haha - I know the feeling :-) Nope, the plating is all on there, it's just bad photo lighting - lol :-) (I was taking the pictures at night, and the overhead lamp had a yellow-toned bulb)
Hmmm, wow...you know, I can honestly say I don't know how to answer that one! They look new to me, but I know that my aunt had them way back in the early 80s...not sure how long she had them by the time I saw them in her jewelry box...sorry I couldn't be more help!