The invention relates to a method for coating metallic effect pigments with silicon oxide, in which alkoxysilane(s) and/or silicon halide(s) in organic solvent are reacted with water in the presence of metallic effect pigments, where the reaction includes at least two steps, where (a) the reaction is carried out with addition of acid in a first step and with addition of base in a second step or where (b) the reaction is carried out with addition of base in a first step and with addition of acid in a second step. The invention further relates to the coated metallic effect pigments producible by way of the method of the invention, and also to the use thereof.