Unfortunately, rhodium plating is not invincible and will not last indefinitely, even with perfect care.  Generally, the approximation for duration of rhodium plating is about 3 years for an item worn daily (such as a wedding band or keepsake necklace) or 10 years for an item with limited use (earrings or cuff links only warn at the holidays).

When the rhodium plating wears thin, simply take the items to your local jeweler and ask that he or she replace the plating. You can request a thicker layer of plating on jewelry worn daily to lengthen the time between visits. The thicker layer of plating will cost you more initially, but you will save time and money on additional visits, and the overall benefit to your jewelry will be positive. Be sure to head to the jeweler before the underlaying metal becomes dented or scratched as a new layer of rhodium will not be able to hide this damage.

It is not always easy for a layman to spot rhodium plating, and that is certainly not irregular. When the color of your jewelry starts to change color or the lustre seems to be minimized, that is the key that you need to visit your jeweler. Also, jewelry that has rhodium plating is not always marketed as such. Therefore, any jewelry you suspect of having rhodium plating can also be taken to your jeweler to ask about its specifications. Knowing which items are rhodium-plated is important so you can continue upkeep on these items.