Does anyone know if you can have a white gold ring plated in a more durable metal so it doesn't need re-plating as often? I've had my white gold engagement ring since September and I had it re-plated a month ago, though I did started to notice that it was going yellow in February. Since it was re-plated about a month ago it is already looking worn on the back and a bit yellow. When I was at Beverbrooks they told me that if I didn't expose the ring to cemicals then the coating would last longer. So since I got it back I have been taking it off everytime I need to wash my hands or do any cleaning. Which make it all the more annoying that the plating has gone so quickly. Plus they want to charge me £25 everytime they re-plate it. I want to continue wearing my engagement ring after we're married so over a lifetime this is going to cost me a fortune. I really love the design of my engagement ring so I won't want to change it for a different ring. What is the best solution?
CommentAuthorSpecialSundae
Go somewhere else for the replating as £25 is quite expensive. Why not look around independent jewellers with workshops and ask whether they could do it? I had my mum's yellow gold engagement ring (which I wore a lot of the time before we got engaged) rhodium plated at an independent jeweller for £6 (should have been £16 but they gave me a discount as I was having it sized at the same time) and it lasted for 9 months with only slight yellowing.
CommentAuthorKirky
That sound more reasonable. My only concern with going to a different jeweller is that H2B took out a 3 year warranty with Beaverbrooks when he bought the ring and if we went to a different jeweller this could affect the warranty.
CommentAuthorSpecialSundae
Just adding, Rhodium (which white gold is plated in) is pretty hard wearing, but the plate is very thin and it can wear away.
Unfortunately there is nothing that can be done to coat your ring with any other metal that would make a positive difference. Rhodium is used because its the hardest and most durable metal for plating white gold. Its also the whitest and brightest of the precious metals. Its in the same family as Palladium and Platinum but much more rare - and very expensive, which is one of the reasoins we don't make rings from it.
However - if it is showing yellow again after a month I think there may be a quality issue. I would go back to the shop where you had it done and say that despite following their advice about avoiding chemicals etc it has yellowed very quickly. In addition as it has a three year warranty you think it should be replated under the warranty at no cost to you. Otherwise what is the warranty for? Be firm and polite and don't let them fob you off.
The only other solution is to have a new 'shank' made for the ring. We always recomend Palladium as it is relatively inexpensive but has very similar characteristics to Platinum - and never yelllows.
Sorry I can't offer any better help.
CommentAuthormadison_uk
smooch, i love the look of white gold so i think I'm going to go searching for the palladium, my engagement ring is white gold too and has started to go yellow, my other white gold rings when they have been re plated last allot longer than a month i do it every other year
CommentAuthorsarahwasabride
the cheapest ive found is £24.99 but havent been to the smaller jewlellers xx
CommentAuthorbarbie86
Agree re quality; I have a 9ct white gold ring and OK, I don't wear it daily, but I've worn it a lot, and have had it 5 years now, and it's only recently started to yellow; I've had my e-ring 4 months and while it's scratched to high heaven again it hasn't yellowed at all.
smooch: can I pick your brains again lol? How much do new platinum or palladium shanks cost do you know (roughly)? It's something I've been considering in the long-term. Thanks!
CommentAuthorsmooch
Hi Barbie86. The cost for remaking your engagement ring using the existing stones including a new shank, 'head' and re-setting the stones would be about £420 in Palladium and £1045 in Platinum. The new ring would carry our lifetime guarantee and we would resize it or repolish it any time.
CommentAuthor~ஜ~Tiggs Daltry~ஜ~
iv had my white gold engagement ring 3 years my white gold and yellow gold wedding ring a year and my white gold eternity ring 6 months,iv never had to get them replated.although i am thinking of taking them in to get them cleaned,i love them looking all sparkly
CommentAuthorsmooch
9 carat gold will always require frequent replating but there are two main types of 18 carat white gold - one of which stays much whiter, much longer.
All of our 18 carat white gold has a high palladium content which makes it very white. We guarantee it won't need replating as often and if it does we do it free of charge. It is also available from other jewellers - but always ask them to confirm that the ring you have chosen has a high palladium content.
However many of the jewellers on the high street don't use this higher grade of white gold and that is why they need to be replated so often.
It really does pay to buy the better quality (high Palladium content) white gold as you'll save on replating costs and all the hassle of having to have it done every few months.
Alternatively (as I've said so many times on UKBride) its worth considering Palladium for your rings as this NEVER yellows and is cheaper than 18carat white gold.
Hope that helps
Mr Smooch
CommentAuthor~ஜ~Tiggs Daltry~ஜ~
how very odd,my engagement ring is 9crt white gold,and doesnt need replating!!
CommentAuthorsmooch
You're very lucky Tiggs. Or the ring has been made with a lot of Palladium in it. However if its and antique ring or more than 10 years old it may have nickel in it which would also help keep it whiter. We aren't allowed to use nickel now.
Other than than - consider yourself very lucky to have a ring that doesn't yellow ;o)
CommentAuthor~ஜ~Tiggs Daltry~ஜ~
my eternity ring is the best,18crt white gold channel cut diamonds,exact replica of tiffany ring,i had it in november and refuse to take it off
CommentAuthorKirky
Smooch how would I go about arranging to have a new shank for my ring in Palladium? Does Palladium ever need re-plating? If I had a Palladium ring would I need to take it off everytime I washed my hand or could I continue to wear it all the time?
CommentAuthorClareS
smooch, thanks for all your bits of advice, I have an 18ct white gold engagement ring and is only just starting to yellow and was wondering what to do before the wedding next year. I may be considering the Palladium shank you've spoken about
CommentAuthorsmooch
Kirky - Please call our customer service line - the number is on the front page of our website or on our supplier page on UKBride. Please mention UKBride when you call. Palladium NEVER needs replating - it is naturally a silvery-white colour just like Platinum but much less expensive. You wouldn't have to take the ring off when you wash up to protect the Palladium - its amazingly stable and durable.
ClareE - If you want to talk in detail about it please call the customer service line and we'll give you more information.
Ladies (is it all right to say that these days?) I appreciate all your interest and I'm happy to give advice but when it comes to discussing purchases from us I think its best not to clutter the forum up. We try to respect the forum rules and don't promote smooch on here. Its difficult to answer some questions because of this. Please visit our Supplier Page and send us a message from there if you have a sales enquiry etc.
As always we are happy to advise on any aspect of jewellery and try to answer within a couple of hours whenever possible
CommentAuthorClareS
Thanks smooch, will give customer services a call for advice and info :) x
CommentAuthorKirky
Thanks for the advice Smooch.
CommentAuthorKirky
Have final had the time to do this, and can't wait to get my palladium engagement ring back.
smooch,
