A method of producing a laser-marked coating on a surface or part of a surface of an object, comprising: a) applying an aqueous composition comprising the following components A) a colloidal, amorphous silicon dioxide, B) at least one alkoxysilane which may be wholly or partially hydrolyzed in the aqueous composition, and optionally in addition to components A) and B), or instead of components A) and B), component C) a reaction product of the colloidal, amorphous silicon dioxide and the hydrolyzed alkoxysilane, and as further components D) an acid or base, E) at least one laser-sensitive pigment and/or laser-sensitive colorant which is suspended in the aqueous composition and/or distributed in the reaction product C), or which is obtainable by mixing - a colloidal, amorphous silicon dioxide, - at least one alkoxysilane, - at least one laser-sensitive pigment and/or laser-sensitive colorant, and - an acid or base to the surface to be coated or the part of the surface to be coated, b) curing the applied aqueous composition to form a coating, and further comprising: - irradiating the coating, at least in sections, with a laser beam so that the coating is laser-marked. a) applying an aqueous composition comprising the following components A) a colloidal, amorphous silicon dioxide, B) at least one alkoxysilane which may be wholly or partially hydrolyzed in the aqueous composition, and optionally in addition to components A) and B), or instead of components A) and B), component C) a reaction product of the colloidal, amorphous silicon dioxide and the hydrolyzed alkoxysilane, and as further components D) an acid or base, E) at least one laser-sensitive pigment and/or laser-sensitive colorant which is suspended in the aqueous composition and/or distributed in the reaction product C), or which is obtainable by mixing - a colloidal, amorphous silicon dioxide, - at least one alkoxysilane, - at least one laser-sensitive pigment and/or laser-sensitive colorant, and - an acid or base to the surface to be coated or the part of the surface to be coated, A) a colloidal, amorphous silicon dioxide, B) at least one alkoxysilane which may be wholly or partially hydrolyzed in the aqueous composition, and optionally in addition to components A) and B), or instead of components A) and B), component C) a reaction product of the colloidal, amorphous silicon dioxide and the hydrolyzed alkoxysilane, and as further components D) an acid or base, E) at least one laser-sensitive pigment and/or laser-sensitive colorant which is suspended in the aqueous composition and/or distributed in the reaction product C), or which is obtainable by mixing - a colloidal, amorphous silicon dioxide, - at least one alkoxysilane, - at least one laser-sensitive pigment and/or laser-sensitive colorant, and - an acid or base to the surface to be coated or the part of the surface to be coated, - a colloidal, amorphous silicon dioxide, - at least one alkoxysilane, - at least one laser-sensitive pigment and/or laser-sensitive colorant, and - an acid or base b) curing the applied aqueous composition to form a coating, and further comprising: - irradiating the coating, at least in sections, with a laser beam so that the coating is laser-marked. - irradiating the coating, at least in sections, with a laser beam so that the coating is laser-marked.