Jewelry use of noble rhodium in products. Rhodium and rhodium plating Black rhodium in jewelry

Rhodium is a precious metal that is part of the platinum group. It also includes platinum itself, palladium, ruthenium, iridium and osmium. Rhodium has a cold shine white. It is more resistant to corrosion than platinum. Rhodium is inferior to silver in its ability to reflect light, but this metal does not fade over time.

Everyone knows that precious metals cannot be cheap. And since rhodium also belongs to this category, the price per gram of the metal, which is also quite rare, is also quite high. Why then is it not used as a base metal for jewelry? The reason is the fragility of this metal. At the same time, it has amazing resistance to wear and mechanical damage, and compared to platinum it is much harder. And jewelers found an excellent use for it, offering the world rhodium-plated jewelry.

Why do you need rhodium plating?

Platinum and white gold are often coated with a layer of rhodium. This gives the products brightness and protects them from damage. It is worth noting that a separate metal called “white gold” does not exist in nature. White gold is an alloy of gold with a white metal - palladium, silver or nickel. The alloy turns out to have a yellowish tint, which somehow does not fit with the name. And the higher the sample of the material, the brighter the yellowness. Therefore, to give jewelry a beautiful color and shine, they are rhodium plated - rhodium plating is performed on jewelry. This procedure has a positive effect not only on the appearance of the product, but also on its durability. Rhodium coating performs a protective function, since this metal does not tarnish over time and does not lose its color. Rhodium is less prone to scratches than gold, and a product with such a coating may not deteriorate for a long time, even with daily wear. But this procedure is popular not only for white gold - rhodium-plated silver retains its shine much longer and does not turn black so quickly.

Pros and cons of rhodium plating

As we learn more and more about this expensive and rare metal, in the end, one cannot help but wonder whether rhodium is harmful to health or not? We hasten to reassure you: rhodium cannot cause any harm to your health. Including rhodium plating on jewelry or jewelry. Moreover, for those who want to wear items made of silver or gold, but are prone to allergies to these metals, rhodium can come to the rescue, because this metal is completely hypoallergenic. The disadvantages of rhodium plating include the fact that it is a temporary measure. Even rhodium can wear off over time, requiring repeated procedures. It is difficult to determine exactly how long the effect will last. This depends, first of all, on the thickness of the coating and on the frequency of wearing the product. When purchasing platinum, silver or gold jewelry, be sure to find out if it is rhodium plated. Although this can significantly increase the cost of the item, it is still more profitable to purchase it with a protective layer than to later restore tarnished jewelry.

Rhodium plated: all the pros and cons – rhodium plated

Rhodium plated. concept, advantages and disadvantages, all markings of rhodium-plated jewelry in Russia and abroad, what precious metals are plated with rhodium?

Rhodium is the most durable coating for jewelry

In the description of jewelry you can often find the following interpretations: “rhodium plated”, “rhodium-plated product”, “rhodium-plated silver”, “rhodium-plated white gold”, “gold plated with rhodium”, “the jewelry has undergone rhodium plating”, etc.

All these definitions say the same thing: that the decoration has a thin coating of precious metal – rhodium.

Rhodium is a platinum group metal, not inferior in value to gold, but in hardness it is much superior: the hardness of rhodium is more than 5 times higher than the hardness of gold. By the way, rhodium is twice as hard as platinum. And it is only inferior to steel (101 kgf/mm2 versus 123 kgf/mm2 - Brinell hardness).

It is this hardness that makes rhodium an indispensable material for all kinds of coatings. In addition, rhodium-plated jewelry acquires extraordinary shine and shine.

Thus, jewelry is plated with rhodium in practical(increased strength and wear resistance) and aesthetic purposes(giving shine).

Most often rhodium plated jewelry is made from white gold

in the photo is 18-karat white gold without rhodium plating (left) and with rhodium plating (right)

in the photo there is a ring made of silver in natural form and rhodium plated

In Russia and Ukraine, white gold 585, 750 or 375 is plated with rhodium. Abroad, white gold is rhodium-plated with a purity of 9 carats (375 hallmark), 10 carats (417 – inter-cork), 14 carats (ours 585) or 18 carats (750 gold purity). As for silver, rhodium plating is applied to silver items made in 925 standard.

