I learned a few weeks ago from a neighbor of my friend that white gold rings need to be re-dipped in rhodium every once and awhile because there is really no such thing as white gold. This comforted me and concerned me at the same time. I was comforted because I thought the bottom of my engagement ring was turning a bit yellow and I was freakin out that there was either a problem with my eyes or with the ring. Now I know that it is perfectly normal. I was concerned because the woman said she just got her rings re-dipped and went without them for twenty some odd days. I was also concerned it would cost a lot. Fortunately I was comforted again because the insurance plan my future hubby got for the ring covers re-dipping for free. It will just stink to be without it that long.

I did some research and found this information on WeddingBee.com: “The plating will probably wear off in 1-5 years of you wearing it, depending on how rough you are on the rings, and how much rhodium plating is on the ring. All white gold jewelry will require maintenance at one time or another to keep it looking brand new. To have a white gold ring rhodium plated, you’re probably looking at $20-30 for about 0.25-0.50 microns (a human hair is roughly 100 microns). If it is a two-tone ring, it has to be applied by hand with a brush rather than immersing the whole ring in the electroplating tank. So two tone rings will cost more to maintain their white gold appearance. If you want to make a white gold wedding band very durable, you can get it plated with a layer of platinum of palladium of 1.0-1.5 micron thickness, followed a good 2.5-3.0 micron thickness of rhodium plating. This will set you back around $100, however.”

People who commented on this had been engaged/married anywhere from 6 months to 10 years and they all varied on how often they re-dipped (or even of they knew about dipping at all). It’s a good thing to keep in mind though. I think I may take one woman’s advice on Wedding Bee and get my engagement ring done a couple months before the wedding so it will match my band. Then make decisions on getting it done again when I felt it is needed.