Swarovski Crystals and Gem Beginnings

The famous chandelier used in the 2004 version of the Phantom of the Opera was spectacular and would you believe it, they were made from the Swarovski crystals which are highly valued nowadays. These famous crystals have been around for years but its popularity was revived only and flaunted all over the world around the late 80's and have not wavered a bit since then.

The Swarovski Dream
    
It was in October 24, 1862 when the world was so busy with so many things that the person who would revolutionize the crystals that we know today was born. Daniel Swarovski was born in Bohemia, Austria and worked alongside his father as a cutter when he was a young man.  It was in 1883 that he went to the First International Electric Exhibition to see Edison's invention. He was inspired by many other inventors such as Siemens and Schuckert, and thought that there might be other means to a more perfect cutting of crystals. Clearly, cutting by hand is not enough.

And so in 1892, he invented a precision cutting machine and after three years, he, together with friends Armand Kosman and Fanz Weiz became financiers to Swarovski's vision of expanding his crystal cutting business. It was known as A. Kosmann, Daniel Swarovski & Co which later eventually changed to K.S. & Co.

Then soon in 1908, he invented a furnace with his three sons that produced flawless crystal glass with amazing brilliance. He invented the Tyrolit, an effective grinding tool in 1919. He also invented the road-safety reflectors made of glass in the year of 1925.

Then in 1948, Daniel began to establish the Swarovski Optik, his own company. And in 1988, he changed the logo of the Swarovski brand from the initially designed Edelweiss flower into a different logo. After a while, Daniel Swarovski decided to change it into a swan logo within the year. He used special coatings for the crystals to create the rainbow spectrum, of which the Aurore boreale is the most common.

Swarovski made the famous opera house chandelier again in the remake of the movie Phantom of the Opera. Later in 2004 – Swarovski created the 550 lb, crystal star on top of the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center in New York City which is actually 9 feet in diameter.

And it was in 2007 that Swarovski accepted partnership with Philips to do manufacturing of various gadgets with "Active-Crystals".

Highlights on Swarovski Colors
    
Swarovski made sure that when he makes crystals, he will make them crystals of classic colors, but there are colors that are exclusive to the brand. Below is the list of Swarovski Crystal Colors available today exclusively available from Swarovski.

The Classic colors include Crystal, Emerald, Rose, Peridot, Light Siam while the Exclusive Colors is comprised of Indian Sapphire, Light Topaz, Morion, Dark sapphire, Light Azore, Turmaline and Burgundy. Exclusive Effects include Comet Argent Light, White Opal Star Shine, Volcano, Satin, Matte Finish and Meridian. Other crystals are further classified into Classic Effects which include the popularly known Aurore Boreale, Heliotrope, Glacier Blue and Vitrail Light. Really, whatever kind of crystals you need, at whatever color, you will find them with the Swarovski crystals!

Swarovski has earned so much respect from the world and the crystals which he has worked so hard to develop remain popular to this day. They are used in fashion, electronics and as collection. The crystals are not only sold as beads that were normally created as necklaces or any other fashion accessories. The famous "crystal swan" is in fact the logo of the Swarovski brand and has been imitated by other crystal cutting manufacturers for years.

Daniel Swarovski died in 1956, but the love for his inventions and the craze for Swarovski crystals and gemstones live on. He was a man whose vision ceased to become a dream; it has crystallized into tiny yet beautiful works of art.