Why is Rose Gold Plating Funky? Could it be the Copper?
Melia’s spotty rose gold plating started this conversation. Melia bought a discolored rose gold plated pendant at a sale. She figured she’d just polish it up. She tried various silver and copper polishes and only succeeded in pulling most of the plating off and leaving it splotchy looking. Melia was not happy.
I got the call, “can you re-plate my rose gold plated pendant?”
Me: “Most likely. It is problematic however.”
Melia: “How come?”
Me: “To create the plating solution with rose gold, a lot of copper is used, just like in the creation of rose gold itself. And copper has problems.”
Melia: “Like darkening?”
Me: “Yup.”
Melia: “You should see it after I cleaned and polished it with copper cleaner.”
Me: “Pretty bad?”
Melia: “Superbad. So if I have you plate it can you do it super deep so it’ll last longer and not turn dark?”
Me: “Not really. I mean I can plate your pendant, but rose plating wears off faster than yellow gold plating or rhodium white plating. And if rose plating is exposed to certain chemicals it can darken. Usually just in a spot here or there, making it look especially bad.”
Melia: “Wow you’re really sellin’ it.”
Me: “It’s my superpower.”
Melia: “I just want something to wear everyday that is rose gold. What would make it look nice?”
Me: “Some people who make costume jewelry and plate it, also put on what they call an e-coat, which supposedly creates a barrier protecting the plating longer. I don’t offer that service.”
Melia: “So my friend Anita has a rose colored Michael Kors watch she’s had for a while and it’s gotten dark on the back. It does not look good. Do you think it is e-coated?”
Me: “Good chance of it.”
Melia: “How about you plate my pendant in rose gold and we’ll just see how long the plating lasts?”
Me: “I can do that!”
One Year Later
We ended up plating her pendant with white rhodium because as we feared, her rose colored gold plating had gone from great looking to OK looking. She loves how much better the rhodium white is wearing.
Melia had me design a rose gold ring in 14kt karat. She finds it much better behaved and nicely rose-y looking.
Your Personal Jeweler,
Calla
I love the Rose platted chain with the information . Copper is so much useful in the creation of this gold chain.
Hi Alice,
Those rose gold plated chains did come out nicely! Let’s see how long it holds.
Your Personal Jeweler,
Calla
Hello! I recieved a beautiful engagement ring from my fiance that rose gold rhodium plating over sterling silver with artificial diamond stones. After 1 night of wear, the rose gold color was coming off leaving the sterling. I love the ring dearly and don’t want to part with it, so I am wondering if the rose gold color cam be restored or just removed to be left with the silver? I’d be happy to send pictures to see what you think our options are!
Hello Sara,
Even if you re-plate it it’ll probably happen again. I’m guessing your best option is to remove the plating and wear it as just silver.
Your Personal Jeweler,
Calla
I too have a rose gold plated ring with moissanite stones. I love the design and my stone. I want to get it remade in the same design but with real 14k rose gold metal. Would that be possible?
Hi Erica, Thanks for writing. I imagine I’d be able to make a ring similar to yours in real rose gold. Interestingly enough what can happen is that a ring someone really likes made of costume metal holds up nicely strength-wise, but not the plating. They decide to re-make the ring just like the original. If the original is super thin, where the brass or other costume metal is strong in that thin of a design, making it in gold, especially rose gold with its large percentage of malleable copper, can yield a ring that won’t hold up. Read about… Read more »
Hi,
I have a rose gold plated charm that I would prefer to have plain silver- what is the best way to remove the plating?
Thanks
Hello Heather,
A plating jeweler should be able to handle your request. I usually use a high RPM rouge wheel to where off the plating that it can reach. After that I’d probably white rhodium plate the whole thing to the rose plating down in the crevices was covered.
Your Personal Jeweler,
Calla
Thank you very much!
Can you either take off the rose gold plating or redo the plating if there are stones on the band?
Hello Hale,
Removing plating is much more difficult. When plating gets down into areas that can’t easily be polished, it won’t come off. It’s easier just to plate over the existing plating color.
Your Personal Jeweler,
Calla