of times a day. Earrings barely touch anything. The same 0.5 micrometre plate on a ring wears through in 12 to 24 months; on a pendant it lasts 5 to 7 years. Thickness is the main lever: 0.25 micrometres is the bare minimum most shops apply, 0.5 is our standard for white gold and silver, and 1.0 is the heavy plate we quote for bridal. The thicker layer is about twice the plating cost and roughly doubles the wear life.
Read more on how often rhodium wears through, our replate renewal process and the thickness-to-wear math. For bath maintenance see how we hold the bath stable. On EU-bound jewelry we keep plating baths nickel-free per REACH; buyers can verify via ECHA's nickel restriction pages.
Wear by product category
| Product | 0.25 micron plate | 0.5 micron plate | 1.0 micron plate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily-wear ring | 6-12 months | 12-24 months | 24-36 months |
| Necklace pendant | 2-3 years | 4-5 years | 7+ years |
| Earrings | 3-4 years | 5-7 years | 8+ years |
| Bracelet | 12-18 months | 24-36 months | 4-5 years |
How we budget replating for brands
We offer two commercial models. The first is sell-through: we plate to 0.5 micron at manufacture and include a one-time free replating coupon in the brand's warranty card, valid 12 months after purchase. The second is service plan: the brand pre-pays a per-piece replating credit that we execute in our shop when the customer sends the piece back. We turn replating around in 5 business days and ship it back in the same jewelry bag. Most bridal brands choose the heavy 1.0 micron plate plus the service plan, because a replating coupon is a customer-retention tool, not a cost.
What affects wear besides thickness
Surface preparation matters more than most buyers realize. A rhodium plate over a hazy polish wears faster because the plate follows micro-scratches and breaks along them. A plate over a true high shine wears evenly. Chlorine from hot tubs and pools accelerates plating breakdown by etching the underlying nickel flash; we use a nickel-free strike on EU orders to avoid that. We also tell customers to store plated pieces separately, because a second ring rattling in a pouch scuffs the shank through the plate in weeks.
How we quote plating into your landed cost
When we build a quote, we separate the base metal cost from the plating surcharge so the buyer sees the line. A 0.5 micron standard plate adds roughly 8% to a sterling silver ring cost; the 1.0 micron bridal plate adds about 15%. We do this on purpose: a brand that wants to hit a price point can choose the standard plate on everyday SKUs and the heavy plate on bridal SKUs, instead of paying for heavy plate across the whole line. The warranty replating credit is priced per piece and held on your account for 12 months, unused credits rolling forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I just plate thicker and never replate?
No. Even 1.0 micron rhodium wears through on a daily ring in 2-3 years. The thick plate buys time, not permanence. Budget for a replate cycle.
Does yellow gold need plating?
No. Yellow gold keeps its color from the alloy. Plating is a white-finish step used on white gold and silver. Rose gold is also unplated.
How much does replating cost per piece?
We charge a flat per-piece replate rate to wholesale brands, about the price of a polishing service. The customer usually sees it as a free warranty benefit.
Will replating hide scratches?
No. Plating is 0.5 micron thin; deep scratches show through. We polish and ultrasonically clean before replating, so light scratches disappear, but deep ones need bench work.
Is rhodium plating nickel-free?
The rhodium itself is, but the strike layer under it historically contained nickel. We offer a nickel-free strike on EU and sensitive-skin orders per REACH.
Key takeaways
- Plate to 0.5 micron as standard, 1.0 for bridal; thinner than 0.25 is false economy.
- Budget a replate cycle: 12-24 months for rings, 4-7 years for earrings.
- Build a warranty replate coupon into the customer card; it is retention, not cost.
Next step: tell us your product mix and we will quote a manufacture plate thickness plus a per-piece replating credit for your warranty program. Custom manufacturing opens at 20 pieces per SKU, and replating credits roll forward on unused pieces.
