A high pressure optical cell capable of producing pressures up to 13.2 GPa using gem-cut single crystal cubic zirconia (CZ) anvils was developed. Maximum pressures obtainable were found to depend upon the particular pressure transmitting medium and gasket material employed. The cubic zirconia anvil high pressure cell (CZAC) provides advantages over the diamond anvil cell in optical and infrared spectroscopy while still maintaining a substantial pressure capability. To demonstrate these advantages, microRaman, optical fluorescence, and infrared absorption measurements were made on diamond, ruby, and 1,3,5-trinitrohexahydro-1,3,5-triazine samples, respectively, using the CZAC cell under high pressure conditions.