Vintage Rhinestones: Swarovski vs. Other Rhinestones
What is a Rhinestone?
A rhinestone or vintage costume jewelry rhinestone or paste is a diamond simulant made from rock crystal, glass or acrylic. Originally, they were gathered from the Rhine River in Europe, but became manufactured when jeweler George Strass discovered how to coat the lower side of glass with a metal finish in 1775, which gave a brilliance to glass much like diamonds. Hence, rhinestones are called strass in the German language.
Vintage Aurora Borealis Rhinestones
In 1955, the "Aurora Borealis" or northern lights coating was invented and applied to crystal stones to produce an iridescent effect. This aurora borealis coating is seen referred often as simply "AB" or "AB coating." Rhinestones today are produced mainly in Austria and the Czech Republic. Acrylic rhinestones are produced in many countries.
Differences in Vintage Crystal Rhinestones and Beads: To Swarovski or Not to Swarovski?
Swarovski Crystal - machine cut crystal rhinestones
The Swarovski Company makes, among other things, exquisite crystal rhinestones and beads. The company was founded in 1892 because Daniel Swarovski invented the automatic cutting machine and opened a factory in Austria. Their crystal beads and rhinestones are considered of the best quality in the world market. They have brilliance and "dazzle quality" that is unmatched. Jewelry artists, beaders and many others consider Swarovski the Rolls Royce of rhinestones and crystal beads. In fact, Swarovski does create glass that others cannot duplicate by using a special compound of natural materials that makes their stones and beads have incredible brilliance. Swarovski crystals contain about 32% lead to maximize refraction. Because Swarovski crystals are cut by machine, they are perfectly uniform, and the glass is free of bubble inclusions. In addition, if you magnify a Swarovski crystal bead compared to other crystal beads, you'll notice that Swarovski crystals have their facet junctions pointing up. This is easily distinguished from hand cut crystals or crystals from other companies. Note too, that the facet junctures are perfect; always meeting in precise points. Hand cut crystals have facet junctures that vary a great deal. Swarovski manufactures many colors of rhinestones and beads, which styles and colors go in and out of production, and their beads and rhinestones are generally more expensive.
Hand-cut Vintage Costume Jewelry Crystal Rhinestones and Beads
Hand cut crystals and rhinestones for vintage costume jewelry are, as the name implies, cut by hand. Unlike machines, humans do not cut stones flawlessly. Ancient and antique jewelry (before the invention of the machine to cut stones) stone cuts are themselves prized by collectors. Replacing rhinestones or beads from older jewelry with a machine cut stone or bead would be obvious to even those unfamiliar with Swarovski. Hand cut glass and crystal beads with it's slight variations, give more modern jewelry a beautifully artistic, charming, one-of-a-kind quality that Swarovski can't mimic.
