We report herein the feasibility of CdSe nanoparticle synthesis in high-temperature water. The base-case experimental conditions (T = 200 degrees C, Cd/Se molar ratio = 8:1, and a reaction time, t, of 1.5 min) produced nanoparticles that exhibited quantum confinement behavior. The quantum yield was 1.5%, but it was easily increased to approximately 7% by adding a CdS shell. The mean particle size can be manipulated by changing the process variables. The particle size increased with increasing reaction time, temperature, stabilizer concentration, and Cd/Se ratio. The mean size decreased with increasing pH. This effort is a step in the development of alternative syntheses that can reduce limitations posed by current approaches.