Swarovski’s origins

What is the Swarovski’s origins, all you need to know about this brand :

∆Back in time

In the year 1862, the one and only, the visionary Daniel Swarovski was born in Bohemia to a family that owned a crystal-cutting company since long time in the past.
The Swarovski legacy began with a personal, creative and unique dream. Daniel Swarovski, the man who started it all, had a bold vision and a clear goal: he wanted to create “a diamond for everyone”.
In the year 1883, Daniel formed a jewelry company and by 1886, they had over 70 employees, and even created jewelry for Queen Victoria . Today Swarovski crystals are being sold in with approximately 2,800 stores in over 170 countries.

Daniel was creative and an inventor , he thought of using electricity in cutting glass objects. In 1892, he patented an electric cutting machine, which took him ten years to perfectly complete the project, for the production of crystal glass.
That’s what makes it different.
He did not actually intend Swarovski crystals to be purchased only by famously rich people , he wanted to make crystals affordable to the masses, to everyone! But now Swarovski crystals are highly valued for their brilliance.
Swarovski delivers a diverse portfolio of unmatched quality, craftsmanship, and creativity and uniqueness.

∆The fashion industry collaborations

During the 1920’s, the “flapper” fashion trend caused a surge in demand for fashionable and exotic Swarovski jewelries. Women’s new shorter hairstyles led Swarovski to create a crystal-embellished fabric headband, which was also used as trimming for clothing.
After the end of World War II, the company founded the new brilliant idea ever, that led to expand the company the “Swarovski Optik” , which used its expertise in glass manufacturing to create lenses, binoculars, and telescopes, making Swarovski a market leader in precision optics.
In the years following World War II, fashion and it’s industry ecision a huge trend. Popular designers such as Coco Chanel, Christian Dior and other Hollywood designers snapped up Swarovski crystal designs and had many many collaborations and cooperation together. In 1956, Daniel Swarovski collaborated with Christian Dior to create the popular Aurora Borealis (AB) effect that is still used to this day on crystal colors.

During this era, Hollywood designers started using Swarovski Crystals en masse. Marilyn Monroe wore crystal in “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” and during her famous birthday song to John F Kennedy. As we all know the dress , the famous Marilyn’s Swarovski dress worn by Kim Kardashian at the 2021 Met gala at the Metropolitans Museum of Art.
Or the famous Michael Jackson’s gloves that he used to wear in his music videos or concert
Swarovski Crystals were also used for the Ruby Slippers in “The Wizard of Oz” and they made appearances in “Sabrina” and “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” Movies .
In 1974, the company developed the Hotfix technology allowing crystals to be fixed directly to clothes and fabrics without metal or plastic settings wich was a huge development.

Swarovski always continues to partner with fashion designers and architects to innovate and create new designs pushing the capabilities of crystal design and it has shown the history that it could be done so nicely.

∆The Logo

In 1989, Swarovski replaced its original Edelweiss logo with the Swan logo, which is used on Swarovski packaging and storefronts around the world. The Logo and the font written Was also changed slightly through history.
The new design though, the swan is surrounded by a “candylike octagon wrapping”, which is a nod to a faceted crystal and has connotations of rebirth, Swarovski says. According to the brand, the octagon also represents a sense of infinity and transition.
While the logo’s swan emblem has been retained, the bird now faces the opposite direction. With its pared-back look and elongated neck, it aims to show the “brand’s ever-forward momentum”, the company says.
“Symbolically, the swan represents the beauty of nature and eternal love, a sentiment mirrored by Swarovski’s love of crystal,” the brand says. “In adapting while staying true to its iconic emblem, Swarovski reinforces its pride for heritage as well as its vision for the future.”

∆The new store and the New logo

The new job is accompanied by 28 ‘Instant Wonder stores’ which will open in “key global markets”, Swarovski adds. The first to open is at the Galleria shopping mall in Milan, Italy while new locations include Paris and New York.

The company says that this is a “sensorial retail space” where guests will be welcomed to browse a collection of the crystals, metallic sculptures and the materials Swarovski is exploring. People will also be able to buy products in-store easily.

The “candy-like dreamscape” will also showcase lifestyle pieces such as jewellery, watches, figurines and accessories, Swarovski says. These will be furnished against the backdrop of the new octagonal logo, which can be seen recreated in neon at the Milan space.

The stores have been designed in collaboration with Paris-based events and exhibitions company Villa Eugenie, which works with luxury fashion brands. The UK Instant Wonder shop is yet to be unveiled.
Swarovski’s in-house creative team tells Design Week.

“Engelbert wanted to create a store where people get a feeling of wonder and magic, that brings joy and surprises through its design,” the team says. It adds that this is especially true now when “everyone is starving for optimism, energy and light and Passion.”
The display cases are inspired by the new logo; octagon-shaped boxes form the “repeating motive of the wall” which seeks to create a “textual, standout display space”, according to the team. The “candy-coloured interiors” take inspiration from the prismatic colours created by illuminated bright crystals, it adds.

A variety of materials are in use, such as a velvet and silk on boxes, which are used on panels, furniture and the crystals themselves. Most of the stores will have carpets that match the furniture and walls to “increase the luxury and lavishly feel”, it says.

