Well, when it looks like that ... ya got me.

I dunno about the finishes at all. I usually buy the less expensive stuff with some rash and polish it up. The last victory brakeset I had was pitted all to hell, so I took the best bits off and sold 'em as parts. (I did manage to grab the conical locknuts for a triomphe set. ) One of the Triomphe cranksets I bought had little scarring, but it was grey, not silver. I thought it was just anodized, but oven cleaner with lye wouldn't remove it. I still don't know how they did that. But 600 grit paper removed it finally, and it now has a mirror finish.