Swarovski is one of the most well-known brands in the jewelry industry.
Swarovski jewelry is often described as high-quality, elegant, and valuable. But why do you believe Swarovski crystals are so popular?
Here are some interesting facts about this timeless piece of jewelry you probably didn’t know.
Exciting Facts About Swarovski Jewelry
1. Swarovski crystals are not naturally occurring
Swavorski crystals do not occur naturally, whereas crystals do. They’re lead glass crystals made from quartz, sand, and minerals. In reality, they are roughly 32% ahead. Why lead, you might ask?
Lead, it turns out, contributes to the maximum refraction in crystals. Colors are generated through chemical coatings, but clean crystals are more difficult to produce because they cannot contain imperfections.
2. Swarovski Crystal is not crystal
Don’t be fooled by the name: Swarovski crystal isn’t crystal. It’s also not a jewel. It’s a type of glass made by a patented method.
Crystal nerds will notice the difference immediately since Swarovski has a greater refraction index than genuine crystal, making it more similar to a diamond. This is accomplished through precise cutting and polishing, resulting in the desired brilliance.
3. Swarovski was founded in Austria in 1892
David Swarovski of Austria created the crystals you know and love to make the crystal more accessible–a “diamond for everyone.”
Swarovski patented an electric cutting machine in 1892, allowing users to cut crystals more accurately and consistently than they could manually. Three years later, he established the Swarovski Company in Wattens, a small hamlet in the Austrian Alps.
4. Swarovski is more expensive than glass
You may wonder why Swarovski is more expensive than glass jewelry, given that it is a glass crystal.
This is due to the difference in manufacturing processes necessary to produce glass versus crystals.
Swarovski uses higher-quality materials than other brands of glass jewelry. Even the process of generating a single crystal is complex. Remember that to be deemed good grade; the crystals must have 100 similar facets in many directions, which takes time with a rigid material.
5. The Jewels debuted in Blonde Venus
If you’re current on the jewelry trends and know how the wind blows when the term Swarovski comes up, you can thank Marlene Dietrich and the film Blonde Venus.
1932 picture brought Marlene Dietrich back to the stage and marked Swarovski’s film debut. Costumes and jewelry sparkled with crystals, and soon after, an endless queue of blonde starlets arrived onstage and on the red carpet.
6. Costarring Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn
Who are the most renowned blondes who wear Swarovski jewelry?
In Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Marilyn Monroe wore a now-iconic pink satin gown and brilliant jewels while singing, ironically, “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend.” More recently, Swarovski collaborated with supermodel Karlie Kloss to replicate the event.
However, the jewelry’s most famous cinematic appearance was with Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, not a blonde. Holly Golightly wears a little tiara at essential parts of the film, and if you weren’t sold by then, you weren’t watching the movie at all.
7. Eight Ways to Tell Whether Yours is Real
You may wonder if there is a way to identify whether your Swarovski is genuine or a convincing fake. As it turns out, there are eight methods to test the authenticity of your jewelry:
- There should be no bubbles in the crystal.
- All facets should meet and point upward.
- Each gem should be the same size and cut.
- The crystals should appear identical if they are in the same color family.
- The surface should not have any scratches or greasy sheen.
- Only Swarovski pearls are offered strung together, whereas crystals are sold loose.
- The crystals should have a luster similar to diamonds.
- Ideally, the crystals should arrive from an authorized retailer.
Remember that these crystals are machine-made and more consistent than naturally occurring crystals and stones. Identical crystals indicate high quality and authenticity.
Furthermore, Swarovski crystals are meticulously created. Imperfections in the crystals, such as scratches, bubbles, or a dull shine, would not exceed the company’s quality requirements.
8. They stole the show at the 2018 Oscars!
If you watched the 2018 Academy Awards, you saw one of Swarovski’s most outrageous accomplishments (as well as the most extravagant setup in the show’s history).
All that glitz on the main stage? That was thanks to the 45 million crystals that adorned the stage. The entire show took over 3,000 hours and weighed around 15,000 pounds.
You thought your diamond earrings were hefty.
