Costume jewelry is a nice way to get an affordable piece of bling…until it starts losing its color from all that wear. In order to get it looking nice and bright again, you’ll have to get it plated- but that’s not too easy to do when your jewelry is silver colored! Learn more about how to replate silver costume jewelry here.
Why Is My Costume Jewelry Changing Color?
Costume jewelry, unlike fine jewelry, is usually made from a very cheap metal such as copper, brass, bronze, or even a mixture of metals. These metals are not like gold and platinum- they’ll tarnish and turn colors over time, like black, rust, or even green. To make the appearance of these metals look better, manufacturers will plate on top of these metals with a thin layer of fine metal, such as gold. This gives the jewelry its nice shiny color and allows the manufacturer to sell the pieces as “gold-plated” or “silver-plated.”
Naturally, over time this plating will come off. Think of it like paint being rubbed off a wooden bench that’s been sitting outside; the daily wear and tear your jewelry sustains will remove the plating. Unlike paint, however, reapplying this plating is not as easy.
Overseas manufacturers who make costume jewelry have the technical capabilities to plate on top of these cheap metals. Regular jewelers who normally deal with fine jewelry often refuse to replate costume jewelry, as they do not have the chemical experience involved with plating copper, brass, bronze, or mass production alloys. In addition, these cheap metals will contaminate any tank that is used to plate fine metals such as sterling silver, causing a costume jewelry job to be far too risky for the average jeweler.
So now you might be wondering; well, how do I replate silver costume jewelry if I want to get it looking nice again? There is a solution.
Rhodium Plating on Costume Jewelry
In order to give jewelry that bright and silver-colored aesthetic, many jewelers and manufacturers use rhodium plating. Rhodium is a precious metal that is used to make white gold and silver extra shiny; in fact, it’s standard to treat white gold with rhodium plating in order to make sure it’s the right color.
What you need to know is that rhodium plating is even trickier than gold plating in terms of chemical compatibility. In short, it’s harder to make something silver than yellow in color if the base metal is something strange, such as copper or brass.
In order to rhodium plate costume jewelry, the jeweler needs to remove any existing plating on the piece and polish it to a high shine. Any stones such as rhinestones or crystals are unset if possible, to avoid any damage to the gems and to prevent any glue from contaminating the plating tank.
If the metal is atypical, the jeweler will first plate the item in either nickel or palladium metal. These metals are used as a preliminary coating for two reasons. One, it helps to deter the natural tarnishing from the base metal from seeping through the plating. Two, it makes the item more chemically compatible to the rhodium plating process.
Once the item has been treated, the jeweler then puts the item into the rhodium plating tank, and removes it once the item has successfully taken to the plating process.
Things to Keep in Mind When Replating Silver Costume Jewelry
Not all metals are created equal, and that will affect the plating process. Some metals are impossible to plate without the right procedure and equipment, so if your costume jewelry is made from something like zinc, you probably won’t find someone near you who will take on that job. That being said, you can always consider custom creation if plating is not an option and you genuinely love the piece for design or sentimental reasons. We always tell our clients that it’s a better long term investment to duplicate a piece in silver or white gold to avoid replating.
The Cost and Turnaround Time for Rhodium Plating
This depends on the size of the item and any necessary pre-plating treatment, but rhodium plating typically starts at $35. Turnaround time is approximately 7–10 business days from when we receive your item.
Now you’re all set on how to replate silver costume jewelry! If you have something that needs to be done, comment below and we’ll get back to you shortly.
Community Discussion
Questions, experiences, and expert answers from the QJR community.
My husband passed in July. The last thing he gave me was a silver cross that is costume jewelry. I want to have it dipped in silver so I can keep it forever. Will Rhodium last as long. Where can I go this done.
Hi Robin, we’ll reach out via email with detail on our rhodium plating service!
Hello. I have my moms costume ring that she had on when she passed. It means the world to me but is discolored. I’d like to get it dipped in silver so it won’t tarnish. Is this possible?
Hi Melissa, we’ll reach out to request photos via email! 🙂
I have silver fern (part of necklace) that needs rhodium plating, 85mm x 30mm. Thank you
Hi Irene, We have reached out via email with further details!
I have a bracket that need treatment and lots of love 🥲
Hi There, we’ll reach out via email with further details!
I love this necklace and want to replace it because it has changed colors in a couple of places.
Hi Shelly, we’ll reach out via email to request some photos!
I have a beautiful costume ring piece which I get comments on all the time. The plating is stripping. Anything you can do to remedy it? I cannot have any nickel in the plating.
Hi Jaime, we’ll reach out via email with further details!
Can I as a private person buy rhodium myself and just dip my earrings in it?
I have a ring that I love that tarnished and needs to be silver again.
We’d love to assist with this! I’ve followed up with next steps via email 🙂
I have a ring that I absolutely love that’s loosing its silver plating and I was wondering where I go to have this done?
We can do it here! I’ve followed up with additional details via email 🙂
Hi there. I have a vintage Tiffany and Co silver plated cuff style bracelet. It has worn on most of the inside and is starting to wear off the edges. It looks to me like brass underneath but I’m no expert. I absolutely love it and I would like to keep it. If I send a pic, could you please let me know what you think and a rough price estimate to make it look silver again. PS I don’t particularly mind if it’s not high shine as long as it doesn’t look like I’ve bought it from an opp shop. Thankyou. Sharon.
Hi Sharon, we should definitely be able to help with this – I’ve followed up directly via email 🙂
My gold Alex and ani bracelet is tarnished. How much is it to restore the finish ?
Great question, we should be able to assist with our polishing service – I’ve followed up directly via email 🙂
I have a silver onyx squash blossom necklace that lost it ms shine. The bracelet and ring that matches it and they’re good. But the necklace is almost impossible to keep its shine and I’d like to have it replated.
We’d love to help with this! I’ve followed up directly via email 🙂
I have a 35 inches long, Gucci link. What would it cost to get plated? Thanks for your time.
Depends on the metal! I’ve followed up via email to assist with your inquiry 🙂
My mom passed and I have a ring of hers that I was wearing on a necklace but now the silver plating has rubbed off and its showing either copper or brass underneath. Can you guys repair it for me?
Hi, Craig! We followed up with the next steps via email to have your mom’s ring replated 🙂
I have a piece I would like plated, my email is [email protected]
Hi, Mechille! We replied to your comment via email 🙂
I’d like to have a bracelet replated please
Hi, Noreen! We replied to your comment via email 🙂
I have a pendant that has a shaped coin with a silver bracket (to make it into a pendant). I think the coin is nickel-plated, but am not certain. But it’s starting to tarnish and I wondered if it can be silver plated, and if so how much it would cost?
Hi, Eli. We replied to your comment via email 🙂
I need help! I messed up my wife’s ring and need to make it right.
Hi, James. We replied to your comment via email 🙂
Hi, I have a Vivienne Westwood necklace that has gotten rusty and is missing a few crystals. Would you be able to help me?
Hi Daniel, Happy to help! We’ve reached out via email with further details.
HI I have a Vivienne Westwood necklace I want to get replated.
Hi, Daniel! We replied to your comment via email 🙂
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