Content-based image retrieval systems have become a reliable tool for many image database applications.There are several advantages of image retrieval techniques compared to other simple retrieval approaches such as text-based retrieval techniques. Histogrambased algorithms are considered to be e ective for retrieval color images. This paper proposes a contentbased image retrieval technique that uses CIELuv color space, multi-precision (segmentation), and similarity matching. A multi-precision means a certain image is divided into a number of sub-blocks, each with its associated color histogram. Experimental results showed that, spatial distribution information recorded by multi-precision color histograms helps to make similarity matching more precise.