Pressure induced changes in the reflectivity of SmSe have been investigated up to 70 kbar hydrostatic pressure, using the gasketted diamond anvil high‐pressure x‐ray apparatus in conjunction with an optical microspectroscopic system. The effect of Nd substitution on the lattice parameter, resistivity, and color of SmSe has also been studied. Reflectivity data for GdSe at ambient pressure have been obtained for comparison with the metallic phase of SmSe. With increasing pressure the color of the sample (as observed in reflected light) goes through a sequence of changes, from black, steel‐blue, deep purple, reddish purple, copperlike metallic color to bronze yellow at the highest pressure. From the reflectivity data, the static conductivity has been evaluated and is compared with the dc conductivity, previously measured on SmSe single crystals under hydrostatic pressure. Deviations from Drude theory indicate that the interband contribution to the dielectric constant plays an important role in determining the sequence of metallic colors observed in metallic rare‐earth monochalcogenides.