See my page showing a cross section and a metal analysis . They are plated with pure 24-karat gold. See my Gold Reference Page for information about gold and karat ratings. The clock has a brushed satin finish. The early Golden Hours have a plastic maroon colored base plate that shows a rating of 115V.A.C. 60 CY 2.5 watts and patent pending.
Early plates say patent pending.
Later maroon plates have the patent number 2,642,713. This patent is actually for a different clock made by the Etalage Reclame Corporation of New York. Jefferson bought the patent rights and restyled it. See my Etalage page. Production began with luminescent paint in the numerals and lines of the hands.