You have probably already heard of rhodium-plated silver jewellery. But maybe you didn’t really know what it was all about. Rhodium plating involves applying a thin layer of rhodium to the surface of a piece of jewellery. Rhodium plating will protect the silver to protect your silver jewellery from oxidation. Most of the silver jewellery sold in France or the United States is rhodium-plated.
Silver has one of the most important flaws: it blackens and tarnishes progressively over time. This phenomenon can take several years, months, days or even a few hours…impossible to determine beforehand.
Many people, however, do not know what causes this reaction of the material. Too often customers mistakenly think that the jeweller has sold them a poor quality silver jewel.
Don’t worry, this is not a sign of poor quality, but an intrinsic property of the chemical composition of silver.
The causes of tarnishing and blackening of silver :
Rhodium plating is an antioxidant treatment which consists of depositing a thin layer of rhodium by electrolysis on a silver jewel. Rhodium plating will protect silver and white gold from the chemical agents responsible for its blackening, i.e. the sulphur compounds present in the air and on the skin. It also offers a second major advantage: it makes it possible to obtain jewellery with a rare brilliance and gives your old jewellery back its original shine and light!
Discovered in 1803, rhodium is a rare and noble metal from the platinum group. It is a rare metal that comes mainly from South Africa, the Urals (Russia) and Ontario. Around 20 tonnes are currently produced each year.
Extremely expensive (more expensive than gold), it is silvery-white in colour and, above all, very hard and stainless at room temperature. Moreover, it does not tarnish over time.
It is important to know that although this process is remarkable, it is not eternal. The lifespan of this layer depends on its thickness and the care given to the jewel: 1 year, 2 years … sometimes a little longer. Indeed, friction and shocks are the main causes of its deterioration.
If you wish to keep your jewellery as you bought it, you will therefore need to regularly apply a new layer of rhodium (always accompanied by polishing beforehand to completely remove the old layer of rhodium).
As we have seen, rhodium is more expensive than gold. However, as the layer applied to the jewellery is thin, the extra cost is not astronomical.
At Dakaralliances, the rhodium plating of a silver ring will cost you around 5,000 FCFA. The price may be higher for bulky jewellery.
Finally, don’t forget that rhodium plating remains a choice. Certainly a silver jewel for example, will keep a new look without you having to maintain it, much longer than an untreated jewel. But you may also prefer to see your jewellery evolve over time.
hygiene or even cleaning. Sometimes it is the prolonged exposure of the jewel in a dusty area that is the cause.
If a few years ago, offering a gold-plated bracelet, baby medal or gold-plated birth plate was a sign of a small budget with this choice of a common metal, today gold-plated jewellery shows, displays and scrolls on the red carpets on the arms and necks of the most beautiful celebrities.
Technically, everyone knows that gold plating is a very successful reproduction of real gold, which makes it possible to make equally beautiful and inexpensive jewellery. Gold plating is suitable for men and women of all ages.
In the first place, what was known as “gold plating” was a technique used in art goldsmithing and cabinet making, for furniture and watches.
Then this technique spread to the jewellery industry, giving access to affordable jewellery that was offered for communion, baptism, as not everyone had the budget to offer solid gold jewellery.
There would also be the gold filled used by English jewellers, another goldsmithing technique applied notably on copper.
In recent years, gold-plated jewellery has become a fashion accessory. These jewels, equipped with a state-of-the-art plating technique, allow the reproduction of the most beautiful jewellery, and of haute couture jewellery which until now has often been unaffordable.
And given its appearance, effect and manufacturing cost, it is not uncommon to see it on very elaborate and even voluminous, sophisticated jewellery.
With gold-plated jewellery everyone can enjoy themselves at low prices and change with the latest fashions and trends.
The secrets of gold-plated manufacture
Rings, earrings, necklaces and other gold-plated jewellery sets are basically made of a metal such as copper, nickel or zinc. Some craftsmen opt for a silver base instead.
But it is the final step that makes all the difference: the deposition of a beautiful layer (usually 3 microns) of gold by electrolysis. 1 micron is worth 1/1,000 millimetre and corresponds to a layer of gold. This process is called electroplating.
