In the 1930’s some silverware makers began to use rhodium electro-plating to produce sterling flatware that would not require frequent polishing. The use of rhodium plating spread to white gold and sterling silver jewelry as a means of creating a highly durable, tarnish resistant surface.To ensure rhodium plated jewellery lasts as long as possible, keep it cleans with a mixture of mild liquid shampoo and a little water.n its natural solid state Rhodium is far too hard to work, but it is used as an alloy in the smelting of platinum and palladium. Rhodium plating is a metal deposition process used to coat materials with a decorative and protective layer of rhodium.