Swarovski crystals: now and then

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Swarovski name became popular in fashion industry thanks to little but shining product. In the end of the 19th century Daniel Swarovski, Austria-Hungary Empire citizen, escaped from his homeland Bohemia taking with him the secret of new incredible crystal cutting.

A few years later exceptionally shining crystals beautified fingers, ears and necks of the most recognized women in the world. Swarovski bijouterie was officially acknowledged as a worthy substitution for precious stones and metals.

Nowadays Swarovski crystals are often more pricey than jewelry with natural emeralds, diamonds and sapphires. And the fifth generation of Sir Daniel’s heirs keeps the technology of crystal cutting and production top secret. And the crystals are still an obsession for millions of fashionistas.

Unlucky violinist Daniel Swarovski, who trained to be an engineer, was able to invent and patent a machine allowing to facet natural crystals quickly and absolutely flawlessly. This happened in 1891. The products were so brilliant that Daniel understood he had to leave Bohemia and find another place where he could work. Otherwise his secret technology would soon be stolen by competitors who were in plenty in Bohemia.

Evening Blue Aurora Borealis Bracelet

Swarovski moved to Wattens in Austria, married and kept on working to improve his machine. 20 years later together with his sons he invented the new way of production and faceting those crystals we adore now.

Thanks to Swarovski ‘strass’ word was deprived of its negative meaning. Strasses were jewelry fakes made from glass and crystals George Strass used instead of natural diamonds. Now Strass is one of trademarks of Swarovski trust – artificial crystal of special facet. With the help of unique laser technology the word ‘strass’ is engraved inside of the crystal itself.

At the present time Swarovski enterprise is still run by the family. Within a hundred years it has widely expanded. All main producers of jewelry and bijouterie buy crystals from Swarovski and branch companies Swarovski Optik and Swarovski Tyrolit produce high-precision optics and polishing materials.

Now Swarovski produce crystals of unspeakable beauty for women and men, New Year trees and sophisticated interiors. Famous designers like adorning their creations with Swarovski crystals. They are as well used by makeup artists, manicurists and hair stylists.

Daniel Swarovski never passed his crystals for natural diamonds as he considered them to be better. The symbol of Swarovski bijouterie became a swan – symbol of purity and faithfulness.

Swarovski crystals are loved so much for their purity and the way they are polished and facetted. All the details are kept in secret but what we know is that the shine of the crystals is due to lots of facets. Swarovski family patented the 14-facet way of cutting the crystal. But generally the number of facets range from 16 to 56 depending on the material the strass will be used with.

Galet Capri Blue Mini Pendant

All the facets are polished ideally and the technology of cutting allows no chips or distortions. Swarovski crystals are attached to surfaces of materials with unique glue that works so well that producers can guarantee the durability of the products.

The list of stones manufactured by Swarovski includes over a hundred thousand names. Researches conducted by specialists in Swarovski laboratories allow making crystals of various hues – from light blue to deep red.

Alua Brooch

The distinctive feature of Swarovski stones is their compatibility with a huge number of different materials. In Swarovski collections crystals and stresses are combined not only with metals but also with leather, textile, synthetic materials, enamel, etc.

Swarovski collections are launched twice a year. Besides, the company unveils limited editions of jewelry for holidays, like Saint Valentine’s Day and New Year.

Pendants, bracelets, brooches, hairpins, chains and necklaces, cuff links, earrings, rings… You can either adore the original style combining femininity and infantilism, severity and playfulness, elegance and casualty, or ignore it. But what is true is that you just cannot call Swarovski bijouterie boring.

This jewelry is so diverse that one can think there is no limits to the producers’ imagination. Collections can include objects and sets inspired by rock-music, deep-water world, astronomy and even cartoons.

Mushroom Charm

It was Swarovski that have brought charms to fashion – those tiny pendants one can express his mood and intentions with, or create a unique jewelry attaching charms of a certain type in certain sequence on the bracelet or a mobile phone.

And what is also good about Swarovski bijouterie is its price policy. One can always find something she or he can afford.