Togidashi is a word used in the maki-e world that can be translated to mean finishing by polishing using specialized whet stones, It is a long and detailed process wherein gold or silver is applied to a surface, hardened through applications of lacquer which also results in the surface being a layer of lacquer with the silver or gold beneath, and then polishing that surface down to reveal a layer of metal. There are several layers of lacquer after exposing the metal after polishing but they are to realize depth in the surface.
The second, fourth and fifth photos show #3 gold polished with a burnishing tool, the first, third, and sixth photos show #3 gold that was properly hardened and polished with polishing stones.
There is a lot of depth to the gold that was polished with the traditional method of togidashi. The surface is also far more robust in the properly done togidashi surface.