Dysprosium-doped lead borate glasses before and after heat treatment have been studied. Lead tungstate PbWO4 crystallites were identified in lead borate glasses after heat treatment. Luminescence was examined under different excitation wavelengths. Blue luminescence of PbWO4 crystallites embedded in lead borate glass is observed upon 310 nm excitation. Luminescence spectra measured under excitation at 390 nm consists of two characteristic blue and yellow bands, which correspond to F-4(9/2)-H-6(15/2) and F-4(9/2)-H-6(13/2) transitions of Dy3+. Blue band is enhanced and broadened in comparison to yellow F-4(9/2)-H-6(13/2) transition, when Dy3+ and PbWO4 crystallites in lead borate glass after heat treatment are simultaneously excited by 360 nm line. (C) 2010 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.