While there are numerous jewelry brands all around offering what can only be described as exquisite jewelry with varieties that suit everyone and their unique needs or styling preferences, there is no doubt that Swarovski stands tall at the top of that list as one of the brands that offer a great deal of high-quality and sophisticated jewelry options that suit everyone’s needs.
And as a company founded on the ethos of curating and crafting the finest, most delicate jewelry varieties, it makes sense that this is a great brand you may want to live in.
But even as you consider the jewelry options that Swarovski has to offer, it is essential to understand the jewelry options afforded by the brand and the materials used to create the jewelry.
And so, this article is dedicated to just. We’ll look at different kinds of Swarovski jewelry, what they are made of, and what makes them unique.
But before we get into all those details, let’s first look at the basics of Swarovski jewelry.
Basic introduction of Swarovski
Swarovski is a renowned jewelry and optics company founded in 1892 by a Czech-born Austrian professional glass cutter known as Daniel Swarovski.
In 1892, after many experiments and time needed to master his craft, Swarovski not only invented but also patented the first electric glass cutting machine, a piece of equipment that went on to facilitate the production of the lead crystal glass jewelry.
Until then, the crystal glass jewelry had been cut by hand. And so, after this immense success, he worked with the financier called Armand Kossmann and also frank Weiss and founded Swarovski – back then, the company was known as KS & co for kosmann, d. Swarovski & co.
At the time of creating the company, Swarovski’s vision was the idea that he would be able to come up with a diamond for everyone, something he intended to do by making the crystals affordable.
Today, it is safe to say that Swarovski has achieved just that. While they may not focus on diamonds, their jewelry is almost as good as natural diamonds, but they don’t cost as much. The brand is also very well known for its crystals, the Swarovski crystal.
What is Swarovski jewelry made of?
Most Swarovski jewelry is made of Swarovski’s signature material, the Swarovski crystal. However, don’t let the name confuse you because the Swarovski crystals are not actual crystals; they are a man-made version of glass made through Swarovski’s patented process.
The production of Swarovski crystals and the materials used to create the crystals remains a well-kept company secret. And all we know is that the manufacturing process is highly specialized, and it involves the use of the highest possible tools and techniques for the highest possible degree of precision, which is what’s made it possible for the company to be able to produce crystals that are as brilliant as the diamond-like crystals.
And in many cases, only the crystal nerds can differentiate the Swarovski crystals from natural diamonds. The other difference between the crystal and the diamonds is that the Swarovski crystal boasts a very high refractive index, high than that of a genuine crystal but closer to that of the diamond.
Over the years, the company has refined their processes and have come up with the classiest jewelry options that are decorative and unique, and meant to stand out. The Swarovski crystal is also what’s made the brand very popular among A-list celebrities and why it’s featured in many films such as the titanic, where the infamous heart of the ocean necklace in the film is made of Swarovski crystals.
In addition to the Swarovski crystal, Swarovski also uses materials like quartz, sand, minerals, and lead, which is why the crystals boast the highest level of sparkle and durability compared to natural crystals.
It should be noted that previously, Swarovski crystals were made of 32% lead, a metal that increased the crystal’s durability significantly while also increasing its refractive, but that changed, and today, Swarovski crystals contain no more than .009% lead, and so, are safe to use, and even regarded as lead-free.
But they don’t just use crystals; Swarovski jewelry is also made of high-quality metals in gold and white tones, either from gold or rhodium plating. And there are other cases where Swarovski makes use of palladium-toned plating.
What metal is Swarovski jewelry made of?
In addition to using the best quality Swarovski crystals, Swarovski jewelry is also curated using high-quality metals that are plated in gold, rhodium, palladium, or ruthenium. The base metal often used in the Swarovski pieces is often brass or a white alloy.
They also use sterling silver to a large extent, and this is often the base metal overlaid with platinum or rhodium. Recently, Swarovski has diversified and introduced crystal pieces made of gold.
In general, however, the base metal used for Swarovski’s pieces is an essential component, and most of Swarovski’s jewelry is made of plated brass. Well, that and the Swarovski crystals.
What is Swarovski crystal jewelry made of?
