This tutorial review focuses on the recent development of diverse synthetic approaches and possibilities for chemical tuning of the size, shape, and morphology, as well as properties such as luminescence, of rare earth tungstate and molybdate materials. The use of rare earth tungstate and molybdate nano- and micromaterials as single materials for the generation of white light is reviewed. Additionally, the use of these materials as red phosphors in phosphor-converted white light emitting diodes (pc-WLEDs) when employing GaN or InGaN chips as the primary light source is explored.