Everyone knows that for girls, best friends are diamonds. However, not everyone can afford to buy real gems. But relatively recently, thanks to the invention of Daniel Swarovski, crystalline jewelry stones appeared on the market, very similar to diamonds - Swarovski crystals. The price for them is much lower than for real diamonds. However, externally they are almost indistinguishable.
Often crystals are also called rhinestones. This name came from the name of the jeweler Georges Strass, who lived in the eighteenth century and was known for his masterful ability to forge diamonds.
Swarovski crystals - what is it?
Everyone heard about the company of the same name. Their jewelry is beautiful and conquered the whole world. But what are these stones, what are they made of? Often you can hear about Swarovski crystals that this is just a miserable copy of diamonds, a fake made of ordinary glass. However, this is not at all true.
Of course, crystals are not diamonds. The creator himself has always recognized that his stones are just an imitation of precious stones. But after all, their cost is much lower. And they look worthy.
And yet, what are Swarovski crystals made of? From crystal. Today, the company is a leading manufacturer of high-quality crystal throughout the world. In the collections of the brand - more than one hundred thousand types of stones of the most diverse forms. Swarovski patented a special cut of rhinestones with a large number of side faces (seven narrow and wide).
Crystal uniqueness
The crystals of the brand are distinguished by the most sharp and polished edges, they do not have any defects: chips or clouding. On the inner side of the walls of rhinestones is a silver-mirror substrate, due to which the radiance of the stones is enhanced. The maximum play of light is achieved by adding sulfur oxide to the crystal.
The main highlight and feature of rhinestones is the material itself: absolutely transparent and high-quality crystal. It contains potash, soda, quartz sand and minium. They are mixed in special proportions. The creator of the brand personally developed a method for producing crystal, from which Swarovski crystals are made. What kind of recipe is still unknown, as it is kept in the strictest confidence. Such conspiracy around production is understandable. After all, the secret of creating the famous crystal is the key to the uniqueness, originality and capital of this honorable brand.
Who is Swarovski?
Daniel Swarovski was born in the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1862. His homeland is the mountains of Bohemia. This area has long been known for its high quality glass.
Daniel's father was an entrepreneur and owned a small glass workshop. Swarovski himself worked at the factory with his father. They say that he was a man of art and dreamed of becoming a musician. However, having worked as an apprentice in his father’s workshop, he decided to go to Paris and study as an engineer.
Once Daniel managed to visit the World Electrotechnical Exhibition. Then he thought about the fact that the current strength can be used for grinding glass. As a result, this idea turned out to be fateful. In 1891, Swarovski invented the world's first electric-powered grinding machine . With its help it was possible to process a large number of stones and glass. This event marked the beginning of the path to the Swarovski Empire.
Brand creation
Daniel Swarovski in 1895 with his family left Bohemia and moved to the small village of Wattens. Here, together with his French partner, he bought an empty factory and opened his own stone cutting company called A. Kosmann, DanielSwarovski & Co. Five years later, he renamed the name of his production to Swarovski. Swarovski chose the edelweiss flower as his emblem .
The company's expertly cut and transparent crystal was very similar to a diamond. And due to the low price it has become widely popular among different segments of the population. Over time, products with Swarovski crystals began to order and representatives of high society. Costume jewelry has ceased to be considered a sign of bad taste, but on the contrary, has become fashionable in many elite houses in Europe.
Swarovski has been developing and designing stones throughout his life. He was also helped by sons. Together they developed a formula for creating high-quality and clean crystal.
Today, the brand logo is the swan. This decision was made in 1988. The company's products are not only jewelry, but also paintings, figures, inlaid with crystals, and much more.
Museum Creation
By the centenary of the company (in 1995) they built a unique Swarovski museum. It is located near Innsbruck. The main entrance to the museum is made in the form of a giant's head. The giant's eyes are huge green Swarovski crystals, and water pours from his mouth without stopping. This place is a real worship of crystal. Everything shines, sparkles and is amazing here. Museum galleries are an underground labyrinth consisting of fifteen halls. One of these halls is the world's largest boutique of this brand.
Significant exhibits of the museum are the largest Swarovski crystal of 310 thousand carats, which reaches 40 centimeters in diameter and weighs 62 kilograms, as well as the smallest lens with a diameter of only 0.8 millimeters. Both crystals are included in the Guinness World Records.
Swarovski in the fashion industry
Swarovski crystals have long been used by world famous people, brands and fashion houses. So in the mid-50s, Christian Dior, who noted the quality of the crystals, invited Swarovski to develop his own collection of jewelry. As a result of this collaboration, the Fireball and Drifting Emerald crystals were created.
The famous Marilyn Monroe in 1961 asked fashion designer Jean Louis to create an exclusive dress in which she was to perform at the birthday of US President John F. Kennedy. Marilyn went on stage in a thin transparent dress, strewn with six thousand strasses.
In the 80s, stage costumes by world stars such as Michael Jackson, Tina Turner and Brian Ferry were also adorned with Swarovski crystals.
In 2009, the company's jewelers created a huge star for the New York Christmas tree. This jewelry weighed 250 kilograms and contained 25 thousand crystal plates.
In 2011, BlingMyThing at the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton presented a chic MiniCooper car, the roof of which was strewn with 300 thousand Swarovski crystals, which were laid out in the form of the flag of Great Britain.
In 2013, during Rihanna’s world tour called Diamonds, the singer’s stage outfits were richly decorated with Swarovski crystals.
How to distinguish real Swarovski crystals from a fake?
Jewelry with Swarovski crystals is a welcome gift for any occasion. Charming flickering and perfect faceting of stones will add sophistication to both everyday and evening look. However, when choosing this beauty, you can be deceived by simple and cheap rhinestones, which many unscrupulous sellers give out as the original stones of the famous brand. But how do you know when buying Swarovski crystals that this is not a fake?
Firstly, you need to remember how the crystals of the brand differ from simple glass. The first difference is the composition of the crystals. They contain barium and lead oxide. The second difference is the perfectly even cut of the stone. Swarovski crystals are made very carefully, so they have clear edges and a certain selection of angle. They are ideal in their way - no clouding, chips or cracks. Well, the third difference is the price of jewelry. Of course, Swarovski crystals are not diamonds, but they are still significantly more expensive than ordinary rhinestones.
A few tips for buyers of Swarovski products
Of course, no one is safe from mistakes. But to protect yourself from a fake is possible. The main thing in this business is knowledge.
Never buy these products without branded packaging. This is a sure sign of fake. Original Swarovski jewelry, as well as placers of crystals, are sold only in branded boxes with a brand logo - a swan.
Buy products in company centers, shops and boutiques of the company.
Be sure to inspect the decoration. The original Swarovski has a smooth and clear cut, no chips and cracks, side edges of different widths, bright shine, pure color and no clouding.
To shine longer
Any jewelry, and especially Swarovski stones, need special care.
Firstly, they must be protected from water and high humidity, otherwise they will fade very quickly. Products must always be removed before water procedures, washing dishes and cleaning.
Store best in a dry place in a small box with a soft cloth inside. Swarovski jewelry should not be put together with other jewelry, as this can lead to minor scratches and other damage.
It is necessary to avoid falling on jewelry perfumes or cosmetics - from this the crystals grow dull and sometimes fall out.
Clean jewelry very slowly and carefully. It is best to use a soft cloth or special napkins designed to clean the crystal. This should be done at least once a month. At the same time, do not use cleaning and washing household products.
And of course, it is necessary to protect jewelry from bumps and other physical damage.