As already mentioned, rings are subject to wear and bashing, so that rules out plating, and also bought in gold balls, which are mostly painfully thin, and so liable to dent, or even collapse.

I think some hand made ornament made from re-claimed gold could be the answer. Alternatively a gemstone, set in a gold collet, which only requires a small piece of wire rolled sideways in a mill to create.

Work it out with copper wire first. Dennis.