In a method of providing a surface with a protection layer having at least
a first surface area (2) and a second surface area (1), which surface
areas (1, 2) are distinguishable in that the surface areas (1, 2) differ
from each other in at least one visual property, parts of the surface
situated outside the first surface area (2) are masked with a mask layer
which partially covers the surface, and the surface is subjected to an
electrochemical treatment (14, 20), whereby non-masked parts of the
surface are treated. As the mask layer provided on the surface is a
sol-gel layer forming the protection layer in the second surface area (1),
a wear-resistant surface-protection layer having visually distinguishable
surface areas is provided in an efficient manner. An object which can be
obtained by means of the proposed method is also described.
