A high chroma effect pigment includes a platelet substrate and an optical coating formed on the platelet substrate. The optical coating includes a first high refractive index layer, a second high refractive index layer on the first high refractive index layer, and a diffused third material having a range of diffusion between 100% to partial diffusion in the first high refractive index layer, the second high refractive index layer, or both the first and the second high refractive index layers. The first and second high refractive index layers independently have a refractive index of about >1.65. The diffused third material is SiO2 or a metal oxide is different than the first and second high refractive index layers.