a platinum surface with gold to create individual gold beads imbedded into a platinum surface or inlaying a gold surface with platinum to create individual platinum beads imbedded into a gold surface a pattern of contrasting colored beads can be produced on a metal surface any combination of metals can be used for the metal surface and bead inlays and the metal surface and or bead inlays can themselves be composed of more than one type of metal the metal object to be ornamented should include an accepting metal having a metal surface the accepting metal can be composed of any appropriate metal including for example a precious metal or precious metal alloy alternatively for example the accepting metal can be a non precious metal having a metal surface composed of a precious metal or precious metal alloy the metal piece being decorated or ornamented is in certain embodiments a piece of jewelry the jewelry can be an earring or pair or earrings a ring bracelet pendant or brooch a charm for a bracelet or necklace a necklace itself a watch cufflinks belt buckle or the like the jewelry can be decorated by the presently disclosed methods using any metal metal alloys or combination thereof including precious metals or alloys for example metals and alloys that can be used include without limitation gold including 24 22 18 or 14 carat gold silver iridium ruthidium paladium and platinum including platinum 1000 and platinum 950 as an aid to the practitioner the surface.