Goniochromatic luster pigments based on silicon dioxide platlets, CVD coated with A) a nonselectively absorbing filmlike layer at least partially transparent to visible light, and B) if desired an outer layer which consists essentially of colorless or selectively absorbing metal oxide and/or comprises phosphate, chromate and/or vanadate, are prepared and used for coloring paints, inks, including printing inks, plastics, glasses, ceramic products and decorative cosmetic preparations.

The invention relates to optically variable pigments (10) having a color shift between two distinct colours of any of the known designs. The pigments having incorporated a totally reflecting layer made by physical vapour deposition from aluminum alloy (11). This pigment exhibits excellent chromaticity, corrosion resistance, particularly in any kind of coating composition or printing ink and especially when water is present.

Use of luster pigments based on a platelet-shaped metallic substrate coated with a low refractive dielectric layer which does not absorb visible light, for pigmenting macromolecular materials.

Pigment preparations, having a solid content of 10 to 60 wt-%, obtainable by mixing together, in the presence of at least one water-miscible organic solvent, pigments coated with a silicon-oxygen-matrix with at least one resin having carboxyl groups sufficient to provide an acid value of 10 to 100 mg KOH/g resin and having an number average molecular mass of 500 to 5000, wherein the ratio of pigment to resin is in the range of 1:0.3 to 1:10, can be used for the preparation of water-borne effect base coats with shear stability.

Goniochromatic luster pigments comprising at least one dielectric low-refractive interference-colored layer which includes a polar organic solvent which can interact with the layer material via functional groups.