Plating done here, not posted away
Replating is a process, not a polish. It needs the piece stripped, cleaned properly and plated in a bath — which is why a lot of jewelers do not do it on site and send it out instead.
We do it here. That means your white gold ring, chain or bracelet stays inside Orland Square Mall and comes back to you the same day rather than in two or three weeks. It also means you get to see the before and after side by side at the counter, which is the moment most people realise how far the plating had actually worn.
- Rings, chains, bracelets and pendants — all replated on site.
- Same day in most cases.
- Done after any sizing or soldering, so the colour is even right across the join.
- We will tell you how long it should last for the way you wear it.
Walk in during mall hours.
Why white gold turns yellow
White gold is yellow gold mixed with white metals, and the result is a pale straw colour rather than true white. Nearly every piece sold as white gold is finished with a thin layer of rhodium — a bright white metal from the platinum family — to give it that showroom look.
Rhodium is hard but the layer is microns thick. It wears, fastest on the underside of a ring shank where your fingers rub together. What shows through is the actual colour of the gold underneath.
What replating involves
The piece is cleaned thoroughly first — plating over grease or polish residue gives a patchy finish that lifts. Then it is polished, electro-plated with fresh rhodium and rinsed.
Any ring that has been sized needs replating over the join, which is why we handle both together rather than sending you home with a bright ring and a yellow stripe.
How long it lasts
Honestly: it depends entirely on the wearer. A ring worn daily on a working hand may want redoing in a year. A pendant worn occasionally can go many years. Hand sanitiser, chlorine and household cleaners all shorten it.
Anyone who promises you a fixed number is guessing.
Why white gold goes yellow
White gold is not white. It is yellow gold alloyed pale and then plated with rhodium, a bright white metal from the platinum family. The plating wears — on a ring, usually in eighteen months to three years — and the warm colour underneath starts to show, first on the back of the shank where it rubs.
Nothing is wrong with the ring. It needs replating, the way a car needs new tyres.
Other plating we do
Yellow gold plating over silver, rose gold plating, and replating worn areas on pieces that have been polished thin. Silver pieces cleaned and, where you want them to stop tarnishing, rhodium plated — it is harder than silver and does not tarnish at all.
What will it cost?
Is it white gold that has gone warm and yellow, or silver that has tarnished? Has it been plated before, and how long did it last? Are there stones that have to be masked off? Does it want polishing first — plating only ever looks as good as the surface underneath it? That is exactly why we would rather see it than guess at it. Come and find us at Orland Square Mall — most repairs are finished in thirty to sixty minutes while you are walking around.
Straight to your question
- My white gold ring has gone yellow
- How long should rhodium plating last?
- My jewelry is turning my skin green
- White gold jewelry repair
Questions we get asked
How long does replating take?
Same day in most cases. It is a process rather than a polish, so it is usually a drop-off and collect rather than a wait-at-the-counter job.
How often will it need doing again?
It depends entirely on wear. A ring worn daily on a working hand might need it every year or so; a pendant might go several years. We will tell you what to expect for the way you wear yours.
Why has my white gold ring gone yellow?
The rhodium plating has worn through and you are seeing the natural colour of the white gold underneath. It is normal wear, not damage.
How often does white gold need replating?
Depends on wear. A daily ring might want it yearly; occasional pieces go far longer.
Can rhodium plating be done with stones in place?
Usually yes. Some porous or heat-sensitive stones need care, and we will check the piece before quoting.
Is replating the same as polishing?
No. Polishing removes scratches from the metal. Replating adds a new white surface. A piece usually wants both, in that order.
Bring it in — or ask first
Walk in during mall hours and we will price it at the counter, in writing, before anything is touched. If you would rather ask first, send a couple of details and we will call you back.
Bring it in today, wear it tonight
We are inside Orland Square Mall in Orland Park. Walk in during mall hours, no appointment — most repairs are finished the same day and many while you wait. Or send a few details and we will call you back with a price.
Where we are
Julio's Jewelry, 800 Orland Square Drive, Orland Park, IL 60462 — inside Orland Square Mall. Mon–Thu 10am–8pm · Fri–Sat 10am–9pm · Sun 11am–6pm.
White gold replating brings customers from Frankfort, New Lenox, Mokena, Homer Glen and further out across Will County.