The European standard is 3 microns, sometimes a layer with a higher density of 5 microns is used, giving it an incomparable hold and beauty, especially when it is a ring set with stones, for example.
A plating carried out according to the rules of the art easily leads to confusion. If you see, for example, Creole earrings from a distance, it will be difficult to tell whether they are made of real gold or not.
The hallmark is the first reliable indicator. It is a tiny mark that is similar to numbers or symbols indicating the number of carats for the precious metal.
The hallmark of gold plating is square and often bears the initials of the manufacturer and sometimes the number 18, or 14, or 10, 20, which correspond to the carats of gold used.
The hardness of the material, hardness of gold compared to gold-plated gold
Another tactic often used: Bite the jewel. It sounds extravagant but the teeth leave a trace on the real gold which is often softer.
Gently biting a gold medal leaves a trace, if you do the same with gold plating, there will be no trace, the alloy and plating make it a rather harder and heavier material.
Gold-plated jewellery can lose some of its lustre over time, mainly on areas in contact with the skin due to the acidity of the skin. But none of this can be seen at first glance anyway. And caring for the jewellery avoids all these inconveniences.
But the best way to be sure of this is to pay a visit to your jeweller.
Having fun without breaking your budget is already an excellent motivation.
Let’s not forget that plated jewellery sets contain gold, even if in small quantities.
What’s more, the result is impressive. The fact that gold-plated jewellery does not retain its eternal lustre is also advantageous. This makes it possible to change rings and other jewels as you wish. Remember that gold-plated jewellery is generally twelve times cheaper than real gold. And they do not require regular maintenance at the jeweller’s.
Whatever the circumstances, jewelry always brings an atypical touch to a woman’s look. Regardless of the raw material used to make them, jewelry is invaluable to those who know how to wear it correctly. It therefore remains to be seen what kind of jewelry to wear for a particular occasion and how much.
Women have always loved jewelry, but it’s not always easy to know how many to wear and how to match them well. Depending on the occasion, the number of jewels to wear can vary. In some cases, it may be as simple as wearing a necklace, ring, bracelet and earrings. In other situations, combining several rings or a number of bracelets is no problem.
Admittedly, for some, it is not always easy to determine how to proceed in these cases. However, it is important to note that it is above all a matter of taste like any other, it is not debatable. Only, the number of jewels to be worn must be adapted to the outfit and the event. For more special occasions, there is no point in cluttering up your look with too much jewelry, as this risks devaluing your elegant outfit. On the other hand, if it’s a casual event, you can perfectly embellish your presentation with your best pieces.
Jewelry is designed to add a luxurious touch to an outfit, especially if it is made from precious stones and metals. The raw material can be white gold, yellow gold, pink gold, gold-plated, solid silver, diamonds or other precious stones. The important thing is to know how to adapt them to the situation and to your personality.
It is always necessary to think carefully about the style you are planning to achieve with your jewelry. This is the best way to choose them according to the occasion. Be aware that a single misstep can ruin your entire look. For example, costume jewelry can be worn daily without any problems. Then, for more special occasions, dare to wear the most beautiful and precious pieces of your collection.
In order for a piece of jewelry to make its contribution to improving a look, it must be used wisely. As far as large pieces of jewelry are concerned, it is important to note that they should never be worn in large quantities. In this case, if you plan to wear fairly large earrings, you should leave the necklace aside. Even in the case of an ornament, you will have to pay attention to the association with your outfit. If you like to wear several necklaces together, our article on necklace layering should be of interest to you.
For women who want to wear their long jewelry together, here is an effective tip. As much as possible, separate the location of all the pieces. Note, however, that some jewelry looks its best when worn alone.
Nowadays, it is no problem to wear all the jewelry you have together. Only here there are certain rules to be taken into account. It is true that it is fashionable to accumulate a large number of precious items, but there are also a number of mistakes to be avoided. You can invent your own style with your jewelry, including bracelets, chains, bracelets, silver chains and rings.
Some women have put aside the desire to wear precious jewelry. Instead, they prefer to wear a variety of different pieces. Also, in their jewelry box, many women prefer to wear original jewelry that corresponds to their personality and tastes rather than gold or precious stone jewelry. The same is true for men’s jewelry, a pendant necklace with a simple design is often more appreciated than an eighteen-carat gold ring with a sapphire stone. Today, people are becoming aware that jewelry is not always ethical.
