Re-coating white gold - How often?

virgin_moneysaver

I get mine done around every 5 years - they still look good - 25 & 24 years respectively

eilidh_s

I got a white gold ring for my 18th birthday. Have worn it every day for the next 11 years + and never once thought about getting it redone. I didn't even know it would be an issue! It's a celtic design but there is no discolouration anywhere at all.

xxvickixx

I regret going for white gold. I have had mine replated twice. The first time was just before getting married so about a year on and it made quite a difference but wouldn't have said it was awful when it was done, the second was after 5 years and it was looking terrible - really yellow and patchy. This looked amazing after replating but within 3 weeks it was starting to go patchy again - I think the jeweller must have done a really thin coat but I felt i couldn't complain as when I took it in they did say they couldn't guarantee how long the plating would last.

To sum it up for me I think I would have been better off getting platinum and actually wonder if it would be OK to change my ring because of how frustrated with wasting money plating it not to mention the hassle of sending it off for up to two weeks to be done.

Lunar_Eclipse

pledgeX wrote: »

The local jewllers charge £30 a go and recommend doing it 1-2 times a year.

That surprises me. I've never heard of annual plating, let alone more often than that. My engagement ring is white gold. I've had it for 15 years and never had it replated. It was much more expensive than the prices you have quoted though. I think I was told it might need to be done every 10 years or so.

My wedding band is platinum, no problems with that either.

I would reclarify with the jeweller, because I suspect he is either being misleading in his inaccuracy, or trying to sell you a very inferior ring. Given the relatively small price difference though, I'd buy the platinum anyway.

Lunar_Eclipse

claire16c wrote: »

Also bear in mind if you buy a platinum engagement ring, then that will mean youll be getting a platinum wedding ring, adding even more money to the cost.

Not necessarily.

I have one in each and they go together fine. Nobody can tell what metals they are.

SkintGypsy

My engagement and wedding rings are platinum, and scratched to hell. Between them sits my white gold/rhodium eternity ring, and I was warned that the harder platinum rings would cause wear on the eternity ring. I like the more antique look anyway, so I am not concerned about the wear. Just shows how long I've been married!

Silaqui

My engagement ring is white gold and I have had it about 2 years or thereabouts? It had started to wear slightly but I didn't actually realise till I bought my wedding ring (which was obviously brand new) and that showed up the difference.

I had the E-ring dipped so that it would match the wedding ring in the wedding pictures, but I actually prefer it with the more worn appearance! It looks too bright and shiny now. I get married in about a month and I plan on just leaving both rings to 'fade' together then I'll play it by ear.

x

geri1965_2

I would check first that your fiance is not allergic to any metals. I have a nickel allergy and cannot wear white gold as the rhodium plating causes a reaction.

Teenie_D

Both my engagement and wedding rings are white gold, my engagement ring has been replated twice in 9 years my wedding ring however has never needed done in 8 years. From different jewellers so not sure if that has made the difference?

If you do decide to go for the white gold, just remember and shop around once it comes round to being needing done, I was £20 the first time I got it dipped, the second at a different jewellers was £15.

moreofthegoodstuff

I had a 18ct white gold ring for my birthday three years ago and have needed to have it re-plated twice. I also have an 18ct white gold engagement ring that is 18 months old and is still very very white but I'm having it re-plated so it matches my wedding ring for when I get married in six weeks.

I think it all depends on how you look after the ring....Since I had the three year old ring re-plated for the second time I have looked after it by taking it off at night and taking it off when washing my hands etc and it seems to be doing the trick as it has remained white. I also think it depends on the job you do as I have to count a lot of money each day so I feel that probably has an impact on the rings.

I think you can get away with not having it re-plated once/twice a year but it depends how shiny and white you like it- Which I like it to be as white as possible as I'm not a yellow gold fan!

I have to say, one thing I'm intrigued about is how long my wedding ring will remain white as it's only 9ct...I don't know if this will make any difference. (The jeweller recommended 9ct as it's stronger and they said you should never put two 18ct rings together?!)