In addition, if you want to give new life your old silver jewelry or experiment and turn a piece of jewelry (ring or earrings) from red gold into white - you can rhodium plate your jewelry at your nearest jewelry workshop.

To extend the service life, sometimes even base metals, the so-called brass-based jewelry alloys. - plated with rhodium. However, it will be more economical to coat the jewelry alloy with silver rather than with rhodium, which is why costume jewelry is often silver-plated. Thus, in jewelry, silver plating is a cheaper alternative to rhodium plating, but less durable.

About rhodium plating platinum read below.

Rhodium plating can be of various colors - white, pink and even the traditional yellow - the color of gold. The white rhodium plating definitely takes the cake.

Black rhodium is especially brilliant. Jewelry with black rhodium plating is truly exclusive.

Pure rhodium is not used in jewelry

No matter how beautiful this precious metal is, jewelry is not made from pure rhodium. First of all, due to the rarity of rhodium in nature. Explored global reserves of rhodium amount to only a few tons. Therefore, metal is used only in those areas where there is no worthy alternative to it.

And the physical characteristics of rhodium make it difficult for jewelers to work with this precious metal. Rhodium is a very hard, refractory metal. Melting point of rhodium almost 2 times higher than the melting point of gold.

Rhodium + platinum and palladium

Rhodium is also added as an alloying additive to platinum and palladium alloys, pursuing the same goal - to make the alloy even stronger and more durable.

Is platinum coated with rhodium? Excerpt from the Resolution Russian Federation dated June 18, 1999 N 643 “On the procedure for testing and branding products from precious metals": "It is allowed to coat jewelry and other household items made from alloys of white gold, silver or platinum with a layer of rhodium, provided that these items are branded as gold, silver or platinum, respectively." Therefore, theoretically, the use of rhodium as a coating for platinum products is possible, and there is a corresponding reason for this (this resolution). In practice, I have never encountered rhodium-plated platinum.

It should be noted that rhodium is absolutely hypoallergenic .

Rhodium plating markings

In English-language online jewelry stores, rhodium-plated items will be marked as follows:

rhodium plated white gold(9-18 Karat) – white gold of so many carats is plated with rhodium
rhodium silver jewelry– rhodium-plated silver jewelry
rhodium plated sterling silver– sterling silver with rhodium plated
black rhodium gold– gold plated with black rhodium

In its turn white gold unplated will indicate that white gold is not rhodium plated.

Rhodium plating price. Read more about rhodium plating on jewelry, the lifespan of rhodium, and the cost of refinishing rhodium plating.

10 facts about rhodium and rhodium plating. Use of rhodium in the jewelry industry. Rhodium - in pictures.

gold plated- gilding of jewelry abroad. How imported gold plating is marked, how long the gold plating lasts - find out all the details.

Metal rhodium. Rhodium plated

Rhodium is a precious metal that is part of the platinum group. It also includes platinum itself, palladium, ruthenium, iridium and osmium.

Rhodium has a cool white shine. It is more resistant to corrosion than platinum. Rhodium is inferior to silver in its ability to reflect light, but this metal does not fade over time.

Rhodium was discovered in 1803 by the English scientist William Wollaston. This specialist is known to us because he was the first to make small high-quality diamonds from large stones with defects, and was also able to isolate platinum from ore.

Rhodium prices

Everyone knows that precious metals cannot be cheap. And since rhodium also belongs to this category, the price per gram of the metal, which is also quite rare, is also quite high.

Until November 2008, the price of rhodium rose inexorably, reaching its shocking critical level of $10,100 per troy ounce. (about 31.5 grams). after which it collapsed to $900. As of April 8, 2015, the price of rhodium is $37.13 per gram, which, you see, is not cheap at all. Why then is it not used as a base metal for jewelry?

