Abstract: A metallic pigment is provided including a metallic substrate coated with a hybrid inorganic/organic layer, wherein the hybrid inorganic/organic layer includes a network of an inorganic component and at least one organofunctional silane component having organic functionalities which have not been polymerised. Also, a method of coating a metallic substrate is provided including: combining the metallic substrate with a surfactant and an organofunctional silane and an inorganic component precursor to form a hydrophobic phase; combining the hydrophobic phase with a hydrophilic liquid to form an emulsion including said hydrophobic phase containing the metallic substrate, the organofunctional silane and the inorganic component precursor dispersed in a continuous hydrophilic phase; adding a catalyst to the emulsion; and forming a hybrid organic/inorganic layer from the organofunctional silane and said inorganic component precursor on the metallic substrate to produce a coated metallic substrate.