Swarovski jewelry is described with the word precious and highest-quality crystals today. Whether you are looking for Swarovski earrings or Swarovski rings, you can get the range of captivating Swarovski jewelry at the best online stores such as you can find the precious collection of Swarovski jewelry at Cate and Chloe. The Swarovski Collection at Cate and Chloe is truly unforgettable and you can complete your special look with their luxurious jewelry.
But have you ever thought that what makes Swarovski Jewelry special? Why Swarovski crystal jewelry is so popular today? Learn all about it here, as we have compiled a list of some amazing facts about Swarovski jewelry.
Swarovski is one of the most popular names in the world of Jewellery, especially Fashion Jewellery. Luxurious, precious, and high-quality are some of the words associated with Swarovski Jewellery. So, what is so unique about this crystal that makes it so popular among the women who adore jewelry?
Here are a few things you didn’t know about Swarovski.
What is Swarovski Crystal?
Swarovski crystals are actually not crystals. They are a man-made form of glass created with a patented process. The process and the exact raw materials used have remained a company secret. This highly specialized manufacturing process ensures the highest possible degree of precision which produces brilliant diamond-like crystals.
Crystal nerds will only be able to spot the difference on sight between a diamond and Swarovski crystal as Swarovski has a higher refraction index than true crystal, closer to a diamond.
What are Swarovski Elements?
Swarovski Elements is the brand name for precision-cut loose Swarovski made from a combination of quartz, sand, and minerals. They are used by the fashion, Jewellery, and accessories industries. The “Swarovski Crystals” brand officially replaced the “Swarovski Elements” name in September 2013 to concentrate all marketing activities into one main brand.
Swarovski jewels were crafted in 1892 in Austria by David Swarovski
Swarovski was invented by Daniel Swarovski, a Czech-born Austrian glass cutter. In 1892, he invented and patented the electric cutting machine that facilitated the production of lead crystal glass Jewellery, which until then had to be cut by hand. He along with financier Armand Kosmann, and Franz Weis founded the Swarovski Company, originally known as A. Kosmann, D. Swarovski & Co. and shortened to KS & Co.
In 1892, David Swarovski opted for a patented license for an electric cutting machine that would enable the user to cut crystals more precisely and consistently than they could accomplish by hand. After three years, he established the Swarovski Company in Wattens which was a small community in the Austrian Alps.
Swarovski’s vision was to make “a diamond for everyone” by making crystals affordable. Swarovski is now a fifth-generation family-owned business with over 34,000 employees and a huge range of products like glass sculptures and miniature, jewelry and rhinestones, home decor, and chandeliers.
How is Swarovski crystal made?
Swarovski crystals are a form of glass that has been cut to have identical facets on the outside so that it reflects light in beautiful ways. This special glass is mixed together from quartz sand, potash, soda, and some other materials at a high temperature, following Swarovski’s patented manufacturing process.
This means that Swarovski crystals aren’t gemstones, nor are they naturally occurring crystals. While we don’t know the exact, patented process that Swarovski uses to produce its crystals, we do know that the final crystals used to have a high lead concentration in order to increase the shine and brilliance of the glass (referred to as lead glass crystals).
While Swarovski won’t reveal its secretive manufacturing process, we know that Swarovski crystals are made of quartz sand and natural minerals. The actual product is a form of man-made glass, with a 32% concentration of lead. Although lead is a toxic substance, wearing lead glass jewelry is not harmful to the human body. In fact, the presence of lead is what gives Swarovski crystals the extra sparkle and brilliance.
Swarovski’s patented cutting machine then allows for a technology-driven cut that creates a high refraction index in the crystals. The machine is so powerful and precise that it can create as many as 100 facets to mirror and bend light in various directions.
After a complex cutting process, a Swarovski crystal is then polished to perfection. Some of the Swarovski products have special coatings. The AB crystals, for example, have a metallic coating that refracts light in a rainbow spectrum.
The combination of a secret chemical formula and the highest degree of precision cut produces the world-renowned Swarovski crystals. The Swarovski crystals are more expensive than regular glass because of their fine materials and complicated manufacturing process.
8 ways to test the authenticity of Swarovski jewelry
- There shouldn’t be any bubbles in the crystal
- All facets should meet and point upwards
- Each crystal should be identical in size and cut
- If the crystals are part of the same color family, they should look identical
- There should be no scratches on the surface or any oily sheen
- Only Swarovski pearls are sold strung together; crystals are sold loose
- The crystals should have a shine comparable to a diamond
- Ideally, the crystals should come from an authorized retailer
Remember: since these crystals are machine-made, they are far more consistent than naturally-occurring crystals and gems. Identical crystals are in fact a sign of good workmanship and authenticity.
How to care for Swarovski crystal jewelry?
Swarovski Crystal Jewellery is fine and delicate and should be treated the same as fine jewelry. Avoid exposing the crystals to water, chemicals, or harsh treatment from work or sports. Wipe off jewelry with a damp cloth and let it dry completely before storing. These are not daily worn jewelry and adequate care must be taken to protect these from direct contact with chemicals like perfume, hairspray, etc. Always remove the Swarovski crystal jewelry before going swimming or bath. If possible keep the jewelry in its original box or an airtight box. Avoid exposing the crystals to water, chemicals, or harsh treatment from work or sports.
Swarovski Crystal isn’t Actually Crystal
Swarovski crystal isn’t crystal in any way and it’s not even a gem either. Actually, it’s crafted from a type of glass made with a patented procedure. Swarovski Crystal imitation will be able to grab the difference on sight, as it has a higher refraction index as compared to real crystal, and it’s more like a diamond. The precision-cutting designs and sparkling polish at Swarovski Jewellery is the thing that made it special and more popular today!