The reason is the fragility of this metal. At the same time, it has amazing resistance to wear and mechanical damage, and compared to platinum it is much harder. And jewelers found an excellent use for it, offering the world rhodium-plated jewelry.

Why do you need rhodium plating?

Platinum and white gold are often coated with a layer of rhodium. This gives the products brightness and protects them from damage. It is worth noting that a separate metal called “white gold” does not exist in nature. White gold is an alloy of gold with a white metal - palladium, silver or nickel. The alloy turns out to have a yellowish tint, which somehow does not fit with the name. And the higher the sample of the material, the brighter the yellowness. Therefore, to give jewelry a beautiful color and shine, they are rhodium plated - rhodium plating is performed on jewelry.

This procedure has a positive effect not only on the appearance of the product, but also on its durability. Rhodium coating performs a protective function, since this metal does not tarnish over time and does not lose its color. Rhodium is less prone to scratches than gold, and a product with such a coating may not deteriorate for a long time, even with daily wear. But this procedure is popular not only for white gold - rhodium-plated silver retains its shine much longer and does not turn black so quickly.

Pros and cons of rhodium plating

As we learn more and more about this expensive and rare metal, in the end, one cannot help but wonder whether rhodium is harmful to health or not? We hasten to reassure you: rhodium cannot cause any harm to your health. Including rhodium plating on costume jewelry or jewelry. Moreover, for those who want to wear items made of silver or gold, but are prone to allergies to these metals, rhodium can come to the rescue, because this metal is completely hypoallergenic.

The disadvantages of rhodium plating include the fact that it is a temporary measure. Even rhodium can wear off over time, requiring repeated procedures. It is difficult to determine exactly how long the effect will last. This depends, first of all, on the thickness of the coating and on the frequency of wearing the product. (metal wears off from contact with other products and skin) .

When purchasing platinum, silver or gold jewelry, be sure to find out if it is rhodium plated. Although this can significantly increase the cost of the item, it is still more profitable to purchase it with a protective layer than to later restore tarnished jewelry.

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Svetlissa 06/22/2016

I bought a small batch of silver from Russian manufacturers and Turkish, it seems, it says rhodium plating. I searched the Internet and came across the fact that rhodium compounds are toxic and hazardous to health. On another site I found information that silver is not coated with pure rhodium. How can this be? Maybe Is it harmful? I understand that licenses, certificates, etc., but my conscience rejects these arguments of reason. And this batch of Turkish silver worries me too. How can I find out how pure it is, whether it’s technical silver?

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If you manage to dissolve rhodium in something, which is a practically impossible task in everyday life, then yes, a solution of rhodium in anything will be lethally toxic. The truth is that it is most likely not the rhodium itself that will send you to the next world, but the solvents.

Hundreds of millions of people wear rhodium-plated products. Allergies to rhodium are as rare as to gold, and toxicity is generally excluded. Rhodium, like gold, is a noble metal, which means that it is extremely difficult to force it to react chemically. And any toxic effect is primarily participation in a chemical reaction. If reactions are almost impossible, then there can be no talk of toxicity.

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MooZe 06/23/2016

I came across radioactive silver, or rather I was warned that it was brought from the Simipalatinsk test sites, and it is clearly phonite. I refused, I didn’t take the risk. The problem is that even the purity of silver will fade for a long time. It's quite possible that someone bought it

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It’s also almost difficult to imagine. The longest-lived radioisotope of silver, Ag110, has a half-life of only 250 days. Even if a piece of silver had been at the epicenter of the latest test, after a few years, not only a radiometer, not even a spectrometer, its radiation would no longer be detected. Ag110 is used for medical purposes; obtaining it is a very difficult process. There is no radioactive silver in nature.

