New White Gold Ring is Discoloured, Never Worn!!

[guest24]

My boyfriend and I will have been a couple for four years this upcomming month. He has given me a ring before, as well as a promise ring. I've been wanting to give him a ring in return for a long time. I finally find one I think he will like ( It's a signet style ring with very a very small diamond on both sides, in 10K white gold) and buy it for him.

 

I get the ring home and am looking at it later. I find out, in addition to some small scratches, there is also some discolouring on the ring itself. Not having time to go back to the orginial store, I go to a branch of that store that is near by. The manager there was nice, and offered to exchange it to a similar item that they carry. There was also a tiny bit of discouloring in that band as well. He tells me it can be rhodium replated, that the other store can do free of charge. He was going to call and let the other store know what happened.

 

I have yet to give this ring as a gift, or talk to the manager at the store where it was purchased. I'm a little worried as it is a yellow/rust colour discolouration, on a NEW ring. It should NOT be there. (It looks too like the top of the ring would need replated as well, as it looks not quite right.) I have a white gold ring I've worn for 3 years, and have absolutely no problems with it at all.

 

I feel cheated, as this gift wasn't exactly inexpensive. I would like to return the ring and get a one from a different store, but the receipt is clearly marked "exchange only",( I was not told this at the time, but also had not ask....), and unless there is a different ring there my boyfriend would prefer, I don't see myself buying myself anything with it, nor could afford it.

 

I have a few questions: how long does this rhodium plating last for? Is it fairly expensive to get done in the future?Is this replating something I should be expecting the jeweler to do free of charge if it need it in the future? I know it said exchange only, but if this happened to you would you expect to get a refund(no matter what the receipt said)?Is it odd that the discouloring was a yellow/rust colour? Especially on a new ring? Should the scratches be easliy buffed out?

 

Are there other things I should ask the jeweler when I see him? I don't know if this is a common thing at all. I am worried about it though, and feel ill that I could have made such a bad decision. Any help would be greatly apprecaited. I know these questions are hard to answer without seeing the ring, and are questions I should be/will be asking the jeweler. I would like some information first, and know what I should be asking. I don't know how to fix this. Once I give him the ring , we will be returning for resizing/engraving.

 

Thanking you in advance

[jesusfist]

hold up, white gold, thats a silver gold alloy right?. how the bloody hell does that rust/oxidise? gold is like the most unreactive metal known to man. The plating, sorry no idea but you could buy some silver/jewelly polish or even brasso lol and try and clean it up. But if its new it should be perfect not all shotty and crap.

[Mz. Pixie]

It's not rusting or anything they just get a bit of a gold tinge to it.

 

I don't know how expensive it is to have the rhodium put on it but it's normal for white gold to do this. Ask the jeweler.

 

Someone told me that white gold is really yellow gold with a rhodium finish on it but I don't know it that's true or not. Google it.

[littlekitty]

It's not rusting or anything they just get a bit of a gold tinge to it.

 

I don't know how expensive it is to have the rhodium put on it but it's normal for white gold to do this. Ask the jeweler.

 

Someone told me that white gold is really yellow gold with a rhodium finish on it but I don't know it that's true or not. Google it.

 

Mz Pixie is exactly right. White gold is simply gold with rhodium plating. I found this out for myself recently while investigating. The only silver looking precious metals are silver and platinum.

 

It's fairly usual to have to replate white gold jewellary.

[weescotslassie]

Mz Pixie is exactly right. White gold is simply gold with rhodium plating. I found this out for myself recently while investigating. The only silver looking precious metals are silver and platinum.

 

It's fairly usual to have to replate white gold jewellary.

 

Hi, I used to work in a jewellers shop, so know a little about white gold. Yes, white gold is basically yellow gold with rhodium plating. This will wear, but depending on how often it is worn and what your man does with his hands(not being rude here), but if he works with his hands and the ring is exposed to this, then it will need re-plated more often than normal. The scratches can be buffed and polished out, however this concerns me as it shouldn't be that bad. It should look fairly new, and the odd scratch is fine(due to handling, cleaning etc whilst in the shop) but it shouldn't be that obvious. To be honest with you, 10ct yellow gold is not the best, you'd be better off with 18 or 20ct. However, if this is THE ring and you don't want another one, then the jeweller should re-plate and polish and I would expect this free of charge. Is it possible for you to check out the other items this jeweller sells and look at the quality of them. Ask to use a loope(small magnifier). You should leave the shop satisfied with your purchase. You also mentioned that it would need sized. The jeweller should size it(and they should explain that where the join is, this is a weak part of the ring now). It should then be polished(you may see the join on the inside of the ring, but NOT the outside) and then re-plated. If all this does not meet to your satisfaction, then return for a full exchange, however, once alterations are made to the ring, you may be obliged to keep it without exchange. I hope this helps, let me know how you get on, good luck!

[SuperMonk]

getting tired of white people whiting or lighterizing everything up.