Rhodium Plating
One of your articles mentioned Rhodium plating over white gold and sometimes over platinum. I am curious to know what the thickness of the Rhodium might be?
Perhaps you can also help out with the terms used in measuring plating. Most times I've had the answer given in mils. I've since learned that the term mils might not be correct as in saying that 1 Micron = 40 mils (platers have told me this for years). My understanding now is that 1 Micron = 40 micro inches. What's a mil and does it apply to plating at all?
Thank you for your prompt response.
Roger,
Great question! Typical commercial grade jeweler will have 0.05 -0.10 microns (10-20 micro inches). This thickness may cause micro-cracks along the rhodium plating surface. The yellow gold bleed-through will appear quicker in thinner rhodium plating. On the other hand, non-commercial grade jewelry will have about 1.5-2.0 microns of rhodium plating.