Characteristics, pros and cons of rhodium plated silver

Silver is a unique metal whose properties allow it to be used not only in the jewelry industry, but also in the manufacture of parts for technical devices, as well as in medicine. Silver is characterized by softness and ductility, which makes the metal susceptible to deformation, which is why it is not used in its pure form. To enhance the strength of the metal, copper is added to it. But even this does not protect silver from deformation, since the jewelry industry uses alloys in which the proportion of silver exceeds 90%. Therefore, to protect silver from the effects of negative factors, it is coated with a layer of rhodium. In the subject literature and on electronic resources you can find phrases such as “radiated silver” and “rhodium-plated silver”.

Many people think that they are the same thing, but in fact they are not.

Rhodium plated silver

Rhodium plated silver is coated with a layer of rhodium, a rare metal belonging to the platinum group. Rhodium is several times more expensive than gold, so it is not used in jewelry production. At the same time, this metal is considered incredibly hard, which makes it suitable for making protective layers that cover jewelry. This procedure is called rhodium plating.

A layer of rhodium is applied not only to silver jewelry, but also to those made of 750-carat white gold. Rhodium plating not only protects jewelry from damage, but also gives it an exquisite shine. In addition, silver items with such a coating cannot be visually distinguished from platinum, the most expensive metal used in the jewelry industry. For rhodium plating, the galvanic method is used, and the procedure itself takes a few minutes.

Silver ring with rhodium-plated stone

Rhodium coating has a significant drawback: it wears off over time, especially for areas of jewelry that are constantly in contact with the skin. Rhodium plating also wears off at the points where the links are fastened. But this is not a reason to refuse exquisite jewelry, because the coating can be restored. To do this, just contact a master jeweler. Rhodium plating cannot be called a cheap service, since such coating consists of an expensive precious metal. For example, rhodium plating on a medium-thick ring will cost the client approximately $15.

Every owner of rhodium-plated jewelry should know that such silver requires special care and respect.

1. The rhodium layer can be destroyed under the influence of aggressive detergents - washing powder, dishwashing gel, etc. Therefore, during hand wash When washing dishes, rings and bracelets must be removed. Sprayed jewelry can also deteriorate when exposed to alcohol, so do not allow it to come into contact with alcohol-containing toners, lotions, etc.
2. Rhodium-plated products should not be treated with abrasive powders to clean surfaces, as solid particles will damage the coating.
3. Special chemical cleaners designed for caring for silver are not suitable for caring for items with a rhodium layer. These substances can be used to clean silver. but only if it does not have any coverage.
4. Rhodium plating deteriorates when exposed to sweat, so jewelry with this plating should be removed before going to the gym. The same rule applies to going to the pool, since water containing chlorine can cause the destruction of the rhodium layer.
5. How to clean silver with rhodium? In fact, the list of products that help clean such jewelry is limited. For example, you can prepare soapy water and thoroughly rinse jewelry that needs cleaning with it. After this, you should rinse the products clean water and wipe gently soft cloth. The same technique is suitable for cleaning jewelry with precious stones.
6. Rhodium-plated jewelry should be stored correctly. A jewelry box is suitable for this purpose, but in no case a box made of cardboard. The thing is that cardboard may contain sulfur, and this substance provokes the oxidation of silver and the loss of its attractive appearance. If the product is not worn for a long time, it is recommended to store it in a piece of flannel.

The difference between pure silver and rhodium plated silver

Jewelry coated with a layer of rhodium, in addition to its advantages, also has disadvantages. For example, if a silver chain coated with such metal suddenly breaks, then after repairing it, the rhodium layer must be renewed, which will increase repair costs several times.

What is radium?

In many sources of information you can find such a phrase as “radiated silver”. Rhodium-plated metal is mistakenly called this, but such an error can be very misleading to the reader. If jewelry were coated with radium rather than rhodium, it would become deadly to its owner, and all because radium is a radioactive chemical element. For this reason, it cannot be used in any way in the jewelry industry, because the use of silver, which contains radium, would be fatal to humans.

Radium as a chemical element was discovered by the Curies, for which they received the Nobel Prize. It was found that radium is a decay product of uranium, so it can be found in small quantities in uranium ore. This metal is catastrophically scarce in nature. Thus, since the discovery of radium, scientists have extracted only one and a half kilograms of this metal.

