Gold plate pave setting?

[cleansocks]

Hi,

We had an engagement ring made which has a yellow gold shank and a white gold basket which is set with pave diamonds around the outside of the basket. They are small diamonds (.75 points). Despite having taken the jewelers insistent advice to make the basket white gold, we would much prefer the basket to be yellow gold. Thus we are wondering if it is possible yellow gold plate the basket. Is this possible? Would they have to remove the pave set diamonds first?

Thanks

 

[aviastar]

Hi! I asked the goldsmith I use about this and he said it certainly can be done, though it's not a great solution. The diamonds can probably stay in place if it's prepped correctly, but the plate is very very thin and it's going to start to wear off very quickly. You will be able to see the white gold color through the wear spots, which will result in a camoflage-y look. You would need to have it replated, or 'dipped' like a rhodium plated white gold piece, throughout the life of the ring to maintain the new color. For a permanant change it's probably best to have the basket remade in the color you want.

Best of luck!

 

[yssie]

Diamonds are not removed in plating - plating solution will not bond to charge-neutral diamond surface.