An inorganic, non-quarter wave, heterogeneous multilayer effect pigment includes a platy substrate comprising an absorbing optically active metal oxide layer thereon, having an optical thickness from about 20 nm to about 400 nm； a layer of low refractive index material on the absorbing optically active metal oxide layer and having an optical thickness from about 10 nm to about 500 nm； and an outermost optically active layer of a non-absorbing high refractive index material on the low refractive index material and having an optical thickness from about 50 nm to about 1000 nm. The multilayer effect pigment exhibits a blue reflectance ratio (BRR) of at least 3, according to the equation: BRR=(Blue Max)/(Green Min)； where Blue Max is the maximum reflectance exhibited over wavelengths 380 nm to 450 nm； and Green Min is the minimum reflectance exhibited over wavelengths 450 nm to 600 nm.
