A novel general method for coating particles with a complex oxide was described. Zirconia precursor and silica layers with careful control of film thickness were coated separately onto hematite particles in corresponding solutions. A zircon shell was subsequently obtained by heat treatment at 800 degrees C for 3 h using LiF as a mineralizer. The as-prepared zircon-occluded hematite pigment gave a pink color to the glazed sample after annealing at 1120 degrees C. The current research suggests that various chromophoric particles can be encapsulated with zircon to prepare ceramic pigments for high-temperature use.