My gloves are white. They were issued about 1980 and are 'unused'.
The pair I used kept my hands warm and dry and fully functional for 2-3 minutes. The copilot, without gloves, had lost the use of his hands before we got him in the dinghy.
This was at Mountbatten with a sea temperature of abut 5-6 (luxury) in the days before the V-force got immersion suits. The next day we badgered the staff to let us try immersion suits on a 'try-before-buy' basis. They gave in.
Unfortunately the sun shone, the sea was calm, the temperature lifted, and we lazed the morning away relaxing on the single seat lilos with the occasional shower as the boat sped past.