Rhodium...!

[Dave Kane]

I have noticed that with the increase of members and the natural interest in Iron Crosses up to and including Knight's Crosses....there's a misinterpretation of what Rhodium is and where it's 'located'!

Rhodium is NOT the frosting nor does it have have any connection to it other than a 'visual' contrast!

Rhodium is the very shiney, untarnished (unless chipped) material appearing on the flanges of upper end crosses.

Some period crosses were 'plated' with the material to create the contrast and help stop the expected tarnish of pure or even silver plate.

[zbiratelj]

cross

helo Dave !

this is just what i was wondering about. thank you for clearing this for me and all the other begginer collectors.

P.S.: now that i know this i can continue looking for 100% mint ek1 and ek2.
IF SOME OF YOU GUYS HAVE SOME THAT YOU WOULD SELL, PLEASE
CONTACT ME !


Thanx again Dave

[Sonderkommando]

Dave,

In your experience, are the frames with rhodium plating burnished as well to achieve the "shine", or is it only the frames that are not rhodium plated the ones that are burnished to achieve the high polish look?

And with the frames that are rhodium plated, does the plating extend over the ribbing, or is it only the outer flanges that are plated? Is it possible to plate only the outer flanges without the ribbing recieving a rhodium plating as well?

Just some questions as I would like your opinion.

Thanks,
Brett

[Flemming]

Thanks for that info, as I was wondering myself

Best regards,
Flemming

[Dave Kane]

Hey Brett, I don't think that just the flanges could have been plated so I imagine the entire frame would have been. The burnishing would have been a multi task procedure.....one to remove the acid or painted frosting from the flange and at the same time bring it to a high shine.

I have seen some mint crosses where the ribbing had been rubbed revealing a very bright shine to the upper edges.

The frosting must have adhered very well to the flanges and required some effort to rub/scrape off as under even just 5X magnification the striation marks are very evident.

[atcase]

Hi Dave,

do you consider the plating here near the jump ring shows worn rhodium plating ??
Ashley

[atcase]

and again

Ashley

[Dave Kane]

Ashley, it looks to me like frosting that wasn't rubbed/scraped away..

[atcase]

Hi Dave ,

thanks for the reply, i will try for better photos for on the corner of the arm there seems to be plating (?) peeling.

Ashley

[atcase]

hmmm light here fading try this one but may be i will have to wait till morning.

Ashley

[PANZERPIONIERE]

Hi Dave, FYI:
Any worthwhile jeweler (Jared for one) can do Rhodium plating while you wait, it takes them about two minutes while you wait, to re-Rhodium rings etc. My wife and I have all our white gold jewelry re-done about every 5-7 months because it naturally starts to yellow, and the service is free.
Fine jewelers, when they sell you an warrantry, it will cover Rhodium plating for free.
Next time I am in I may try giving then an IC, to re-rhodium the frame.
Steve

[Dave Kane]

Now I see! Yes, it could be Rhodium or just plain old silver plate over the base metal of the frame.

I have seen a couple of Knight's Crosses with silver frames and the rhodium flaking off...leaving a 'duller' area behind.

Here's a before and after pic!

[atcase]

Thanks for the comments Dave
thus cross has a zinc core and is a recent purchase of mine, so i am still learnig
Ashley

[Rich G]

Could it not be a case of the lacquer, that would have protected the polished surface, being worn off?


I would have thought once the lacquer is worn or damaged then contamination would dull the surface. Unless the frame is analysed how can we know for sure? I mean, for mass produced items such as the EK2 I personally doubt they were rhodium plated. Rhodium would have been an expensive metal in those days.

Maybe it is rhodium, maybe it isn't but who can tell for sure?

[Dave Kane]

Rich we really can't until (someone) inspects a cross with a silver frame that shows the silver metal/plating flaking off.


Steve Wolfe showed me one years ago but I only made mental notes. I recall the plating to be actually lifting and flaking. He did make a point of asserting that the frame was indeed silver.

As far as IC2nd's go again who knows....it might have been cheap and fast to merely electroplate a base white metal.