As mentioned above, Swarovski crystals are made of a maximum of 0.009% lead, quartz, sand, and other minerals incorporated to enhance their durability and sparkle.
However, these crystals are different from other types of crystals because they are created through a unique process that involves the use of unique techniques and Swarovski’s patented and technology-driven cutting machine, which yields crystals with a high refractive index.
Types of Swarovski Crystals
In addition to coming in multiple colors and effects, the Swarovski crystals also come in various types. This classification determines the types of Swarovski jewelry you end up with and their price tags.
The main types of Swarovski crystals include:
1. The Swarovski Round Stones
These have a pointed back, and they are coded starting with the number 1. And there are 17 crystal shapes in this category of crystals.
They also feature two-letter codes – F and U for Foiled and Unfoiled, respectively; representing the crystals with metal foiling in the back to reflect light, hence the high degree of shine and sparkle; and the ones without a foiling hence transparent, and you will see the surface behind the crystals when wearing them. So, the foiled crystals are more popular than the unfoiled ones.
2. Swarovski Crystals – Flat Backs Hotfix and the ones with no hotfix
The flat-back crystals are grouped, and their number codes start with the number 2 and have a reverse flat side that allows you to glue them to different surfaces.
These crystals come in 60 variable shapes and many other colors. Note that for the Flatback No Hotfix crystals, an external glue is necessary, hence use in home décor, textiles, shoes, and nail art.
The Flatback Hotfix crystals, on the other hand, feature a thin layer of heat-sensitive glue on its reverse side, and this glue is activated by heat from a heat press or a household iron; its application has a long-lasting effect hence ideally used for embellishing dance dresses, textiles, and even leotards for gymnastics.
3. Sew-On Swarovski Stones
These crystals feature 1, 2, or even 3 holes sewn onto clothes, home accessories, and wedding dresses. You could also combine these crystals with other kinds of crystals, creating sparkling jewelry. These are numbers starting with the number 3.
4. Fancy Swarovski Crystals
These crystals come in various cuts, colors, and sizes, and you will find them from classic gemstone shapes to flower, heart, and tear shapes. Swarovski boasts at least 185 items in this category, which are made as matching sets of colorful and sparkly necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and rings.
Therefore, these fancy crystals are also used in beading, jewelry making, and crafts projects. They are all numbered, starting with the number 4.
5. Crystals, Beads, and Pearls
These fall under the Number 5 code category, and they also come in various colors, shapes, and sizes. And the pearls are identified by their unique silky smooth round surface with an innovative coating.
The beads come in different shapes and include rounded ones and letter and hexagonal beads. There are also others in unique shapes like stars, butterflies, hearts, skulls, etc. Also, there are more than 200 color variations for these crystal beads.
6. Swarovski Pendants
These also come in different shapes and designs and are coded starting with the number 6.
They come in flawless designs that leave you with the most stunning bracelets and necklaces. And you’d only add a bail to the silver or gold chain, ending up with the most spectacular jewelry options.
What is so special about Swarovski crystal?
These crystals are created through unique processes that leave you with stones that are harder than the natural crystals and much more durable and sparkly, thanks to their high refractive index.
The manufacturing materials and techniques are also patented and known only to some people at Swarovski.
Pros and cons of Swarovski crystal?
Pros
- Harder than glass and natural crystals
- Very high refractive index, close to diamond’s
- Brilliant shine and sparkle can be confused with diamonds, and they are considered the finest diamond imitations.
- Versatile stones are used for more than jewelry
Cons
- Expensive than many other crystals
- Metals used aren’t precious, but common metals like brass
Conclusion
Swarovski jewelry is made of the most delicate Swarovski crystals that are durable, hard, brilliant, and overall just stunning.
The base metal is often brass, although sterling silver is sometimes used and plated with gold, rhodium, platinum, palladium, or ruthenium.
Swarovski jewelry is elegantly designed and made of the best quality materials that make them worthy of its high price tags.
Read more jewelry metal posts here or here!
Tiger is a fashion&jewelry lover. He is also a fashion jewelry manufacturer that help thousands of small business to grow and also do business with some big fashion jewelry brands. He is a truly metal expert and he will share some information you are looking for.