The study of the f < > d transition on Ce3+-doped Cs2NaLuCl6, through the absorption and emission spectra at high pressure, allows us to conclude that the equilibrium Ce-Cl bond distance in the excited state is shorter than in the ground state. The observed band shifts of -530 +/- 20 cm (1)/GPa and -415 +/- 10 cm (1)/GPa in absorption and emission, respectively, reveal reduction of the Stokes shift and the spin-orbit interaction with pressure. (C) 2009 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.