An article is coated with a coating having a dark color. In a preferred embodiment, the coating comprises a nickel or polymer basecoat layer, a first metal oxycarbide color layer comprised of 15 atomic percent carbon, 25 to 30 atomic percent oxygen, and 55 to 60 percent atomic percent refractory metal, a second metal oxycarbide color layer comprised of 10 atomic percent carbon, 50 to 60 atomic percent oxygen, and 30 to 40 atomic percent refractory metal, and a top layer of refractory metal oxides.