Milestones in the Swarovski Story

1862: October 24, Daniel Swarovski I born in Georgenthal, Bohemia.

1883: Daniel Swarovski visits the International Electric Exhibition in Vienna, where he sees machines invented by Edison and others, and recognizes the significance of the new technology for his own industry. He could not have foreseen, nor imagined, the production of twenty billion stones annually! or the production of chandelier parts, optical instruments, crystal ornaments, a menagerie of crystal animals, grinding and abrasive tools, glass reflectors for the road and rail, nor the production of faucets and knobs for both doors and cabinetry.

1892: Swarovski applies for patent on his first invention: a machine that cuts crystal jewelry stones with unprecedented precision for cutting crystal stones.

1895: October 1, Daniel Swarovski leaves Bohemia for Wattens, located in the Austrian Tyrol, to set up a factory specializing in the industrial production of cut crystal jewelry stones.

1907: Swarovski's hydroelectric plant in Wattens goes online, providing a plentiful source of clean energy.

1908: Swarovski and his three sons experiment with different methods to produce pure crystal. Within three years, they are able to refine it to a state of flawless brilliance.

1917: The company succeeds in producing grinding wheels needed for cutting crystal jewelry stones. These later are put on the open market, under the registered name "Tyrolit".

1925: Swarovski begins experimenting with glass reflecting elements that do not appear on the market until 1950 under the Swareflex trademark.

1931: Swarovski begins manufacturing "trimmings" - jewelry stones processed into decorative bands and laces, and appliqu閐 to garments and accessories.

1935: Daniel's eldest son, Wilhelm, produces the first prototype pair of binoculars, laying the foundations for Swarovski's Optik products division.

1956: January 23, the death of Daniel Swarovski I at the age of 94. Swarovski coats crystal jewelry stones with thin layers of metal to enhance their brilliance.

1957: Company sets up its own gem-cutting department.

1965: Swarovski starts producing chandelier parts, later known under the "STRASS" trademark.

1971: "HOTFIX" eliminates the need for attaching jewelry stones individually, allowing their application in a single process.

1976: Four crystal chandelier parts glued together create the first member of Swarovski's full cut crystal animal menagerie: the tiny mouse! designed by Max Schreck, now deceased. Swarovski Silver Crystal is born! Production of paperweights and key rings began as souvenirs.

1977: Swarovski launches its own jewelry line under its current Swarovski "Jeweler's Collection" label.

1979: Swarovski establishes a branch in Cranston, R.I., USA, now major headquarters for North American operations.

1987: The Swarovski Collectors Society (SCS) is founded, in response to countless requests from crystal lovers all over the world. The "Lovebirds", designed by Max Schreck and Adi Stocker, the only annuals ever produced by two designers, becomes the first annual limited edition at a retail issue price of $150.00! Estimated Value today! $4500.00!! Interestingly enough, Adi Stocker is not allowed to sign this piece at any of the current Swarovski Events or Galas. What began as a small group of SCS collectors now has a membership in excess of 450,000 + members worldwide!
FYI: "Swarovski Silver Crystal" vs. "Rock Crystal" vs. "man-made crystal" .... Swarovski Silver Crystal is "man-made" and produced by combining a variety of different minerals, including quartz and lead oxide. The manufacturing process uses full lead crystal containing more than 30% lead oxide, producing a crystal with a "deep color spectrum".
"Rock crystal", on the other hand, is a semiprecious stone, considered a mineral quartz, that occurs naturally. Therefore, "Swarovski Silver Crystal produces a more brilliant color than natural rock crystal.

1988: Swarovski's "SCS Block" trademark is replaced by the Swan Logo.

1989: Unveiling of the Daniel Swarovski line of haute couture accessories and decorative crystal "objects d'arte" at the Hotel Crillon in Paris. Pieces created by top designers, such as: Ettore Sottsass, Stefano Ricci, Alessandro Mendini. This is Swarovski's "top of the line" product, often produced in very limited quantities at prices not for the faint of heart! or the average collector.

1991: Swarovski opens lavish new premises, designed by architect Roland Deleu, in the Rue Royale, Paris.

1992: Launch of the 12-piece Swarovski "Selection" collection by well-known contemporary designers. Selection is considered the second top of the line product in the hierarchy of product lines, and again is often produced in limited quantities, at prices that can be afforded, but not easily afforded.
- Crystal Memories, as a "trial" product line, was introduced to a single chain of collectible stores in the United States.

1993: "Official" Introduction of the "Crystal Memories" line began.
FYI: Two pieces that were offered during the "trial" run, the "Rolling Pin" and the "Coffee Pot" were discontinued and not offered to retailers. These pieces are a very RARE find, were unmarked, and are worth a lot of money today! To the best of my knowledge, no one has ever seen the Coffee Pot. From 1993 to 1995, it is not unusual to find Crystal Memories pieces without a logo.

1995: Swarovski's Centenary Year of Celebration
- Opening of Kristallwelten, designed by Austrian multi-media specialist Andr Heller, in Wattens.
- Swan logo added to the "Crystal Memories" collection.

1996: The Angel Ornament became the first "limited edition" in the Crystal Memories line of products (ltd. to 68,000 or less, the U.S. received 28,000 of these). This was followed by two more limited edition "Angels" in 1997 and 1998. 2 more "Angels" have been added to the line in 1999 and 2000, but they are not considered limited editions.

2000: The Daniel Swarovski Paris "Paradise" Line is introduced.

2009: A professional online retailer of Swarovski crystal jewelry Crystalshopping.com set up.