The invention relates to method of depositing refractory metal carbide onto part of a surface of a body comprising diamond, the method including adhering directly onto part of the surface a refractory precursor material comprising a compound including oxygen and at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Ti, V, Cr, Zr, Nb, Mo, Hf, Ta and W; the refractory precursor material being reducible in the presence of carbon on the application of heat to form at least one compound comprising metal carbide or mixed metal carbide; and reducing the refractory precursor material by the application of heat. The invention further relates to a body comprising diamond, part of the surface of the body having directly adhered thereto a metal carbide and part of the surface of the body having directly adhered thereto a metallic material and the content of diamond being greater than 80 volume percent of a volume of the body.