The age of a piece of jewellery can be a guarantee of quality and this also contributes to its timelessness, i.e. its ability to withstand the wear and tear of time. Thus, vintage can be classified in this lot. Indeed, vintage jewellery has become very fashionable. As a result, we see shops that only sell vintage jewellery. In this respect, it is essential to understand the characteristics of vintage jewellery in order to know how to choose it well when buying it.
There are many fashion accessories and not all of them are the same. Each accessory has its own characteristics, but also its quality and different types. In the world of jewellery, new items are constantly being added to the range. Manufacturers are always trying to innovate and allow their customers to discover quality jewellery that is in fashion.
Over the years, jewellery and accessories that were fashionable in the 1920s and 1970s have become very trendy, thanks to their ability to stand the test of time, but also because of their characteristics. Vintage accessories are characterised by this property.
Vintage or Vintage jewellery is the jewellery that came out of the 1920-1970’s and is still very trendy. As a result, jewellery that was considered antique and antique is considered vintage jewellery. This appellation makes it possible to understand that these jewels represent an old and very fashionable era.
Indeed, the craze for antique and vintage jewellery has become very big in the last decade. Customers are increasingly demanding these jewels which give an allure of antiquity, but also of resistance. Wearing vintage jewellery is a guarantee of quality and this thanks to the effect of time which is a guarantee of durability of these jewels. Even if these jewels were not very fashionable at the time, but today they are very popular and very much in demand by consumers.
Since vintage jewellery has become very fashionable, it is important to understand the reasons why you should choose this type of jewellery. Here are a few characteristics that distinguish it from other types of jewellery.
If we like vintage jewellery it is above all for its style which is unique. Because of its age, it differs from other types of jewellery in a very noticeable way. First of all, the patina of the gold is different and the stones are sometimes damaged, so it becomes inimitable. Also, there is the art deco style which is very seventies. The impressive style of the vintage jewel shows how much this jewel is appreciated by the general public.
When a piece of jewellery has been worn before, it has a unique history. This is the case with vintage jewellery. Indeed, a vintage jewel has a history because it has already been worn by another. While there are some people who do not appreciate the idea of wearing a piece of jewellery that has already been used, especially for an engagement ring, others see it as a way of reviving a story and highlighting a legacy. Vintage jewellery, for example, is becoming very popular because of this property.
When a piece of jewellery is old, it becomes unique and therefore rare. When you own a vintage piece of jewellery, you can be sure that no one else is wearing the same piece of jewellery as you. This is crucial in the world of fashion, where it is important to wear unique jewellery that sets you apart and enhances you.
Vintage jewellery inspires many designers today because of its originality. A touch of the olden days contributes to the originality of their creation. With vintage jewellery, you have the option of owning a piece of jewellery that is unique and distinctive.
Given its importance, style, originality and rarity, it is important to know how to choose your vintage jewellery. To do so, you need to know several fundamentals that will allow you to be certain that you have chosen the right vintage jewellery for you.
First of all, to get quality vintage jewellery, it is advisable to go to sites and stores that specialize in selling these types of jewellery. These sites are a guarantee of quality because they have been scrutinized by experts.
Next, you should choose to buy your vintage jewellery according to your favourites. When you like what you buy and you appreciate it, it will be easier to make the right choice.
The choice of your vintage jewellery should include the fact that the jewellery has survived the passage of time so it has a certain amount of wear and tear. Therefore, the renewal of the jewel must be done by experts. Do not choose a piece of jewellery that has not been reworked.
Once you have found the retro jewellery that suits you, we advise you to store it in a safe place like in a vintage jewellery box. This way, you will be sure not to lose your precious jewellery. Your storage will also be in the same style as the jewellery it contains.
Finally, it is possible to personalise your vintage jewellery by adding a first name, a date, a message to offer it to a loved one. This always pleases the person receiving the jewellery because you are proving a special mark of affection to him or her.
One way to impose one’s personality is to know how to impose one’s style through one’s look. With accessories such as earrings, necklaces or bracelets, a woman’s beauty is expressed through her elegance. Very trendy, ethnic jewellery has become one of the jewels that women like the most.