It’s actually a form of glass created with a patented process. Crystal nerds will be able to spot the difference on sight, as Swarovski has a higher refraction index than true crystal, closer to a diamond. This is achieved with precision cutting and polishing for the sparkle you love.
Swarovski is More Expensive than Glass
Well, this is because of the production process and precision required in creating a Swarovski crystal. Swarovski uses only the finest materials, superior production, cutting, and polishing to fashion faceted lead glass that is known around the world for its brilliance and value. According to Swarovski, “Cutting hard materials such as crystal and gems, in such a way that they have a hundred identical facets in several directions, is a very complicated task; each direction of the reflected light must first be calculated by computer, then this has to be simulated in 3D, optimized and finally converted into control programs for complex machinery.”
Compared to other glass jewelry products, Swarovski uses higher-quality materials. The process of creating even one crystal is also complicated. Keep in mind, in order to be considered high quality, the crystals need to have a hundred identical facets in several directions, which takes time with a hard material.
The reason behind its expensive cost is its manufacturing process. Compared to other glass jewelry, Swarovski jewelry is made of extremely high-quality crystal glass. The high-quality crystals come from a very uniform structure which offers the Swarovski crystals amazing clarity.
This is why in glass and Swarovski Jewellery comparison; Swarovski crystals always lead as its high-quality manufacturing goes from several facets and takes a lot of time to come in shape. The complicated and patented manufacturing process makes these incredible crystals more expensive than dull glass crystals.
Swarovski jewelry perfectly imitates Diamonds
Diamonds and Gems may occur naturally, whereas Swarovski crystals are perfectly man-made with excellent crystals that are actually crafted with lead glass crystals, sand, quartz, and minerals. In fact, they’re made with about 32% lead.
As it turns out, lead helps maximize the refraction in the crystals. Colors are created using chemical coatings, but clear crystals are actually more difficult to produce since they cannot contain any impurities.
Sural gemstones and diamonds while it comes at half of their price range. And they are considered a high-quality yet affordable jewelry range that lets us flaunt our style without burning a hole in our pocket.
Times when Swarovski stole the show
- In the 2018 Academy Awards, Swarovski decorated the stage with 45 million crystals that made the main stage gleam with sparkle. The whole display took over 3,000 hours to create and weighed approximately 15,000 pounds. It is one of Swarovski’s most outlandish achievements to date.
- Crystals might occur in nature, but Swarovski crystals don’t.
- They’re actually lead glass crystals created using quartz, sand, and minerals. In fact, they’re about 32% lead. Why lead, you might be wondering?
- As it turns out, lead helps maximize the refraction in the crystals. Colors are created using chemical coatings, but clear crystals are actually more difficult to produce since they cannot contain any impurities.
Swarovski stole the show at the Oscars in 2018
If we watched the 2018 Oscar Awards, then we might have witnessed one of the most outlandish achievements of Swarovski in the history of the awards show to date. From the red carpet to the Oscar stage, and from Los Angeles to London and New York, Swarovski Jewellery stole the biggest night with brilliance and glamour at the 90th Oscar Awards.
Swarovski – The Ultimate Symbol of Luxury
Let us look at some of the key factors that make Swarovski one of the most respected luxury brands in the world.
1. Exclusive
Even after 150 years, Swarovski is still a family business. Well, true luxury is exclusive and with its 5th generation handling the Swarovski business after one and a half centuries, this is as exclusive as it gets. Founded in 1862 by Daniel Swarovski, Armand Kosman, and Franz Wens at Wattens in Austria as A.Kosmann, D. Swarovski & Co, Swarovski has simply thrived as a luxury brand.
2. Extraordinary
Swarovski crystals are not your ordinary crystals and therefore they stand out majestically in a world full of crystals. As a matter of fact, Swarovski crystals are not crystals at all. A Swarovski crystal is a kind of glass put through a patented process that produces an outstanding piece of luxury. A typical Swarovski crystal will have a higher refractive index than an ordinary crystal. The intricate process involved in giving a Swarovski crystal the globally acclaimed resplendence also makes Swarovski crystals more expensive than glass crystals.
3. True
Genuine Swarovski crystals will never have any bubbles under any circumstances whatsoever. Luxury does have imitations and Swarovski is no exception but a true Swarovski will never have any bubbles while the imitations would.
4. Consistent
The adherence to the best standards has ensured that even after all these years, Swarovski offers an amazing range of luxury products that ooze quality, craftsmanship, and creativity including high-quality crystals, genuine gemstones, and created stones, and also completed products like jewelry, accessories, and lighting. This is what true luxury is all about – commitment and consistency.
5. Gigantic
The Swarovski Crystal Business is one of the epitomes of a luxury business empire with a phenomenal global presence having almost 3000 stores in around 170 countries, having around 27,000 employees. The Swarovski Group is made up of Swarovski Crystal Business, Swarovski Optik (optical devices), and Tyrolit (abrasives). In 2016, the Swarovski Group generated revenue of about 3.37 billion euros and employed more than 32,000 people.
Swarovski has a wide variety of prices for its crystals. Because of their high shine, authentic Swarovski crystals are pricier than regular crystals that you see in a department store. As for their individual beads that are to be sewn onto clothing, each bead (depending on style and color) will start at $3 for one tiny piece.
The cheapest item made with Swarovski elements will generally be around $30, while the more expensive Swarovski jewelry can go up to thousands or even millions! Their crystal necklaces start for as low as $80 and can go up to $1,000 or more. This also goes the same way for their earrings and bracelets.
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