Rubyscraft

 

Swarovski was founded in 1895 by Daniel Swarovski I. Although it has since developed into an international Group with numerous subsidiaries and approximately 9200 employees, it has remained a family-owned concern. This is due, in large part, to the radically new approaches in industrial relations pioneered by Swarovski,who forged close ties between the company and its employees. The "Swarovski spirit" has spread to the Group's subsidiaries and is now part of a corporate culture that is very distinctly the company's own.

 When people ask what Swarovski makes, perhaps the best answer is: "Beauty, pleasure and atmosphere". Because, ultimately, these are the most important products of our precision cutting, the clarity of our crystal and the brilliance of our optics. We attribute our success to Swarovski's tireless pursuit of perfection, combined with the production capacity to satisfy unusually high levels of demand. Our objective is to spread the culture and the sense of joie de vivre made possible by the industrialized production of crystal to people all over the world.

 Milestones in the Swarovski story

1862 :  October 24, Daniel Swarovski I born in Georgenthal, Bohemia

1883 :  Swarovski visits the International Electric Exhibition in Vienna, where he sees machines invented by Edison and others. Recognizes the significance of the new technology for his own industry.

1892:   Swarovski applies for patent on his first invention: a machine that cuts crystal jewellery stones with unprecedented precision.

1895:   October 1, Daniel Swarovski leaves Bohemia for Wattens, in the Austrian Tyrol, to set up a factory specializing in the industrial production of cut crystal jewellery stones

1907:   Swarovski's hydroelectric plant in Wattens goes on stream, providing a plentiful source of clean energy

1908:   Swarovski and his three sons experiment with methods of producing pure crystal.Within three years they are able to refine it to a state of flawless brilliance.

1917:   The company succeeds in producing grinding wheels needed for cutting crystal jewellery stones. These later go on the open market, registered under the name Tyrolit. Today,  80%  of  production is exported.

1925:   Swarovski starts experimenting with the glass reflecting elements that finally appear on the market under the Swareflex trade mark in 1950

1931:   Swarovski starts manufacturing trimmings - jewellery stones processed into decorative bands and laces, and appliquéd to garments and accessories.

1935:   Daniel's eldest son,Wilhelm, produces first prototype pair of binoculars, laying the foundations for Swarovski's optical products division.

1956:   January 23, death of Daniel Swarovski I at the grand old age of 94. He leaves one of  Austria's largest and most important companies.Swarovski coats crystal jewellery stones with thin layers of metal to enhance their brilliance.

1957:  Company sets up its own gem-cutting department.

1965:  Swarovski starts producing chandelier parts, which are later known as STRASS®.

1971:  HOTFIX eliminates need for attaching jewellery stones individually: entire motifs can be applied in a single process.

1973:  World industry hit by oil crisis.

1976:  Four crystal chandelier parts glued together to create the first member of Swarovsk's full cut crystal menagerie: the tiny mouse. Swarovski Silver Crystal is born.

1977:  Swarovski launches its own jewelry line which under its current Swarovski Jeweler's Collection label fulfills highest design and quality requirements.

1987:  Founding of Swarovski Collectors Society in response to countless requests and inquiries from crystal lovers all over the world.

1988:  Swarovski's edelweiss trademark replaced by the swan.

1989:  Unveiling of the Daniel Swarovski line of haute couture accessories and decorative crystal objects at the Hotel Crillon in Paris. Pieces created by top designers: Ettore Sottsass, Stefano Ricci, Alessandro Mendini and Hervé Léger.

1991:  Swarovski opens lavish new premises, designed by architect Roland Deleu, in the Rue Royale, Paris.

1992:  Launch of the 12-piece Swarovski Selection collection by well-known contemporary designers.

1995:  Centennary year - opening of Krisallwelten, designed by Austrian multi-media pecialist André Heller, in Wattens.

Swarovski Swan Logo - Mark of Authenticity    

Swarovski®  How to tell a real from a imitation?

Swarovski® (Swore-off-ski) crystal components are regarded as the highest quality machine cut and polished crystal beads in the world. The demand for luxury products unfortunately can create a host of imitators.  The Swarovski® company creates its crystal with a special compound that imitators cannot duplicate. This special compound creates the incredible brilliance of their product. The delicate color palette is another quality that sets Swarovski® crystal components apart from others. With so many crystal beads and components out there, how can you tell if the crystal you are purchasing is actually a Swarovski® crystal component....or an imitation? Here are some tips that can help you determine which crystals are genuine: Swarovski® crystals are generally not strung when offered for sale. Look for the original Swarovski® packaging. Dependant on size, the bulk packages will range from 10 gross to 1/2 gross, in well-branded, sealed envelopes. The newest Swarovski® bulk packaging is sealed with an authenticated silver toned hologram saying "CRYSTALIZED." Unless sold by the Dealer in smaller packets. Swarovski® crystals are perfectly uniform. Since they are machine cut, each crystal is the same. This means that the height, width and slope are consistent. A hand polished imitator bead will not have as uniform a cut. You may also notice different dimensions from bead to bead. Swarovski® uses machinery that precisely cuts each crystal. According to Swarovski®, "cutting hard materials such as crystal and gems, in such a way that they have a hundred identical facets in several directions, is a very complicated task; each direction of the reflected light must first be calculated by computer, then this has to be simulated in 3D, optimized and finally converted into control programs for complex machinery." This is just part of the technology that gives Swarovski® crystals their unbelievable flash. The precision cutting of Swarovski® machinery allows each crystal to have its facet juncture "pointing up". This means the facet junctures all meet at precisely the same point. This is a similar aspect of diamond faceting. See the illustration above. AB finish Swarovski® crystals have a uniform surface luster.  The "imitations" often have scratches unless stated as seconds.  Some of these imperfections, in the "imposters", have to do with the lower quality of the finish. Because of its special crystal compounds, Swarovski® crystal will out-sparkle a bead of lesser quality when placed in a side-by-side comparison.