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Designer jewellery-part 2,what to be aware of!Rhodium Pandemonium!!!
Designer jewellery-part 2,what to be aware of!Rhodium Pandemonium!!!
Submitted by debra on Thu, 08/13/2009 - 04:36.Last week a customer of mine rung asking if I could 'fix' a ring she had bought recently for son from a well known store in Christchurch .
I was'nt sure what she mean't so asked her to bring it in and show me..*(I don't normally touch repair work ,but she's such a great customer and she seemed so upset!What the hell!).
The ring in question was a Dyberg Kern mens ring-it was only 2 months old but already the Rhodium plating had worn off,and rendered the finish on the ring all mottly ,tarnished and cheap looking.
"I paid nearly $300.00 for that ring!" she exclaimed 'Is'nt it silver?"
"Nope"...I quickly replied..
"But,But" She then went on to tell me how the sales assistant had sold her the ring under the impression it was a solid sterling silver band.
So what the hell is it made of then?
Firstly don't get me wrong Dyberg Kern make some incredibly funky well designed costume jewellery-but let me stress to you all it is only COSTUME jewellery.Quick fix,one season kind of pieces!!!
Companies such as Dyberg Kern,Kagi,Pilgrim and quite a few others use what's called a "base metal" the base metal is often brass,or a nickel(nasty,nasty!) -the base metal is then plated usually Rhodium.
If any of you have commercial made jewellery,especially white gold rings you will be familiar with Rhodium as it's used to "brighten" white gold and make it more white and shiny looking.Or if it's white gold bought from my fav jewellery shop(not)MH-then it's probably yellow gold just plated..
I never Rhodium plate,prefering the different tonals white gold in various carats carries,from a warm off white to the cool sleek greyness of 18ct-it's all yummy in it's own right!
oOps...Once again I'm ranting
Rhodium does'nt make a piece last longer,it does'nt harden it..In fact it does f@*k all-except wear off really fast,and you have to keep getting it replated.
So be warned -just cause it looks like real silver,and sells in some swanky upmarket store, boutique-don't be fooled young players!!!