Despite the danger of the chemical element, effective use was still found. For example, radon baths have been considered an effective method for treating diseases of the musculoskeletal system for several decades in a row. Radium was also used in technology; for example, in the last century, this metal was used to make luminous coatings that serve as backlight for watch dials and aircraft instruments. But due to radioactivity, radium was no longer used for this purpose.

The difference between rhodium-plated and radiated silver is colossal, since the latter option does not exist at all.

Most commonly used in manufacturing jewelry precious metals are silver, gold and platinum. However, not all connoisseurs of such products know that the platinum group metals, also classified as precious, include rhodium.

This metal has a noble white tint with a metallic sheen and is very similar in appearance to silver. Rhodium is characterized by increased strength, resistance to corrosion and acids. However, it will not be possible to find jewelry made entirely from it - the price of rhodium is very high, and the metal is too difficult to process.

Yet it is widely used in the jewelry industry to increase the wear resistance of items made from other materials, as well as to give them a presentable appearance and create unusual designs.

What is rhodium plating and what is it used for?

Rhodium plating is the process of coating a piece of jewelry with a thin layer of rhodium. Typically, the spray thickness varies from 0.1 to 25 microns. As a result of this procedure finished decoration gains the following advantages:

• increased strength and resistance to negative environmental influences;
• steel shine that does not disappear over time;
• original design;
• hypoallergenic.

Plating a product with rhodium is carried out as follows:

The jewelry is subjected to pre-treatment - polishing or grinding to obtain a perfectly smooth surface, allowing the application of the thinnest layer of rhodium. Most often, products are rhodium-plated immediately after manufacture without additional processing;

The product is thoroughly washed and degreased, after which it is sent to a galvanic bath filled with a special solution. Under the influence of an electric current passed through the solution, rhodium begins to be released, gradually covering the product with a thin layer. Depending on the duration of the procedure and the intensity of the current discharge, the thickness of the final coating varies.

Rhodium plating of precious metals

Increasingly, in the manufacture of jewelry, a combination of natural yellow gold and artificially created gold is used, which is essentially an alloy of yellow metal with palladium or nickel. However, the color of such an alloy is far from perfect - it has a yellowish or grayish tint, which is not a standard of aesthetics. It is on such alloys that rhodium is sprayed, which gives the product a noble white shining color. Sometimes rhodium is used to lighten yellow gold, bypassing the stage of creating the alloy.

Silver items are rhodium-plated much less frequently. The cost of rhodium, which is a platinum group element, is quite high, and silver products are usually relatively inexpensive. However, in the manufacture of elite models, rhodium plating allows you to achieve the purest color that does not fade over time.

Another way to use rhodium, beloved by jewelers, is to combine the precious metal with diamonds. When using stones in items made of yellow gold, the shimmer of light in the edges is somewhat concealed, and the jewelry loses its charm. White alloys, on the contrary, focus attention on the diamond, emphasizing its purity and transparency. A skillful combination of rhodium and cool-toned stones allows you to create a product that attracts attention with its beauty.

Disadvantages of rhodium plating

Despite the fact that plating jewelry with rhodium has many advantages, this procedure still has some disadvantages:

• Over time, the coating wears off, and the period during which it remains on the product depends on its thickness and the operating conditions of the jewelry;
• in the case of selling a rhodium-plated product, the integrity of the coating will have to be damaged in order to make an accurate assessment of the cost of the jewelry;
• high cost of rhodium-plated jewelry.

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Rhodium Protective Plating for Silver Jewelry

Jewelry made from precious metals, including silver jewelry, is subject to numerous mechanical damages during daily use, because silver by its nature is a fairly soft metal. Silver rings and chains are especially susceptible to this threat. As a result, your favorite piece of jewelry can quickly lose its presentable appearance and forever migrate to a dark jewelry box. But when we buy a piece of jewelry that we like, we don’t want to quickly part with it because of minor damage and scuffs. To solve this common problem, jewelers use a special treatment procedure using rhodium plating on the silver.

