If you've ever looked closely at a silver-coloured piece of jewellery, from a high-street sterling silver ring to a designer necklace, there's a good chance the bright, mirror-like surface you were admiring wasn't silver at all. It was rhodium.
Rhodium plating is one of the best-kept secrets in jewellery, and it's the finish we use on every silver-tone piece at Cachet London. In this guide we explain what rhodium is, why sterling silver jewellery is plated with it, and why that means you can get the same look and the same surface for a fraction of the price.
What is rhodium?
Rhodium is a precious metal from the platinum family. It's rarer than gold or platinum and has three qualities that make it ideal for jewellery:
- It's brilliantly white and reflective. Rhodium has a cool, bright shine that's whiter than silver itself. That's the crisp, sparkling finish you see in jewellery shop windows.
- It's very hard. Rhodium is much harder than silver or gold, so it stands up well to everyday wear and resists scratches.
- It doesn't tarnish. Rhodium doesn't react with the air or with moisture the way silver does, so it keeps its colour and shine.
Because rhodium is so rare and costly, solid rhodium jewellery isn't practical. Instead it's applied as a very thin, even layer over another metal. This is called rhodium plating.
Why sterling silver jewellery is rhodium plated
Sterling silver is beautiful, but it has one well-known drawback: it tarnishes. Over time, silver reacts with sulphur in the air, as well as with perfume, skin creams and moisture, and develops a dull, yellowish or dark film. Left alone, a shiny silver piece can look tired within months.
To stop this, most sterling silver jewellery is rhodium plated before it's sold. The rhodium layer seals the silver underneath, so what you actually see, touch and wear is the rhodium surface, not the silver.
In other words, when you buy most modern sterling silver jewellery, the finish on the outside is rhodium.
How Cachet jewellery is made
Our silver-tone jewellery uses exactly the same finish, on a different base metal:
- A high-quality brass base. Each piece starts as high-quality brass. Brass is strong and holds fine detail and stone settings well, which makes it ideal for well-crafted jewellery.
- A rhodium-plated finish. The brass is then rhodium plated, giving it the same bright, white, tarnish-resistant surface found on rhodium-plated sterling silver.
The result is jewellery that looks and feels like sterling silver, because on the surface it has the same rhodium finish.
The same look for less
Here's the key point. Sterling silver jewellery and Cachet jewellery both have the same rhodium surface. The colour, the shine and the way the piece catches the light all come from that rhodium layer.
The difference is the metal underneath, which you never see. With sterling silver you're paying for silver inside the piece. With Cachet you get the same rhodium finish on a quality brass base, which is why we can offer elegant earrings, pendants and bracelets from around £17 to £39 rather than much higher sterling silver prices.
| Rhodium-plated sterling silver | Cachet rhodium-plated brass | |
|---|---|---|
| Visible surface | Rhodium | Rhodium |
| Colour and shine | Bright white silver tone | Bright white silver tone |
| Resists tarnish | Yes, while the plating is intact | Yes, while the plating is intact |
| Hard-wearing surface | Yes | Yes |
| Base metal | Sterling silver | High-quality brass |
| Price | Higher | Lower |
Is rhodium plating hard-wearing?
Yes. Rhodium is one of the hardest metals used in jewellery, so a rhodium-plated finish resists scratches and everyday knocks well. Because it doesn't tarnish, it doesn't need regular polishing to keep it bright the way bare silver does.
Like any plated finish, whether on silver or brass, it lasts longest with a little care. Pieces that rub constantly against hard surfaces, such as bracelets, will wear faster than earrings or pendants. A few simple habits help a lot:
- Put your jewellery on after perfume, hairspray and body lotion.
- Take it off before swimming, bathing, exercise or cleaning.
- Wipe it with a soft, dry cloth after wearing, and avoid abrasive polishes or silver dips.
- Store each piece separately in its pouch or box so pieces don't scratch one another.
Rhodium-plated jewellery to explore
All of our silver-tone pieces have a rhodium-plated finish. A few favourites:
- Lana 25mm Silver Hoop Earrings: a minimalist split hoop that goes with everything.
- North Star Silver Huggie Hoops: huggies with a sparkling CZ star drop.
- Saga Large Silver Hoop Earrings: CZ-set hoops for parties and occasions.
- Halo Silver Pendant: a delicate halo of CZ stones on a fine chain.
Or browse by category: silver earrings, silver clip-on earrings, silver pendants and silver bracelets.
Frequently asked questions
Does rhodium-plated jewellery tarnish?
No. Rhodium doesn't tarnish, which is why it's used to protect sterling silver. As long as the plating is intact, the surface keeps its bright, silver-white colour.
Will rhodium-plated jewellery look different from sterling silver?
No. Most sterling silver jewellery is itself rhodium plated, so both have the same rhodium surface and the same colour and shine.
Is rhodium plating the same as silver plating?
No. Silver plating puts a layer of silver on the surface, which can tarnish just like solid silver. Rhodium plating gives a harder, whiter, tarnish-resistant finish.
How long does rhodium plating last?
It depends on how often a piece is worn and how much friction it gets. Earrings and pendants typically keep their finish for a long time. Rings and bracelets see more wear. Following the care tips above helps your jewellery look its best for longer.