1.35k difference actually. Doesn't mean much. If you're going to use cheap gear, mail mittens are the way to go.
There's also 7 str req vs 9 str. HX can use mail gauntlets...
I agree that mail gauntlets look better but that's matter of a taste.
I think they failed while trying to rebalance gloves.
Lordy leather gloves give +5 body armor for 0 weight
Lordy mail mittens give +8 body armor for 0.3 weight (1.2 wpf weight)
+3 +0.3Lordy mail gauntlets give +9 body armor for 0.5 weight (2.0 wpf weight)
+1 +0.2Lordy wisby gauntlets give +10 body armor for 0.5 weight (2.0 wpf weight)
+1 Lordy scale gauntlets give +11 body armor for 0.8 weight (3.2 wpf weight)
+1 +0.3Lordy gauntlets give +12 body armor for 1.0 weight (4.0 wpf weight)
+1 +0.2Lordy plate mittens give +13 body armor for 1.3 weight (5.2 wpf weight)
+1 +0.3Lordy black gauntlets give +14 body armor for 1.5 weight (6.0 wpf weight)
+1 +0.2Lordy heavy gauntlets give +15 body armor for 2.0 weight (9.0 wpf weight)
+1 +0.5Fasader's work is pretty damn obvious here. He's the only one who's grading items based on their looks (his personal taste).
Edit: Sorry my old friendsader, I'll blame cmpx next time