Solution

Rhodium plating is a fairly common way to prevent premature wear. This procedure Quite often used by jewelers around the world not only to increase the wear resistance of jewelry, but also to give the product a platinum shine and a noble appearance.

The procedure itself is nothing more than sputtering a thin (0.1-25 microns thick) layer of rhodium onto the silver product itself. The cost of this process is already included in the final purchase price. Rhodium is a rare metal whose price is much higher than that of platinum. It has a higher level of resistance to corrosion and mechanical wear than other precious metals. Rhodium belongs to the group of noble metals due to its spectacular appearance and high chemical resistance. It retains a cold shine for a long time, which cannot be said about silver, and due to its high hardness it wears out much more slowly. Rhodium is a very hard gray metal with a noble silvery tint, which also has a very high level of reflectivity. It is precisely because of these qualities that this metal has not escaped the attention of jewelry manufacturers.

Rhodium plating on silver gives jewelry additional strength and shine, and also greatly prolongs its beauty.

Main pros and cons of the procedure

The main advantage of rhodium plating silver products is to improve the presentation of such decoration. Attractive platinum shine very well emphasizes the beauty of the shine of cubic zirconia and other stones. This procedure is also widely used for protective purposes, because rhodium is much harder than other precious metals, and therefore minor scratches and abrasions are not visible on it, and with daily use it suffers less damage. This metal never tarnishes or changes color, which is especially important for silver jewelry.

But with all its advantages, rhodium plating also has several disadvantages. The cost of this metal is ten times the price of gold, but jewelry is not made from it because it is a very fragile material. It is this characteristic that is its main disadvantage, because when soldering or other repairs, the rhodium plating can crack and even fall off in pieces. A very unpleasant fact that must be taken into account when sending the product to the workshop. Another disadvantage is that the rhodium layer is very thin, and therefore can simply wear off with frequent use. Therefore, such jewelry may require repeated rhodium plating procedures, and this is an additional material expense that will have to be added to the original price for the silver item.

The lifespan of rhodium-plated jewelry varies, it all depends on several objective factors, the main one of which is the intensity of use. So, the service life is much longer than that of rings and chains.

Rhodium plating is a technology that can extend the life of your favorite silver jewelry. Its use is already included in the price of the product. But time and frequent use can negatively affect the thickness of the plating layer of a silver object. Therefore, when buying jewelry using rhodium plating technology, it is worth keeping in mind that it may be necessary to add the cost of a repeated rhodium plating procedure to the price of the product. But if silver jewelry suits you and you really like it, what can you do for beauty.

Until the 20s of the last century, Russia purchased such a precious metal as rhodium from abroad. Rhodium is a metal that is obtained today by processing platinum. Experts say that to obtain 1 kilogram of rhodium it is necessary to process several tons of platinum. The problem of rhodium mining in Russia was based on the fact that in this country, where considerable reserves of platinum and, accordingly, rhodium are concentrated, they were completely unable to extract rhodium from those valuable additives contained in native platinum. Today, rhodium mining technologies are also known in Russia. This precious metal is prized. What are its main properties, scope of application, cost and other aspects - we will try to answer all these questions in the article.

Properties and application

The simple substance rhodium is a solid transition metal with a silvery-white color. Rhodium belongs to the noble metals of the platinum group.

It is important! Among all the unique properties of rhodium, it is worth noting that in terms of resistance in most corrosive environments it is significantly superior to platinum.

Rhodium is a chemical element, a precious metal with unique properties

In general, the main chemical properties rhodium are:

• the possibility of dissolving the metal when boiling in aqua regia, which is a mixture of two acids: nitric and hydrochloric;
• the ability to dissolve in hydrogen peroxide and sulfuric acid;
• this metal has high chemical resistance;
• rhodium reacts with non-metals only at red heat;
• The oxidation process of rhodium occurs at temperatures above 600 degrees Celsius.

Rhodium is a unique precious metal, the scope of which is varied.

