Certainly not an expert on chrome, but I have definitely seen a lot of chrome simply ruined by over enthusiastic polishing - even by hand polishing with mildly abrasive "chrome polishes". ~ After years of repeated preening, the thin surface chrome had simply worn down to the nickel or brass substrate. Very sad to see this, and only remedied by re-plating. Definitely proceed with caution.

... And, bear in mind that I attack aluminum alloy like a madman with a buffing wheel - but alloy parts are millimeters thick not a thin surface layer only microns in depth.