Platinum thin-film metallization is selectively etched with aqua regia, using a chromium or titanium film as an etch-resistant mask. In a specific embodiment, an integrated circuit structure is metallized with successive layers of titanium, platinum, gold and a metal selected from molybdenum, tungsten, rhenium and corrosion-resistant alloys thereof. The system is particularly suited for the formation of insulated ''''cross-over'''' metallization, or multi-level interconnecting metallization.