here are some mags we have done to get your mind going

 

I'm still torn. I'm leaning towards black with spoke polished just because the rim isn't that great and it would be easier upkeep but I do like the polished lip. If I do the lip I'm only doing the outer portion not the full width to the spoke.

 

if you polish them we have a powder we can clear them with so you never have to polish them again, the polished ones above are all cleared as well

 

Joe I'd love to give you the business but at this point I'm still on paint and plastidip until I know I like what I see. Eventually I'll powder or chrome everything. So far everything I've changed I haven't liked. Got the bike cheap so can't complain really.

 

You can get those wheels polished out, mine were almost as bad. Just takes varying grits of sandpaper and elbow grease. What grit are you trying on the rim? I started @ 220, then 400, 800, 1000, 1500, and 2000. Then a good polish with Mothers and a buff. That pic of my wheel doesnt really do it justice, it shines like a mirror in sun light!
If you want to keep the sweat and tears to a minimum, I would tape off the spokes from hub to where it curves up at the rim at that break line, spray the entire wheel (after a prep sand, of course) with gloss black appliance epoxy, peel the tape when paint is mostly cured but not fully, then let it dry completely and polish the spokes. Would look like the 2nd pic of the two you posted, which I think looks the best. Easier to maintain than polished rim as well.
If you try to polish just the outer flange you are going to have a hard time getting a clean paint line because of the soft break on the rim flange. JMO

 

I started with 220 and it wasn't doing anything. I switched to a wire wheel and it helped some but this thing was neglected. I don't think it was ever cleaned before. I picked up some of those plastic abrasive wheels for the drill today that look like a wire wheel but aren't to see how that works but I'm pretty sure I'm going to epoxy it at this point. I still have a lot of grime to get off before I can spray it.

 

Got two coats of gloss on the legs before it got too cold out last night. Needs a few more. I think I might dip the wheels just so I can easily remove it until it looks right