QuestionHi
I want a particular gemstone ring, which is not common. My problem is that the setting styles that suite my hand seem to all be in white gold, but I wanted yellow gold. Is it possible to plate white gold with yellow (all the info I can find is about doing it the other way around, trust me to be different!)
How durable would this be and what would the cost be. The other alternative I am considering is to try and source a loose gemstone and have a ring made, but the price I have been quoted for this far exceeds the cost of a ring in white gold!
AnswerHi, Gail. You present a very, very interesting scenario with your question.
With so many ladies going the white direction in rings many have yellow rings rhodium plated for a temporary "trend" fix, it would appear. Now, I meet a lady wanting yellow gold who can find the ring only in white.
You asked about having a similar ring made in yellow gold and mentioned the higher price quoted. Gail, there is a valid reason for the higher price and perhaps much higher price. Specially made one of a kind rings are certainly going to be more labor intensive than any ring which comes from mass production and possibly even outsourced to a foreign country for manufacture. Rings we make from scratch whether fabricated directly in the metal, wax carved and cast or done with cad/cam designing and cast are always much higher than a similar mass produced item. This would be true in your case.
The advantage of having the ring made is the possibility of a design even more suited to your hand and personal taste.
First, ask if you have not already if the maker of the white ring will do the same ring in yellow gold. If so, that price difference should not be so great, unless (alas unless) the maker is not doing any of the ring is yellow and would require individual attention outside the normal production process to make it in yellow.
YELLOW GOLD PLATING
This is easily enough done and will run less than rhodium plating in our case. What might cost $45 to rhodium plate might run about $35 in yellow gold. The price is difficult to come by since we have not been asked to yellow plate any rings in my recent memory and have used the process only when needed for special repairs or designs.
Is the plate durable? Good high quality costume jewelry may have a gold plate. We know that such plate will wear away. It will wear away quicker than rhodium. The gold plate we are able to do in a normal jewelry store is not done with the precision of professional plating houses and though yellow and attractive has simply proven not as durable as professional gold plating by plating specialists. I would not recommend it because of durability issues.
Even if you find an appealing pricer to have the ring plated, keep in mind you do have a white ring...since you will have bought the ring at that point. You will be stuck with a repetitive process over the years of having the ring plated with yellow gold.
Wishing you the best in getting what you want in the real stuff..in yellow gold through and through. : )
God Bless and Peace. Thomas.
