I agree. I'm not a big gold fan but I could deal with it if they were flat & smooth. They look like those big gold rivets you get at ace hardware that are textured for easier grip...but maybe that's what NG's inspiration was, like those c3po starwars pants.
I love all the pictures! Thanks for posting. I think that's the best picture I've seen of the red so far. I think that if I keep seeing the giant hardware, eventually it's going to seem more normal.
I saw vermillion IRL today.....so NOT like that pic at all, definitely more on the lighter orange-red, not a deeper blue-red like rouge vif. I had high hopes but was disappointed.
I wonder if the giant hardware is one of those things which we boo-boo at now and then one year later kick ourselves for not getting them...I still remember the SA recommended the magenta City to me before and I went "yucks, too bright" and then now I'm searching high and low for one. Sucks.