Nino, I took some parts to a professional plating company and wanted them done gold. I discussed every option available, and was told that in most cases, most metals are copper plated to get the gold look, the buffed, then clearcoated etc. They turn out "gold" like gold bars, not copper looking at all.
The bottom line was, that the only real way to get a real gold look finish was to plate with real gold which is just too expensive and not $$ realistic. The fellow who has been plating for many many years and reckons the best finish to use so u get many years of hard wearing with no flaking was to "annodise in gold". The finish wasnt as bling as the "copper plating" plus clearcoat, but its the best for "hard wearing, long term durability".
It gets down to "annodise" or get it "copper plated" then have it clearcoated, but it will look crappy after a few years IF the metal is used or touched during its normal usage. If its never touched or used, then copper plating with buffing plus clearcoat will stay perfect forever, if out of the weather.
The Plating company gave me the full 30 minute explanation so I could ultimately make the right decision. "Annodising" for working parts, or "copper plating, plus buff, plus clearcoat" for non working parts. U could always buff what u have, then clearcoat to stop degradation of the current gold finish.
Hope it helps.
