Ailacom

Ailacom Product Information

 Swarovski

Swarovski was founded in 1895 by Daniel Swarovski.  Daniel learned his craft of crystal cutting as a traditional family trade.   Employing newly invented machines he took crystal cutting to the next level.  In business for over 100 years, Swarovski is renowned worldwide for manufacturing crystal "products of precision" in many different forms, sizes, and shapes, paying close attention to detail, in an effort to present the best in the cutting, clarity, and brilliance.  Swarovski's necklaces, pins and earrings are popular worldwide. Swarovski's crystal beads are also used to adorn dresses, shoes and handbags. By this they have entered the realm of haute-couture, James Bond movies, Hollywood celebrity and Oscar night fashion talk.

Crystal is pure glass devoid of any color.  Impure glass can be seen on the edges as blue or green colored due to contaminants.   Pure crystal acts as a prism allowing light to refract in a perfect rainbow spectrum.  The sharper the precision cuts on a crystal the more of the spectrum you will see.  Swarovski's precision cut is so precise that when you feel the edge it is sharp and defined creating maximum refraction.  Lead creates the refraction of the crystal with the maximum refraction at 30-32% lead content. Lead also adds to the weight of the crystal giving it a more substantial feel.  Austrian Swarovski crystal contains approximately 32% lead.  Full lead crystal must contain above 30% lead oxide content in order to be consider full lead crystal. 

Swarovski offers a wide range of colors and special coatings to meet the needs of all occasions. Special coatings are bonded chemically to the outer surface of the beads for a more brilliant effect. Aurora Borealis, better known as "AB", is one of the more popular coatings that gives off a rainbow-like effect. Crystal Transmission, Volcano, Aurum and Dorado are some examples of special effect beads. AB 2X signifies that the stone has been coated with AB two times.  The special effect and special coating of each bead is permanent.   

Glass from Germany and the Czech Republic

Germany and the Czech Republic both have very rich and colorful histories in the creation of glass.   Germany has been producing glass since the 1500s.  Czech Republic has been producing glass since the 1300s and is often referred to as the "Glass Capital of the World".  For centuries artisans have perfected their processes in these countries to produce glass that is enjoyed around the globe.   This attention to detail also falls into the realm of beads.    The weight of glass with the clarity of colors makes beautiful jewelry and decoration.

Hematite is the mineral form of Iron (III) oxide, (Fe₂O₃), one of several iron oxides. The ore sometimes also contains slight amounts of titanium. When shaped into ornaments, it is often called black diamond.  Most Hematite jewelry and beads on the market today are man made Hematite.  Some is manufactured by producing Iron Oxide (Hematine) which is a far less expensive method than mining and gathering.  Others grind natural hematite and reshape with bonding to create custom shapes (Hemalyke).  Both natural and man made Hematite are Iron Oxide mineral form and have the weight and feel of a heavy cool stone.  The pendants in the Hematite section of our store are Hemalyke.  Beads tend to be Hematine and sometimes natural.   Having all three side by side it is impossible to tell the difference without microscopic inspection.   Some Hematite is mildly to moderately magnetic.  Unless otherwise stated, all of our  Hematite has mild to no magnetic properties.

Sea Opal, also known as Opalite, is not an actual opal but is accepted as a semi-precious jewelry making component.  Sea Opal is a man made opalescent glass.   While Opalite comes in many shades, Sea Opal refers to the milky white version.  Sea Opal will appear milky clear or milky white with blue, orange, or yellow tones depending on the lighting.   Like real opal each piece has its own unique characteristics and patterns.  Most of the pieces are similar but not identical.