Cleaning white-gold jewellery

[Ruth_Baldock]

Does anyone know where I could get mine and Mr B'a wedding bands (and my engagement ring) cleaned locally? After two years, they're looking a bit dull and tarnished...unlike my luuurve for Mr B (kidding, can't stand him really, he leaves the toilet seat up for god's sake...)

[bluesuperted]

I think you might need them re-plating, if that's a word... I'm a yellow gold girl but I was told rose and white golds are yellow gold plus coloured gold on top. I do have a little gold/platinum cleaning kit myself but not sure if it's ok for coloured golds - welcome to try though!

[Pickle]

My wedding and engagement rings are White gold - I get them replated where we got them (NZ, not much use to you). They get plated in rhodium I think, it's not just a case of cleaning them.

[Ruth_Baldock]

Bugger. Bet that's dead exPensive too...

[Pickle]

... Not too bad where I get it done, but I'm guessing the airfare may result in false economies :)

[Saffron]

You'll only need replating if your ring is indeed rhodium plated. My engagement ring is white gold, and it is not plated. The "white" colouration is achieved by adding another metal(s), eg palladium, manganese or silver. Older rings were rarely plated, but modern rings are often plated. Rhodium gives diamonds a kind of dazzling white setting that is not acheived by white gold. White gold gives a softer glow to diamonds.

Depending on whose advice you take, you either should or shouldn't clean your gold jewellery with toothpaste. Some people say toothpaste is too abrasive. I have cleaned gold jewellery with toothpaste, only very infrequently and with a tiny amount of paste. However, if you're jewellery was plated, you'll have to have it replated anyway if you want to restore the original look of the rhodium.

[Saffron]

Check with the silversmith Lisa Moss, in the North Cross market tomorrow morning. If the rings only need cleaning, but you're uncertain about doing it yourself, possibly she can advise. She is very nice, and made an excellent repair to a bracelet of mine a couple of years ago. I don't know if she does replating, but she might know someone who does. I find her prices all quite reasonable too.

[Ruth_Baldock]

Saffron; the font of all knowledge, as per! They're new rings, Ernest Jones' finest, defintely plated as

i remember the sales lady saying something about getting them replated.

Will send Mr B to north x rd tomorrow, as I am on my deathbed. Woe.

[Saffron]

There is also a jewellery shop on LL, not far from Iceland I think. I can't remember what the shop is called... maybe Nina Christie? I remember that the woman there is also very nice but tres cher, but that might have been skewed by the price of gold being really high at the time I was there. Or, enquire at the jewellery market in the ED warehouse on Zenoria Street (behind cafe Nero). They probably don't do replating themselves, but they might be able to give you some recommendations. If nothing else Hubbie can come back with something new and sparkly to cheer you off the deathbed. xx

[Vickster]

I had my white gold rings rhodium plated at Nina Christie. Very happy with the results. Can't remember the cost but don't think it was mega.

[Saffron]

Liz Taylor's famous diamond ring was cleaned in vodka!? Well, depending on whose advice you take, this either is or isn't a good use of vodka. Ah, but then her ring was a platinum setting, no? Hmm, we should all be so lucky!!

[philiphenslowe]

Ruth_Baldock Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Saffron; the font of all knowledge, as per!

> They're new rings, Ernest Jones' finest, defintely

> plated as

> i remember the sales lady saying something about

> getting them replated.

> Will send Mr B to north x rd tomorrow, as I am on

> my deathbed. Woe.

Ernest Jones can re-plate them for you. It costs ?30 per ring though.

[Ruth_Baldock]

philiphenslowe Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Ruth_Baldock Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > Saffron; the font of all knowledge, as per!

> > They're new rings, Ernest Jones' finest,

> defintely

> > plated as

> > i remember the sales lady saying something

> about

> > getting them replated.

> > Will send Mr B to north x rd tomorrow, as I am

> on

> > my deathbed. Woe.

>

> Ernest Jones can re-plate them for you. It costs

> ?30 per ring though.

The buggers quoted us ?45 each ring today. No ta.