The invention relates to a weather resistant titanium dioxide pigment with good optical properties having a SiO.sub.2 dense skin doped with metal atoms. Particularly suitable elements for doping are tin, zirconium and titanium. The SiO.sub.2 dense skin is composed of multiple layers whereby the innermost layer does not contain any significant quantity of metal atoms. The coating according to the invention is produced by adding the components to the alkaline suspension (pH at least 9) one after the other with a sliding pH. Complete formation of the doped SiO.sub.2 dense skin requires that the pH subsequently be lowered to below 9. The pigment is particularly suitable for use in surface coatings and plastics.