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 Post subject: Blk Rhodium plating Ice Blue Topaz & Druse (CobaltanCalcite)
PostPosted: Thu Sep 24, 2015 11:50 am 
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Hello everyone:

I'm an artist-jeweller who has a gem and black rhodium plating question.
I made a ring (photo attached: silver with patina, ice blue topaz, druse of cobaltan calcite) a few years ago and used Jax patina to blacken the silver. Someone just bought the ring and sent me photos of "rust" on the silver. I now know that it is the Jax patina, which ages inconsistenly and terribly and I have since stopped using and wouldn't generally recommend Jax. I have just used emery paper to remove the patina on the ring. I am trying to find a safe and efficient solution to blacken the silver without unsetting the stones (the druse is stubborn and refuses to be pushed out by the hole I drilled underneath the setting) so I can send it back to the client.

I would like to know if the druse and ice blue topaz can tolerate black rhodium plating? I'm pretty sure from reading the forum that the topaz will be fine. I am unsure about the druse though.

Your wisdom & experience are much appreciated.


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 Post subject: Re: Blk Rhodium plating Ice Blue Topaz & Druse (CobaltanCalc
PostPosted: Fri Sep 25, 2015 9:38 am 
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Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2010 12:04 am
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Location: Idaho
Most rhodium plating solutions (regular and black) are sulfuric acid based, so your cobaltan calcite would be damaged or dissolved. Also, if your iced blue topaz is a coated product rather than irradiated/heated, it could be affected.

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 Post subject: Re: Blk Rhodium plating Ice Blue Topaz & Druse (CobaltanCalc
PostPosted: Fri Sep 25, 2015 10:37 am 
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Can we see a picture of the "rust" please.
Thanks.
PS The ring is cool. :D


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