Rhodium plating: everything you need to know

Rhodium plating, an aesthetic treatment and corrosion protection for metals

When we see an object in gold or silver and admire its shine and brilliance, this is partly attributable to a particular technique called rhodium electroplating.

This surface treatment works through electrolysis using a rhodium salt (which gives it its name). Rhodium is a precious metal that belongs to the platinum family.

Rhodium plating is therefore used to make metals harder and more resistant and it is widely used, in fact, for jewellery. Through this process, gold and silver acquire greater value without affecting their physical properties. A clear example is white gold, which would not have its characteristic shiny white colour if it were not rhodium-plated.