Rhodium is often used in catalysts, in particular, in catalytic filters, which are catalysts for car exhaust gases.

An alloy of rhodium with its “brother” platinum is a very effective catalyst in the production of nitric acid by oxidizing ammonia with air. It is in this area that rhodium as a catalyst metal has no analogues.

Rhodium is also a construction material, which is used in the production of glass and mirrors. Here, too, rhodium “acts” in a pair of platinum.

The precious metal rhodium in alloys with iridium and/or platinum is used in the production of thermocouples, which are used to effectively measure high temperatures up to 2200 degrees Celsius.

In jewelry galvanic rhodium plating electrolytes are actively used, with the help of which experienced jewelers achieve exceptional wear resistance and corrosion resistance of the coatings of their products.

The amazing slightly cold shine of the precious metal rhodium in combination with various inserts of precious metals, in particular cubic zirconia and diamonds, takes on an exceptional look.

Rhodium is also used in the jewelry industry as a master alloy in the production of platinum and (or) palladium products. Rhodium plating on jewelry allows for exceptional hardness, which helps protect it from scratches and gives the product a bright shine.

Price

World prices for rhodium are in constant dynamics. For example, in 1998, the cost of 1 troy ounce of rhodium did not even reach 1,400 US dollars. The peak of rhodium price growth occurred at the end of 2008 and the beginning of 2009, after which prices fell sharply to the level of 1,400 US dollars, within which their subsequent dynamics occurred.

It is important! In 2009, the cost of 1 troy ounce of rhodium almost reached $7,000.

If we talk about the sphere of jewelry services, it is worth noting that among them, such a service as rhodium plating of gold and silver jewelry, or, more simply, rhodium plating, certainly deserves attention.

Rhodium plated ring

In the CIS countries, this service is provided by individual private jewelry companies. Its cost ranges up to 1 US dollar per 1 gram of product that needs to be plated with rhodium.

Health effects

Rhodium plating is used in the production of platinum and white gold jewelry, which gives the latter brightness and creates protection against various kinds damage.

The rhodium plating procedure for jewelry has a positive effect on both the appearance of the jewelry and its durability. Experts in the jewelry industry say with confidence that rhodium plating, among other things, also performs a protective function, which is manifested in the fact that such a coating protects jewelry from tarnishing and loss of color.

The precious metal rhodium, like gold, is practically not prone to scratches, and therefore rhodium-plated jewelry can serve its owner for a long time, even if such jewelry is subjected to daily wear.

Rhodium plating has its advantages and disadvantages.

In general, rhodium-plated jewelry cannot cause any harm to health. The same can be said about rhodium-plated jewelry. In addition, rhodium plating can become a kind of “lifesaver” for those people who prefer silver or gold jewelry, but are susceptible to allergic reactions that occur when these precious metals interact with the skin.

It is important! Rhodium is absolutely hypoallergenic.

Nonetheless, rhodium delivery procedure has a number disadvantages:

1. Rhodium plating is a temporary measure because the coating disappears over time, which often requires a repeat procedure.
2. The presence of rhodium plating on a finished piece of jewelry can significantly affect the cost of the piece.

Rhodium is, in fact, a unique precious metal. It is used in industry, jewelry, and the chemical industry. The unique properties of this precious metal, which determine the variety of uses of rhodium, significantly influence the pricing policy of this precious metal.

Rhodium plating on jewelry can often be a lifesaver for jewelry connoisseurs.

Origin and properties of rhodium

Russia has been purchasing for a long time rhodium abroad, until the 20s of the last century. This is despite the fact that the element was discovered by the Englishman William Guide back in 1803. Yes and rhodium reserves Russia has some of the largest in the world.

The fact is that the rare metal is contained only in native platinum, and then only in hundredths of a percent. To extract a kilogram of rhodium, it is necessary to process tons, and just before the first quarter of the 20th century in our country they did not know how to purify it from impurities.

European scientists were in no hurry to share with the Russians the technology for extracting rhodium, palladium and other valuable additives contained in native platinum.

