OEM factory hubs are clear-lacquered over virgin UNPOLISHED aluminum. If you already have a very nice looking hub, clean and wax it w/ a non-abrasive car polish then re-spoke it. If you want it pristine, vapor-blast it (as opposed to bead blast) then clearcoat it.
Another way I've used is to zip-strip it chemically (paint strip goop), wash w/ hydroflouric acid (Mothers Chrome Wire Wheel Cleaner) then polish the heck out of it w/ 000 then 0000 steel wool combined w/ penetrol (DO NOT USE ANY ALUMINUM POLISH!), trying to keep the steel wool rubbing parrallel (as opposed to random patterns), then clearcoat.
Eastwood makes a good rattle can metal clearcoat.
NICE WHEELS CAN"T BE BEAT AND WORTH ALL THE TROUBLE AND EXPENSE!!