A series of multilayered nanocrystals consisting of alternating CdS and HgS layers has been synthesized. Those structures have been characterized by UV/VIS/NIR absorption and emission spectroscopy as well as transmission electron microscopy. Results of the optical spectroscopy are compared to theoretical calculation ("effective mass approximation") and TEM results are compared to TEM simulations. Furthermore, comparable structures consisting of ZnS and CdS have been synthesized and characterized by optical spectroscopy and powder X-ray diffractometry.