Officer dress cap badges

[b-m-n_animal]

HI guy's

hope all is well.

below are two cap badges that I have in my collection the one on the right I've had for some time and the other is a recent addition (it came with a general officer type 45 shoulder rank and medals for the 1st china - Japan war and the Russo Japanese war)

I originally thought when purchasing the newer lot that it was the same as the gilded one just worn, however as you can see it's not just the gilding that is different but size, measurements are centimeters with the largest being 5 1/2cm (I think that's just over 2 inches ) and fixings. Both have the ability to take the plume. so the question's are.

1. are they both officers and if so why the size difference?
2. if not both officers is the larger maybe from the enlisted mans leather kepi?
3. any other thoughts or comments

thanks

Paul


<a href="http://s900.photobucket.com/user/b-m-n_animal/media/IJA/collection/DSCN0956_zps21f31de4.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i900.photobucket.com/albums/ac202/b-m-n_animal/IJA/collection/DSCN0956_zps21f31de4.jpg" border="0" alt="officer dress caps photo DSCN0956_zps21f31de4.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s900.photobucket.com/user/b-m-n_animal/media/IJA/collection/DSCN0958_zpsbb5bfb7f.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i900.photobucket.com/albums/ac202/b-m-n_animal/IJA/collection/DSCN0958_zpsbb5bfb7f.jpg" border="0" alt="officer dress caps reverse photo DSCN0958_zpsbb5bfb7f.jpg"/></a>

[gunto]

I think its about the period of time.
Early large and later they got smaller.
My 2 cents.

[b-m-n_animal]

Thanks Gunto, it seems possible that might be the reason, I forgot to mention that the larger shows no sign of gilding.

Anyone out there have a leather dress cap that they can compare the size with?

thanks

Paul