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 the proposed method is also described.