Of the 17 different colors of Rub 'n Buff currently available, 5 are different shades of gold.
Why do you need 5 different shades? Each variation is remarkably different when looked at side by side.
Check out the descriptions below to find the perfect shade for your project.
Antique Gold This shade is primarily a true gold with a bit of reddish-brown.
On my wooden test block, it wound up middle of the pack for the golds as far as luster.
Like all of the antique Rub 'n Buff shades, there is a bit of 'tarnish' built in Antique Gold.
It doesn't look dirty, just a little dark and old.
European Gold This shade was one of the two dullest gold shades in my testing.
It has an olive-brown color that is very reminiscent of Renaissance-era gold work.
It almost looks more antique than the Antique Gold.
This would be great for refinishing an old, small statue or figurine.
Gold Leaf This shade is bright and bold.
It is yellow with a high luster - just like real yellow gold.
I was actually the most surprised by the Golf Leaf during my testing.
It works just as advertised - rub it on, let it dry, and buff it for a great shine.
The great thing about the Gold Leaf is that if you skip the buffing step, it still has great color, but it stays a bit duller, making it look worn and aged.
Grecian Gold This shade is very similar to Golf Leaf except a bit more yellow and and a little orange.
It has a high luster, although in my testing it was a bit more scattered - less of a mirror finish than the Gold Leaf.
Think about classic Greek art and architecture, and you'll know exactly what this gold looks like.
It will pop fantastically against black (think Greek vases or Pittsburgh Steelers).
Autumn Gold I'm not sure why Autumn Gold wasn't just called 'Copper', but that's basically what it is.
Think copper pipes, think shiny new penny - just don't think gold.
Autumn Gold has a very high luster - on the level of Gold Leaf in my tests.
It is a great color, I just don't think you can call it gold.
Bottom line - Amaco knew that a lot of people would want to add a touch of gold to their craft projects, and they made every effort possible to make sure you could find exactly the right shade.