A model is introduced to predict the energy of metal-to-metal charge-transfer transitions in oxide compounds containing Bi3+ ions and d(0) or d(10) metals (Mn+). The model takes into account the structural characteristics of the host lattices, the anion relaxation resulting from Bi3+ doping, and the electronegativities and coordination numbers of the Bi3+ and Mn+ ions in the compounds. It is shown, through a critical review of the archival literature, that this model provides new insights on the assignment of the luminescence spectra and the related interpretation of the spectroscopic behaviors.