Niobium sports all the colors of the rainbow if an oxide layer forms. But for this to happen it has to be almost incomprehensibly thin: on the order of a few nanometers. A nanometer or two is all it takes to change the color but too deep and the whole thing just turns an ugly black. Luckily, the process is easily controlled using electricity and an industry has popped up around niobium to give the world colorful metal jewelry (along with titanium which has similar properties).

We can also make niobium beautiful by simply polishing the bejeezus out of it until it resembles chrome plating!