Bluish coloured glasses are obtained from the composition PbCl 2-PbO-B 2 O 3 doped with Cu 2+ ions. Basic physical properties and spectroscopic studies (optical absorption, electron paramagnetic resonance, Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectroscopies) were carried out on these samples. The increase in PbCl 2 content resulted in the decrease in density and increase in molar volume. At optical frequencies, band gaps and Urbach energies were evaluated and their variation is explained. Spin-Hamiltonian parameters (SHP) obtained from the EPR spectra suggest that the ligand environment around Cu 2+ is tetragonally distorted octahedral sites and the orbital d x 2 −y 2 is the ground state. The characteristics broad bands in the optical absorption spectra are assigned to the 2 B 1g → 2 B 2g transition. The bonding coefficient values were evaluated using optical data and SHP. FTIR studies suggested that the glass structure is built up of BO 3 and BO 4 units. The presence of diborate, pyroborate, pentaborate groups, etc. in the glass network was confirmed from Raman spectra.