So the Soviet authorities had to create a domestic center for the study of platinum in 1918. First mined rhodium The Russians extracted it from it only in 1925. The importance of what happened can be understood if we remember how much an ounce of rare metal now costs. The English unit of weight is 28 grams, and they ask for at least 7 thousand dollars for it.

Applications of rhodium

Rhodium price is high not only because the element is precious, but also because there are more industries where it is needed than the metal itself. If its reserves were more impressive, then rhodium would be useful in obtaining pure graphite. It is used in reactors of nuclear power plants. It has an expensive element and disinfecting properties, for example, it purifies water.

But, use rhodium only where there is no cheaper and more widespread alternative. Every year, several hundred kilograms of metal are spent on the production of nitric acid. Without rhodium and platinum mesh, the substance cannot be obtained. The metal base serves as a catalyst for a chemical reaction.

Without rhodium metal production of glassware for chemical laboratories is not costly. The precious element does not react with virtually any elements. Any substance can be mixed in rhodium flasks and test tubes.

Without the metal placed under the 45th number in , it is impossible to measure high temperatures. Rhodium is so heat resistant that it is used to make thermocouples. These are temperature sensors made of two connected conductors. Rhodium parts capable of recording, without melting, a temperature of 1800 degrees Celsius.

The 45th element is needed in the manufacture of car exhaust systems. In them, the metal acts as a catalyst. Rhodium coats the mirrors of measuring equipment. The rare element is slightly inferior in reflective properties, but is resistant to gases that can cause corrosion of elements.

From precious substances and filters for liquid crystal monitors. The need for them is growing every year. More and more rhodium is required for this industry. Eat precious minerals, which in artificial conditions grow only on filters made of platinum and rhodium alloy.

#45 metal plating is necessary for some precious jewelry. The film of rare metal makes the products sparkle. Rhodium reflects 80% of the rays of the visible spectrum. Jewelry with rhodium do not lose their shine for many years. By the way, it's cold shine of rhodium perfectly emphasizes the shimmer of diamonds and cubic zirconia. They try to cover it with rare metal.

It often contains, which causes allergies, redness and itching of the skin in 20% of people. Rhodium sputtering prevents the dangerous metal from coming into contact with the body. In addition, products with element No. 45 do not scratch, do not oxidize, and are resistant to temperatures. Products with rare metal are called rhodium-plated.

And yet, if possible, jewelers try to replace rhodium with other precious metals, for example. It is slightly inferior in characteristics to element No. 45, but is more accessible. Geologists estimate the world's rhodium reserves at only a few tons. Every year, humanity spends about half a ton.

Rhodium deposits and mining

Previously, the main deposits were located in Russia. Impressive reserves of native platinum were found in the Urals. But now they have already been developed. Today, Mexico is the leader in rhodium production and reserves. It is followed by South Africa and Colombia. There is precious metal content in the US gold sands. Other countries are content with crumbs.

Rose is the queen of flowers, and rhodium, apparently, is the king of metals. The name of the element translated from ancient Greek means “rose”. True, when the rare metal was named, it had not yet been used, and therefore they did not suspect the importance of his person. Rhodium gets its name from the color of its typical compounds - they are red, like roses.

Humanity cannot lose this metal. Therefore, technology is being developed rhodium mining from radioactive waste. Metal #45 accumulates in them. There are up to 180 grams of the element per ton of fragments.

Nuclear energy is so developed that the extraction of rhodium from waste, its production in volume should exceed the amount of metal extracted from the ores of the earth's crust. Physicists are also working on designs for new reactors in which even more metal No. 45 will accumulate.

You can lose all the rhodium if you dissolve its alloy in hydrochloric acid and then filter it. The reaction will give rhodium deposit, called finely dispersed. It explodes in air.

So, the king’s reserves of precious metals and, perhaps, the land surrounding the point of explosion will disappear at once. The finely dispersed state of the metal is the only one in which it is not stable. Compact element No. 45, as already mentioned, does not react to any “irritants”.