9. Happy birthday, Mr. President!
Another of Swarovski’s most famous (or notorious) incidents occurred with a well-known blonde, Marilyn Monroe.
Marilyn Monroe’s sensual version of “Happy Birthday” for President John F. Kennedy at Madison Square Garden is one of her most memorable performances.
Where was Swarovski during all of this? Monroe wore (or was sewn into) a sheer, flesh-colored garment adorned with 2,500 crystals. Under the lighting, the garment appeared to melt away, leaving only the shine of the crystals and Marilyn Monroe’s sensual best.
The Quality of Swarovski
To assess whether Swarovski is a luxury brand, consider the quality of Swarovski’s products.
1. Price Range
Let’s start with the pricing range for Swarovski jewelry. Their necklaces range from $85 to $2,000, bracelets from $69 to $1,300, earrings from $59 to $900, and rings from $75 to $800.
Swarovski jewelry is very reasonable because it contains no diamonds or other precious stones. However, there are a few items that cost more than $1,000. Swarovski also makes a variety of watches, many of which are decorated with crystals. These watches can cost as little as $225 or as much as $530.
2. Materials
Swarovski crystals, as expected, are the principal material, set in rhodium, rose gold-tone, or gold-tone plated jewelry. Other materials and stones in jewelry include cubic zirconia, crystal pearl, tiger eye, mother of pearl, aluminum, and stainless steel.
These are all high-quality materials but not precious; therefore, the prices are slightly more reasonable.
Swarovski crystals are not natural but glass crystals manufactured at extraordinarily high temperatures. They have a higher refraction index, closer to diamonds than genuine crystals, which causes them to shine in the light. The crystals are then coated with a chemical that gives the surface a rainbow appearance, similar to how light refracts off a diamond.
3. Craftsmanship
Swarovski is an Austrian brand. Thus, most of their crystals are created in Austria using a technique the business has trademarked, making them the only ones in the world to produce this type of sparkling crystal.
Some Swarovski crystals and all jewelry are manufactured in China, making the costs more inexpensive. This indicates that the jewelry is of excellent quality and well-crafted, but the price is lower than if it had been created in Europe.
Why Is Swarovski so Popular And Unique?
If we were to give you a personal view, we would say that every single item is polished to the point where you wouldn’t detect the difference between it and diamonds or other expensive stones.
Swarovski has made it a point to establish this crystal notion to the point where their way of cutting stones and creating items is considered luxurious in the first place. After all, no one would think crystal could be used this way and become valuable.
If we now have to go on to what people think about the brand, that would include a thorough evaluation of the process.
To begin, many people have been curious about how the organization manages to generate such high-quality products.
Indeed, competitors or individuals may never be able to unravel the enigma because of how the secrets are kept within the company. However, several mysteries were revealed throughout the years.
It is now clear why crystal stones sparkle so brightly. This is owing to the high lead oxide concentration (32%). It is found in typical rhinestones, although in lesser levels.
Rhinestones typically contain 24% lead oxide. Nobody has discovered the secret to a unique crystal polishing procedure; thus, knowing the oxide content is useless unless you know how to correctly cut and polish the crystals.
The corporation maintains a strict secret and confidential policy in this regard, and it is not surprising that crystal model developers destroy all documents to keep their market distinctiveness.
This is done to verify that there are no duplicates of particular unique models, and you should also be aware that the brand makes all of its instruments compatible with crystals.
Conclusion
Swarovski is a leading jewelry brand known for its eye-catching, reasonably priced necklaces, bracelets, rings, and earrings. Swarovski is not a premium brand, as seen by its inexpensive costs.
The materials used and the price tag for the jewelry pieces indicate that it does not rank at the top of the luxury brand hierarchy alongside legendary jewelry names such as Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels. Instead, Swarovski is a low-cost luxury brand or an entry-level premium brand. This means it is excellent for those of you who want to acquire some beautiful jewelry without causing too much damage to your credit card!
This brand offers a wide range of pieces, from minimalist necklaces and earrings for everyday wear to statement rings and cuff bracelets, so you’re sure to find something you adore from this fantastic brand.
