| White gold is routinely alloyed down with nickel. Nickel | | | | Rhodium is a hard and durable white metal. Most white |
| causes allergic reactions in a lot of people. | | | | gold is given a quick plated layer of rhodium when |
| It's probably showing up now, because your ring was | | | | brand new or when repaired. |
| plated in rhodium (the whitest member of the platinum | | | | This thin layer of rhodium gives the metal a whiter look. |
| family) when you bought it. This is normal, as white | | | | Rhodium is also a metal that does not react with the |
| gold always has a little warmth to it, so it is almost | | | | skin. A local jeweler should easily be able to refinish, |
| always plated in rhodium. | | | | buff up nicely and rhodium plate your ring. The look is |
| The rhodium has worn off. The white gold, alloyed with | | | | good. The advantage to you is the rhodium provided a |
| nickel is in direct contact with your skin. You are | | | | safety layer between the nickel in the ring and your |
| reacting to the nickel. One easy solution is to bring the | | | | sensitive skin! The rhodium works very well when the |
| ring in to the jeweler where you purchased it and have | | | | plating is done correctly. You can expect the rhodium |
| it replated with rhodium. Or, you could trade the ring in | | | | to wear off in time but you should get 6mos to a year |
| for a white gold ring that does NOT contain nickel, a | | | | of wear before the ring should be plated with rhodium |
| palladium ring or a platinum ring. | | | | again. We often do this service for ladies who love |
| The metal rhodium is essentially inert to the skin, | | | | white gold earrings but have problems. With yellow |
| hypoallergenic, no reaction. What the reaction could be | | | | gold problems, we plate the parts touching the skin and |
| is a basic metals reaction and that SHOULD NOT be | | | | it works until the rhodium eventually wears away." |
| happening if the rings have a real rhodium plate. | | | | Is your ring white gold? If so, the rhodium plating by a |
| My suggestion? Contact QVC and tell them of the | | | | local jeweler should ease the problem immensely and |
| problem. They should either give your money back or | | | | the surface will last a fair amount of time before |
| replace the item with one with a real rhodium plate! | | | | redoing is needed. If the ring is yellow, there are likely |
| Green is a reaction generally to base metals, such as | | | | environmental issues here, including swimming pool |
| copper, etc., which are either preplate(done beneath | | | | chemicals and salty air(if living near the ocean). |
| the rhodium on metals like silver) or part of the the | | | | Chemicals will often build up in a microscopic way and |
| meatal alloy the ring is made of. | | | | lead to skin reactions or smudges. Salty air can lead to |
| Either the plate is not rhodium or is a poor job at | | | | a build up of residue which will cause smudges or |
| plating. QVC owes you an answer on this one and | | | | even some sensitive skin reactions. For yellow gold, |
| your may use my answer when you contact them if | | | | the solution is difficult but involves either avoiding the |
| you want. | | | | environmental issues or cleaning the ring quite |
| Without seeing the ring and actually examining it, I can | | | | often(every couple of days) with a good gentle scrub |
| say little about the ring itself. | | | | with a gentle dish detergent and rinsing well. |
| "Temporary Fix. Recommended for you to Try: | | | | |