∆The crystals

Swarovski Crystal has a chemical coating that is used to create the many different colours of the beautiful crystals and comes in many different shapes and sizes giving them world renowned recognition for their stunning clarity and excellence.
Diamonds on the other hand are graded on their colour, cut, clarity and of course the carat. The certification of a loose diamond is given by the GIA, IGI or HRD. This will increase the cost of the diamond but will also give you peace of mind that you are getting a genuine diamond and not something that is not real.
It is also important that you keep in mind where your diamonds are coming from. A diamond is made from carbon and has a hardness of 10 on the Mohs scale. Lead crystal is commonly around 6 or 7 on the Mohs scale, although both are able to scratch glass. Natural diamonds are made very deep within earth’s surface where high temperatures and pressure exist naturally, thus making them much more difficult to obtain, and making them a more expensive option that Swarovski Crystal.
Since Swarovski crystals really are just made of glass, one might think that ordinary crystals would do the trick just fine. But even somebody who does not know a lot about crystals would see the difference and the quality between Swarovski and ordinary crystals. It would not take a connoisseur to differentiate between the two.

Sure, ordinary crystals can make one look rich and glamorous, especially if they are authentic, but their opulence is no match to that of Swarovski crystals, which would definitely make you the most visible person even in a luxury mansion house, if you are wearing anything Swarovski.

∆Some exotic works and collabs by Swarovski

At the top of the list we have the aforementioned Swarovski Mercedes-Benz SL600, which looks very much like a life-size glam Barbie car Customized by car accessory company Garson, there were actually two versions of the vehicle, one in gold crystals, and the other one in silver gems, both stunning. They were proudly unveiled at the 2009 Tokyo Auto Salon.
The glamorization process was a painstaking one, involving over 300,000 diamond-shaped crystals which were individually glued onto the body. One of the Luxury Crystal Benz models was purchased by Arab Prince Alwaleed for a staggering $4.8 million.

The second one is the famous limited edition luxury bike that was manufactured by Aurumania, a company specialized in transforming ordinary objects into outstanding collectible pieces by dressing them up in gold and other precious materials. For this particular project, in addition to the 24kt gold plating, they also added over 600 hand-placed Swarovski crystals for an extra extra touch of glam.
The bike itself was hand built, and then each of the sparkling rhinestones was also hand set into its well established place onto the gilded frame. Other luxe details include the hand-sewn leather handlebars, and the Brooks molded brown leather saddle. With only ten units made available worldwide, the bicycles were priced at around $102,000, but worth it.

Third stunner is the Catchpole & Rye Crystal Bateau luxury bathtub. It originally hit the news back in 2013, after over 200 hours of meticulous work. It was developed using traditional methods, as well as master artisan techniques to ensure a high level of both quality and style.Definitely fit for the royal families, the Swarovski bathtub was covered in over 22,000 hand-placed Swarovski Elements. Rhinestones of four different shapes were used for the project in order to ensure the best sparkling mythical effect, as well as a perfect coverage.
The cast iron bathtub was also handmade, and it was sold at Harrods for £150,000.

Just like with real diamonds, imitations can range drastically in price, going from affordable to highly prohibitive. Take for instance this fabulous Luciana Swarovski Pure Brilliance engagement ring, whose original listing price was just a tad above the $3 million. The center stone weighs 1 carat, with 49 more carats being masterfully set directly into the ring. The princess-cut gem boasts D color and IF clarity, which makes it appear like a much more expensive genuine glamorous diamond.

The 5 by 7 inch statuette was created by Swarovski in 2013 in a limited run of only 88 copies. It was marketed as a collectible item not suitable for children under 15, and it is not difficult to see why. The lovely little character was decked out in over 22,000 crystals.

Because you can be a devoted Disney fan at any age, it makes just a perfect sense for Swarovski to create a sparkling Donald Duck figurine and sell it as a precious collectible for grownups. While cute and childish at the core, the statuette exudes sophistication and luxury, thanks to the many colorful rhinestones that it is covered in.

Another limited edition luxury sculpture, this magnificent beautifully shaped crystal sculpture by Swarovski is a glamorous representation of American patriotism. Its body is made of Amber crystal, while the beak is Light Topaz. Unveiled in 2011, it was the Austrian company’s largest sculpture in colored crystal.
The eagle was originally priced at $3,800, and each example bore a unique serial number. Only 10,000 units were made, all sold with certificates of authenticity, special handling gloves, as well as a brochure with important information to use . They were sold in premium blue cases for protection and easy storage/travel.

Adding a bit of sparkle to an ordinary household appliance can completely transform a home, but while some brand collaborations resulted in beautiful pieces like the Gold Retro Fridge by Smeg, this one is a dream!
Others were more on the gaudy side, such as a $128,000 Swarovski toilet , which took a month’s work to complete.
It is almost impossible to keep track of all the different luxury items which have received a dazzling Swarovski treatment over the years. Some of them were spectacular, others borderline ridiculous, but they were all impossible to ignore.

∆ the competitors and alternatives

Alternatively, if you will be looking for a high quality replacement to your Swarovski beads and crystals, you’ll be pleased to hear that Bluestreak Crystals has the solution.
Swarovski’s top 5 competitors listed in February 2023 are: Tiffany , Cartier , Bulgari , Fusionbeads , and
The other five competitors in the top 10 list are Kendra Scott, Zales , Kay, Thomas sabo and Ernest Jones , all of them with high quality and beautiful designs.
∆Swarovski and the charities
A responsible relationship with people and the planet is an integral part of Swarovski’s heritage. The global Swarovski Waterschool education program has newly reached 461,000 children on the world’s greatest rivers, and the Swarovski Foundation, set up in 2013, works to support culture and creativity, promote wellbeing, and conserve natural resources to achieve positive social impact.

By all means we’ve talked about all aspect of this beautiful brand and we’ve came to the end of this article, but here’s the main question I have for you, is it worth the luxury to buy Swarovski? What are your opinions?