Question: How about goldsmithing Rhodium?

Arnaud Van Tilburgh

~ Elite 1000 Member ~
Joined
Oct 3, 2008
Messages
4,221
Location
Belgium
A customer recently asked for Rhodium wedding rings as to him it was the most expensive metal.
I use Rhodium for electroplating white gold, but never heard or saw a finished jewel made out of Rhodium. But I wouldn’t be me if not thinking about it.
I found out Rhodium is not that expensive than platinum, but I know it sure is white.
The thing is that to me after electroplating Rhodium on pave settings, that it not only add a more white finish, it also by its hardness protects the beads from wearing of.

So I think it is not obvious to use Rhodium to make jewellery but my question is if one of you tried it whit nice result.

arnaud
 

Brian Marshall

~ Elite 1000 Member ~
Joined
Nov 9, 2006
Messages
3,112
Location
Stockton, California & Taxco, Guerrero, Mexico
Many years ago, back when it was under $100 an ounce - we fooled with it a bit. I owned a small refinery at the time.

We were working with a small sample of "sponge". Didn't get good results making it into solid stock so we gave up.

I think it could be done, but only if you are working directly with a BIG refinery to get the solid stock made up.

No idea about setting in it. Have set a lot of platinum and palladium alloys...


Brian
 

Gemsetterchris

Elite Cafe Member
Joined
Mar 24, 2009
Messages
820
Location
Finland
If it was an option Arnaud i`m sure one of the up market jewellers would have offered it by now.
It`s hopeless stuff to work with (have you tried working on a plated piece?).
 

DakotaDocMartin

~ Elite 1000 Member ~
Joined
Oct 15, 2007
Messages
1,835
Location
Grand Forks, ND
here's a company that makes rhodium coins.
http://rhodiumcoin.com/

This explains a lot:

" The Cohen Mint is the first company in the world to have
successfully created and marketed a pure rhodium bullion coin back in May of 2009. One of the most rare and valuable
of the Platinum Group Metals, rhodium is extremely difficult to manufacture into coins and bars. Due to its hardness and
very high melting point, rhodium has historically never been made into bullion form. Standard manufacturing techniques
used in making most other types of coins simply will not work with rhodium. "
 

James Roettger

Elite Cafe Member
Joined
Apr 21, 2008
Messages
242
Location
Minneapolis, MN
It reminds me of palladium. It's a beautiful metal but not nearly as nice to work with as platinum, hence it's lower value. I also hear now of people rhodium plating platinum to up the surface hardness. One goldsmith told me he tried sizing a platinum ring with rhodium plating and the plating darkened in the affected area and made a mess to clean up. It's funny the things customer's request that really aren't in their best interest to do. I usually scare them off the idea with maintenance horror stories like, "Your ring will crumble if we try to size it later."
 

Gemsetterchris

Elite Cafe Member
Joined
Mar 24, 2009
Messages
820
Location
Finland
Unfortunately alot of manufacturers & goldsmiths get abit carried away with rhodium plating.
The point of plating should really be to enhance certain areas especially those bits that are hard to get to when polishing.

Not such a big deal for some jewellery, but ring shanks?:no:

No idea why precious metals can`t be what they are..& i do know a decent workshop that states the fact that they hate plating & prefer their silver work to be natural because it has it`s own colour.
 

Arnaud Van Tilburgh

~ Elite 1000 Member ~
Joined
Oct 3, 2008
Messages
4,221
Location
Belgium
Chris, yes I know about its hardness, electroplated silver with Rhodium is difficult to cut and the blade becomes blunt.

Brian, yes I know it sure isn’t the most expensive metal.

Mike, thanks pointing on the coins, it says it is hard to make them because of its hardness and high melting point, so probably too difficult to make a wedding band out of it with the regular bench tools of a goldsmith.

And I agree with the natural colors of precious metals, I always tell my customers why my white gold isn’t that white. Especially on wedding rings, an 18 carat white golden ring with Rhodium on it is not the best option, as it will have to be electroplated every year.

arnaud
 

Ed Westerly

~ Elite 1000 Member ~
Joined
Mar 16, 2011
Messages
1,224
Location
southern California
I just love reading these threads that don't really apply to what I do.:thumbsup: It just amazes me what you guy are into and the things you can create.:clapping: Love it. :cool: Keep it up. :bow::bow:
Sometimes knowledge of an area I don't work in gives me ideas for the areas I do work in.
 

thughes

:::Pledge Member:::
::::Pledge Member::::
Joined
Sep 28, 2010
Messages
836
Location
Nashville TN
I agree Ed, I am clueless about precious metals and jewelry making, but I know more about it than I did just from these type of threads. Thanks.

Todd
 

James Roettger

Elite Cafe Member
Joined
Apr 21, 2008
Messages
242
Location
Minneapolis, MN
If anyone has managed to work rhodium could you please post a photo of the piece and describe the processes you used. Seeing it would go a long way to verifying it's workability.
 

Arnaud Van Tilburgh

~ Elite 1000 Member ~
Joined
Oct 3, 2008
Messages
4,221
Location
Belgium
By your answers so far, to me it seems almost impossible to "goldsmith" Rhodium. Of course never say never.
But me too I would like to know more about the process and the result, as I only believe what I see.

arnaud
 

DakotaDocMartin

~ Elite 1000 Member ~
Joined
Oct 15, 2007
Messages
1,835
Location
Grand Forks, ND
I found one discussion forum where a guy claimed to have made two rings from Rhodium by alloying it with 20% Platinum to make it malleable. He said he could only get it in powdered form. I don't know if he meant pieces like casting grain or if it was really a powder. It sounds like a lot of messing around to me.
 

Sponsors

Top