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Little
about Swarovski® Crystal... |
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Swarovski®
Crystal has been the world's most respected and admired
producer of fine crystal products for over 100 years.
Started in the late 1800's by Daniel Swarovski, the Austrian
inventor of a glass cutting machine, the company has gone
on to totally
revolutionize the industry, including starting
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the world's first hydroelectric glass cutting factory. Today,
the Swarovski name stands for quality and prestige. In fact,
no other competitor can duplicate the precise state of the
art optical techniques that Swarovski uses to produce their
cut crystal. Swarovski goes beyond the lead content requirements
for full leaded crystal. Swarovski Crystal has a lead oxide
content of approximately 32%, with a standard elsewhere of
30%. This is one of the many reasons why Swarovski is the
best crystal on the market today.
The
Swarovski beads that are used in jewelry design are from
the Swarovski Components division. Beads come in a variety
of designs, sizes, and finishes. There are a myriad of colors
to choose from and once finishes are incorporated, your
possibilities are endless. One of the most popular and beautiful
effects is the AB, or Aurora Borealis finish. A special
coating is chemically bonded to the cut crystal to give
a sparkling rainbow effect that superbly reflects light.
Other finishes include: Pearl, Satin, AB 2X, and a few more
specialized effect beads.
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Although
Swarovski offers a wide range of shapes, the most commonly
used shapes in jewelry design are bacon, round, cube,teardrop,
and spacers. Other common sizes included: flowers, balls,
barrel,cone, crosses, and even hearts. Beads range in
size from 2mm all the way up to fist-sized balls for chandeliers
and interior decorating. With so many choices, Swarovski
Crystal is sure to remain a designer's favorite for many
years to come.
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Bicone Round Cube Teardrop Spacer
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By:
Michele Baskin-Jones © 2003
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