Metallic luster pigments

A metallic luster pigment based on coated aluminum platelets, wherein the aluminum platelets are in monolithic form and are encased by at least one coating B of iron(III) oxide which is optionally encased in turn by a layer C selected from TiO2, SnO2 and Al2O3, and wherein the proportion by mass of iron(III) oxide in the coated substrate platelets, either alone or in combination with TiO2, SnO2 or Al2O3 from layer C, if present, is at least 65% by weight, the proportion by mass of aluminum metal in the coated substrate platelets is not more than 20% by weight, and the quantitative ratio of oxygen not bonded to aluminum relative to aluminum is at least 3, and between the surface of the aluminum platelets and coating B there is a further coating A of at least one metal oxide having a low refractive index of at most 1.8, selected from the group consisting of SiO2, B2O3, MnO2, MgO, GeO2 and Al2O3, and wherein the coating B and the coating A are in direct contact, wherein the aluminum platelets have a thickness of 1 to 30 nm and have optionally been passivated, and wherein coating B has a thickness in the range from 100 to 300 nm.