By Gary A.
Edited by Brian M.
Published Mar 26, 2022
Edited on Oct 16, 2024
To maintain the beautiful shine of your white gold jewelry, white gold ring dipping plays a key role in keeping your piece looking as bright and fresh as the day you bought it.
White gold is one of the most popular metal choices for bridal jewelry. While it captures the same stark, bright vibe of platinum, it’s also a lot cheaper, as well as being strong and durable. White diamonds look incredible against it, just as it contrasts beautifully with colored accent stones.
Nevertheless, one of the most commonly touted arguments against white gold, and in favor of platinum, is that it’s higher maintenance. White gold pieces need to be re-dipped every once in a while, in order for them to stay looking as bright and shining as platinum. This routine maintenance, often referred to as ring dipping or white gold ring coating, ensures your jewelry retains its high-quality finish.
Then again, all engagement rings need to be regularly checked by the jeweler who created them, so is taking the time to get your white gold re-dipped really a big deal? Here’s everything you’ll need to know.
Before we dive deeper into the specifics, here are some practical tips to help guide your decision-making process:
When purchasing a diamond engagement ring set in white gold, it’s crucial to understand the nuances of white gold dipping, a process that significantly impacts the appearance and maintenance of the ring.
Now that you’ve got these practical tips, use Jeweler AI below to find the perfect engagement ring that suits your style and budget:
White gold is made by combining pure gold with alloying metals chosen specifically for their bright white hues.
Most white gold is coated in a very thin layer of rhodium in order to achieve that bright, platinum-like color, but that original coating doesn’t last forever – particularly if you’re wearing the item regularly.
Yellow gold doesn’t need to be dipped, since it doesn’t have a coating to begin with. The same goes for rose gold – while the color has been changed, that pink hue is the result of a combination of gold with copper (and other alloys like silver). It is not achieved using a surface coating.
If your white gold ring is plated, then it is inevitable that it will wear off and need replacing eventually. That doesn’t mean you can’t wear and enjoy it.
Some metals, like silver, just aren’t strong enough to be worn every day. Regular wear will cause them to get scratched, marked and bent out of shape and, eventually, look worse for the wear.
White gold is strong. It’s usually sold as 10K or 14K, which means it’s more than capable of withstanding life on your finger. There’s nothing wrong with wearing it every day – although you’ll want to avoid wearing it to swim, workout, sleep, or rock climb, but that’s the same for any precious metal, particularly when there are diamonds involved.
In other words, don’t get anxious about the plating wearing off. It’s going to wear off, and it’s easy enough to replace it.
White gold doesn’t have to be plated in rhodium, but most people prefer it. It’s created using alloys like nickel and zinc and, before being dipped in rhodium, will appear a very, very pale yellow color. It’ll be close to the color you typically associate with white gold, but still feature a discernible hint of warmth.
This is the color you’ll start to see when the rhodium plate starts to wear off your ring – a very subtle hint of gold’s warm, yellow color. It won’t be obvious, and it’s not a big deal, and you’ll probably be the only person to notice it.
In general, rhodium plating lasts between 1 and 3 years.
As you can imagine, gold plating will last longer on some pieces of jewelry than it will on others. A pair of white gold earrings worn once in a blue moon will stay looking bright for a lot longer than a wedding band. Not only is a ring subjected to a lot more wear and tear, but a wedding band is worn day-in-day-out from the moment it is first purchased, and this will cause the plating to wear off much faster.
You don’t need to panic if your white gold plating starts to show signs of wearing off within the first 12 months of purchasing it. It’s simply a sign that the piece has been worn and enjoyed and that it’s ready for a routine tune-up. For those wondering how much ring dipping costs, it varies, but understanding these expenses is crucial for proper jewelry care.
On a ring, the first place you’re likely to notice the plating wearing off is the inside of the band. Since it’s constantly rubbing against your finger, it’s a lot quicker to wear away there than on the ring’s head, which tends to be left alone most of the time.
Since the less conspicuous parts of the ring will wear off first, you may not need to get it redipped the instant you start to see signs of wear and tear.
Avoid anything that’s going to subject your ring to unnecessary abrasion – harsh scouring pads or scrubbing cloths can really wear down that plating fast, so consider taking your ring off before doing anything that may impact the finish.
Clean your ring with warm water and mild soap, and consider taking it to a local jeweler for a proper clean every few months.
It totally depends on the jeweler and your state, but it generally costs between $50 and $150.
Re-dipping a white gold ring in rhodium is a relatively quick process, but it’s not a five-minute job. The jeweler will need to polish off what’s left of the previous plating, clean the ring, then dip it in the plating and leave it to dry before giving it a final check. This process, often termed redip ring or redip white gold ring, rejuvenates the appearance of your jewelry, making it look brand new.
For us, it’s more than worth the price. While working on the plating, the jeweler can take a look at your ring’s prongs, and any delicate features like a pavé setting on the shank, in order to make sure everything is safe and secure. We recommend you do this once or twice a year, to make sure everything’s as it should be.
Some people do like to invest in a temporary engagement ring for those times when the real ring is with the jeweler, but you won’t be parted from it for long.
White gold is a great choice for an engagement ring. It looks great, lasts for decades, and offers safe support for your diamond.
It’s true that it’s higher maintenance than platinum, but we’ve never considered this to be a particularly big deal. Getting a ring replated isn’t a major undertaking, and it gives you a chance to get the prongs checked too.
Whether it’s a wedding ring with dip or a simple engagement band, the ring dipping service can significantly extend the life and beauty of your ring.
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