Gold-tone or rhodium: choosing the right finish for your sterling silver

Every piece at Impressions925 begins as solid 925 sterling silver. Before it reaches you, it is finished in one of two ways: a bright white rhodium finish, or a warm gold-tone finish. The finish shapes the look of the piece, and a little about how it wears.

Rhodium: the bright white finish

Rhodium is a rare member of the platinum family, harder and whiter than silver. A fine layer over sterling silver gives a mirror-bright, cool-white shine that makes crystals look even more brilliant.

• Look: crisp, icy, diamond-like sparkle
• Wear: highly resistant to tarnish and everyday scratches
• Best with: western wear, monochrome outfits, cool undertones, white and silver watches

Gold tone: the warm glow

A gold-tone finish gives sterling silver the warmth of yellow gold, while the precious silver underneath keeps the piece durable and far more accessible than solid gold.

• Look: soft, luminous and warm
• Wear: beautiful for years with gentle care; avoid perfume and water directly on the piece
• Best with: Indian wear, warm and olive skin tones, festive dressing, neutral tailoring

Side by side

How to choose

Look at the veins on your inner wrist in daylight. Greenish veins suggest warm undertones, so go gold. Blue or purple suggests cool, so go rhodium. If you can’t tell, you can wear both.

Also think about what you already own. If your watch, glasses or everyday rings are gold, a gold-tone pendant will feel instantly at home. If you wear mostly silver or white metals, rhodium continues that look.

Explore warm finishes in The Golden Edit, or browse the full collection and filter by tone.