Abstract: A method of producing high quality optical surfaces is disclosed. The invention allows for the production of optical surfaces with complex geometry while retaining the high quality of the optical surface. A top layer is provided on a substrate. In order to adhere the top layer to the substrate, an adhesion layer is applied first. In the preferred embodiment, the substrate is an aluminum substrate, the adhesion layer includes a layer of zinc and a layer of nickel and the top layer is gold. The substrate is generally stress free in order to provide a flat surface with no undulations. This allows a relatively thin layer of gold to be applied which then can be diamond turned in order to achieve a reflective layer.