Why is swarovski crystal so expensive

Micro-pave settings will usually use much smaller stones so each individual stone does not need the same level of clarity and detail of a larger stone.

By using crystals versus CZs, the material cost of a piece can drop significantly without as significant of a drop in visual quality. Crystals are often also foil backed.

This means that there is a reflective metallic foil added to the back of each crystal. Manufacturers add this foil to give the stone more fire at the expense of clarity. But this backing also means that crystals can be glued instead of manually set with prongs or other settings.

Again, this is useful for very small stones where individually hand set stones would be too laborious and costly. Hopefully, we were able to clear up some misconceptions about crystals and some of the stones used in fashion jewelry. It is true that Swarovski has a great brand name but that does not make it automatically better. While crystals might not be the best stone to use if visual quality is the main concern, they still have an important place in fashion jewelry.

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In , he invented and patented the electric cutting machine that facilitated the production of lead crystal glass Jewelry, which until then had to be cut by hand. Kosmann, D. Swarovski's vision was to make "a diamond for everyone" by making crystals affordable. Swarovski is now a fifth-generation family-owned business with over 34, employees and a huge range of products like glass sculptures and miniature, jewellery and rhinestones, home decor, and chandeliers.

Swarovski crystals are actually not crystals. They are a man-made form of glass created with a patented process. The process and the exact raw materials used has remained a company secret. This highly specialized manufacturing process ensures the highest possible degree of precision which produces brilliant diamond-like crystals. Crystal nerds will only be able to spot the difference on sight between a diamond and Swarovski crystal as Swarovski has a higher refraction index than true crystal, closer to a diamond.

Well, this is because of the production process and precision required in creating a Swarovski crystal. Swarovski uses only the finest materials, superior production, cutting and polishing to fashion faceted lead glass that is known around the world for its brilliance and value.

Swarovski Elements is the brand name for precision cut loose Swarovski made from a combination of quartz, sand and minerals. They are used by the fashion, Jewelry, and accessories industries. The "Swarovski Crystals" brand officially replaced the "Swarovski Elements" name in September to concentrate all marketing activities into one main brand.

The authentic gems are both brilliant and clear, just as high-quality diamonds. You will also notice that the colored crystals are all identical in tone. Through their branding efforts and also clientele, you can tell that they are the cream of the crop in the industry. In , Swarovski took the crown of the most extravagant stage at the Oscars with 45 million crystals decorating the stage.

What you ought to know is Swarovski crystals fall under a category known as lead glass. However, even if they are cut glass, it is the mixture, precision, and cut that make Swarovski crystals stand out from other crystals in the fashion industry.

That by itself is enough to secure their high market value. With that, Swarovski crystals can never be more expensive than diamonds. Ultimately, it is where diamonds come from that makes them by far more expensive than these human-made crystals. Even the excavation process makes them expensive.

The other difference is the hardness. Diamonds fall on a ten on the Mohs scale of hardness while lead crystals tend to fall under a 6 or 7. These are the factors that will always make diamonds not only more expensive than Swarovski crystals but any manufactured crystal there is. The question about the worth of Swarovski crystals is entirely subjective. What has driven up the cost of Swarovski crystals as compared to other gems in the market is the brand name. Though they do produce high-quality crystals, they are not the only ones in the industry who do that as well.