If you choose a silver piece, you may have options to have gold plating, rhodium plating, or just plain silver.
When you choose just silver, we apply black patina and polish the surface, which helps to bring out the texture and ornament on the metal. You can freely polish such pieces with a cloth to restore the original shine.
Below you can see two examples of the same ring with rhodium plating on the right and and without it on the left. Notice how the no plating ring has more contrast and the texture is more visible. However, the ring with plating makes the gemstone look brighter.
Gold plating is mostly decorative, allows you to have a gold look on a silver piece. It is quite thin, so it wears off with time, and such pieces can’t be polished. The plating can be restored at your local jeweller’s workshop.
Rhodium plating protects silver pieces if you wish to have them with no patina. You jewelry will have a bright look and won’t oxidize. However, this finish also needs renewal with time, and polishing is not an option.