Types of Crystal

Nowadays, there are a lot of references to crystal, below are some of the common crystals used on Costume Jewellery.

Swarovski Crystal

Founded by Daniel Swarovski, the crystal is a form of glass with a high degree of transparency that usually consists of a high proportion of lead oxide.  One of the finest crystals produced in today and is acknowledged for its purity, brilliance and reflective qualities.  Swarovski Crystal are machine-cut, which gives each crystal a completely uniform appearance and size. 

Austrian Crystal

The well-known Swarovski is the luxury brand name of Austrian Crystal, and like any other “Austrian” crystal, is produced in a factory in Wattens, Austria.  Austrian crystal is man-made, essentially a creative cutting of hand-blown glass into every imaginable form of adornment.  The company entered the American jewelry market rather late, in 1977, but has emerged as an icon.  Austrian crystal has a reputation for fine workmanship but is also less expensive than jewelry made from precious stones.

Rhinestone

Originally, rhinestones were rock crystals gathered from the river Rhine. The availability was greatly increased when around 1775 the Alsatian jeweler Georg Friedrich Strass had the idea to imitate diamonds by coating the lower side of glass with metal powder.  Rhinestones may be used as imitations of diamonds, and some manufacturers even manage to reproduce the glistering effect of real diamonds.