There is an even simpler alternative to consider: gold paint. I picked up this W&B at a flea market a couple of years ago and it too had a serious case of worn out gold. Not quite as bad as your scales, but nevertheless it needed pretty much a total re-do of the gold:
Attachment 160631
It was Rune (Zephyr) who suggested I try to paint it, and it turned out great. I used simple acrylic paint bought at an art store. It was very easy to paint into the depressions, and to wipe off any excess that got onto bits I didn't want painted.
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