Abstract: A unique opalescent color effect is produced on a substrate material utilizing a multicoat coating system. The primer base coat is a nonmetallic primary color coat having an N-4 to N-8 value on the Munsell color chart. Directly on top of the primer base coat there is applied a transparent interference coat containing a polymeric binder and metal oxide encapsulated mica particles in a pigment to binder ratio of 0.06 to 0.13. On top of the previously applied coats is applied a transparent protective clear coat, the primary base color coat being a high solids content primer layer having good corrosion resistance, good adhesion, etc. The resultant coating in addition to being durable to the elements produces a unique opalescent color effect on the substrate material.