Pendants, rings, necklaces, necklaces are all ethnic jewellery. In the beginning, they all represent a people who define themselves by their know-how. Thus, it is the identity of an ethnic group that popularises a certain style of jewellery.
Even if they are ornaments in the form of costume jewellery, ethnic jewellery marks a whole community. They are creations of different ethnic groups from all over the world. In the world of fashion, these accessories find a prominent place because of their very original effects. Silver or gold, each piece of jewellery becomes a real reference. Each tribe has a unique know-how with which it can create original jewellery. The making of ethnic jewellery is a part of the handcrafted creations which is linked to the culture of a tribe. There is therefore a respect for tradition which is put forward to create jewellery that is as authentic as it is decorative. The use of precious stones also allows to bring an original touch to these jewellery models.
According to tradition, ethnic jewellery was used to fight against evil spells. This is why dream catchers are part of ethnic accessories. They are often accompanied by feathers or beads.
There are different techniques that you can use if you want to create ethnic jewellery yourself. The set of actions that you need to undertake is fairly easy to do, and the more you practice, the more you will get a good mastery of them.
Brazilian bracelets are certainly the simplest type of ethnic jewellery to turn to. The main interest lies in the fact that it is not necessary to use complex or hard-to-find materials. You simply need to have embroidery threads in different colours. To make this type of bracelet, the first thing to do is to choose coloured threads, which are then tied together at their base with a knot. You have the possibility to choose shades that are in accordance with your personality, or your taste.
The colours should be arranged so that each one has its own projection from the centre. That is to say that if the order of the colours from the left is red then green then orange, this order must be reversed for the colours on the right. The next step is to simply attach each thread to the one nearby. This will make it possible to highlight each of the chosen colours. For advanced users, there are techniques that allow words to appear on such bracelets.
The opal with its rainbow colours seduces the eye and has an effective effect on mental and physical well-being. This precious stone enhances sensations, trains perception and inspires.
Already in the Middle Ages, people used healing stones, but it was not until the 20th century that precious stones were increasingly used again to relieve mental and physical pain. Healing stones do not replace professional treatment, but they can optimally complement various therapies. Opals are considered to be the strongest soul stones, increase the quality of life and support spontaneous action. The more intense the colours, the more the qualities of the gemstones reveal themselves.
Already in antiquity, opal was important as a precious protective stone. The ancients described the gemstone as “the fire of carbuncle, the beautiful sea green of emerald, the shimmering purple of amethyst, the golden yellow of topaz and the azure blue of sapphire” – a stone that combines all colours in a dreamy blend. According to Greek mythology, the opal captured the tears of the supreme Greek god Zeus after the defeat of the Titans. Already at that time, opal healing stones were used as soul stones for the perception of real love. You can check minerals-kingdom.com for more about opal stone.
The name “Opal” probably comes from the ancient Indian Sanskrit language, in which the word “precious stone” is translated as “upala”. In ancient Greece, opals were called “opallios”. Opal appears in an incredible variety: fire opal, white opal, black opal, glass opal, pink opal, common opal. In Australia, one of these beautiful gemstones was discovered purely by chance in 1849, but it wasn’t until 1890 that mining began on a larger scale. In 2008, NASA issued a statement indicating that large areas of opal are found on Mars.
Opals are formed by accumulations of siliceous fluids from various types of rock. When the organic matter or silicon dioxide dries out, tiny spheres of water form which trigger opalescence by refraction. This is why the gemstone shines in splendid rainbow colours. Opals vary greatly in appearance, depending on the type of trace elements they contain, such as silver, cobalt or copper. Fire opal, for example, is formed in volcanic rock.
Opals are found in more than 3,000 places around the world, including Ethiopia, Madagascar, Germany, Indonesia, Turkey, New Zealand, Mexico and Russia. However, about 95% of the stones are mined in Australia. The largest opal to date has been found in Slovakia. The gemstone, which weighs almost 600 grams, has been on display at the Imperial Treasury in Vienna since 1672. For the zodiac signs Cancer and Pisces, opal is the main stone. It gives harmony to Cancer, takes great care of Pisces and gives them more joy of life.