The present application discloses novel lanthanide chelate designs (Formula (I) and Formula (III)) having fluorenyl-, fluorenylethynyl, 9H-carbazolyl-, 9H-carbozolylethynyl-, dibenzothiophenyl-, dibenzothiophenylethynyl-, dibenzofuranyl or dibenzofuranylethynyl pyridine chromophores around an emitting lanthanide ion, e.g. an europium(III) ion. The three-membered ring chromophores exhibit high molar absorptivity and luminescence with lanthanide ions. The application also discloses a detectable molecule comprising a biospecific binding reactant useful in bioaffinity based binding assay, luminescent lanthanide chelating ligands, as well as a solid support conjugated with the chelates.