How are you able to rhodium plate a non-diamond WG piece? I've asked my SA numerous times at my home store and I keep getting told that they do not rhodium plate non-diamond WG pieces. If it is already rhodium plated, they will re-plate. I'm located in Houston.
How do the white gold bracelets age?
- Thread starter Tina1010
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The U.S. website now specifies you are able to rhodium plate pieces very clearly. My SA mentioned it several times as an option to me and then quoted me the price / lead time over text. $190 for bracelet and 3-4 weeks.
I think it depends on whether you A. dislike the colour of the non rhodium colour, B. want to wear it with other rhodium plated pieces (and it's important to you it matches), and C. and probably most importantly, if you're ok with the idea that eventually the rhodium will start to wear away and it will then need to be polished off in order to re plate it.
Every time you do that a little of the gold is lost I believe and I have a feeling that Cartier recommend not polishing a white gold piece more than once or twice in the lifetime of the item.
My SA just confirmed that they can do it for $190. Thanks for helping.
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Such a tough decision. I have a WG Love ring and it’s not rhodium plated and do not mind it at all. Based on some photo it looks like when the rhodium wears the bracelet looks more dull than without it…? Hard to tell from photos.
Completely agree with this. I believe they will only polish up to 3 times max, and each time you polish the Love edge will look a bit more rounded off.
I got the plain WG Love many years ago since I wanted a two tone contrast in my stack, and originally I was fine without the rhodium plating but it turned color quite fast. It’s like this dull yellowish dark grey color and personally I don’t like it. After wearing it for about 2 years daily I took it off since I didn’t like the color. I like my WG pieces bright and as light as possible and of all the branded jewelry pieces I have, Cartier WG and platinum are the darkest and looks most dull over time. It’s their own mix of alloys and to me it gives the effect of looking more masculine than it does delicate but it suits the silhouettes of many of their product lines. In my eyes over time they look more stainless steel than they do white gold. The only exception are the full pave pieces, I feel like they have a different alloy mix to make them look brighter or perhaps it just looks brighter from all the diamonds also.
Ultimately I ended up sending it in for a plating during Covid but I honestly haven’t worn it much since the plating came back.
If you’re unsure you could keep wearing them until the color turns and if you decide you don’t like the color anymore you could always plate it then.
I decided not to plate it for now - just to wear it as is. I’m a little worried about it turning yellow-ish… I’m fine with it turning a dark grey like stainless steel. Once it gets there you’re right it makes sense to do a polish and plating only at that stage of if I don’t like the color. But sounds like it may take a little while so I have time to assess.
Mine is a very similar colour to my stainless steel watch band, however whilst it is a warmer tone than any bright white rhodium pieces I own, I really don't think it's turned any more yellowish comparing it to the Love cuff I owned from new from the boutique and any other new Loves I've seen. It's just when you compare it to a rhodium plated piece it looks warmer
One of the reasons I prefer it is because rhodium plated pieces (such as the Bvlgari B Zero ring I owned) really do look yellow where the rhodium starts to wear, as the alloy is different. This stays pretty much the same colour in my opinion as no plating!
Thank you!!! I love the warmth / steel color that eventually develops - at least from my love ring and photos I have seen. Thanks for sharing your experience and this photo.
How do they look after plating? Does it change the color to look brighter or darker?
My SA just confirmed Cartier can rhodium plate for $190. Rhodium plating looks brighter and whiter than non-plated.