Anodizing is a process of converting the surface of the metal, normally aluminum but also other non-ferrous metals, where the metal's natural tendancy to oxidize is enhanced and accelerated electro-chemically and a controlled layer of oxide is produced. Colors on aluminum are produced with dyes and other methods. The anodized surface has further oxidation resistance due to protecting the pure metal underneath from exposure to oxygen.
I'm not familiar with any methods to 'anodize' steels. There may be some, I'm just not familiar with them. Black oxide/hot salt blue is as close as I can think of to 'anodize' on steel.
Plating is altogether different from anodize in that plating adds an overlayment of metal where anodize converts the metal surface.
There are a number of gold colored plating methods for steels that use gold colored metals other than true gold. Some may be more durable. I seriously doubt that most inexpensive gold colored watches have real gold plating nor the triggers on my Browning shotguns.
