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Mar 08, 2016
Swarovski is the world-renowned leader in cut crystal. Swarovski has been the
designers’ choice in crystal and stone cutting technology since 1895.designers’ choice in crystal and stone cutting technology since 1895.
Daniel Swarovski learned the art of glass making from his father in Bohemia, and
invented a method to cut glass with more precision than had ever been done
before. As a young man, he and his wife Marie moved to the center of the
Tyrolean Alps in a small town called Wattens, Austria because it was secluded
from other glass makers and provided water power needed to run his machines.
Long before Swarovski started to manufacture and sell finished goods such as
giftware, figurines and jewelry, Swarovski’s core business was creating crystal and
cutting and polishing that crystal into stones and beads used primarily in jewelry,
fashion and lighting.
Swarovski has had a major influence in the world of fashion and jewelry since the
early 1920’s when glitz and glamour became popular. Swarovski is proud to
have collaborated with major fashion icons throughout our history and continues
to do so today.
Through Touchstone Crystal, Swarovski is able to bring the magic of crystal, the
glimmering glamour and the undisputed perfection of their jewels to women
across America.
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In keeping with the trends, each season Swarovski creates new crystal colors,
new cuts, and new innovations with crystal. As a member of the Swarovski new cuts, and new innovations with crystal. As a member of the Swarovski
Group, Touchstone Crystal is privy to this trend information in advance so we can
create a jewelry line that is on-trend and utilizes many of Swarovski’s new
creations before they are available to the mass market.
As Consultants, we will share with you the important trend stories each season
so that you can add value to your hosts and customers in sharing this information
with them at your parties. You will be “in the know” each season and your hosts
and customers will come to count on your great guidance and fabulous product
line!
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Spring Summer trends
Colors: Provence Lavender, Chrysolite (pale green), colors reflective of
water themes
Style: Bold statement pieces, long layered looks, feminine – nature
inspired pieces. Classics with a modern flair, substantial chains
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Swarovski Elements are first-quality crystals created by Swarovski (secret family
recipe, main ingredients soda, quartzsand, minium, potash) that are cut into a recipe, main ingredients soda, quartzsand, minium, potash) that are cut into a
variety of shapes and sizes. They include chatons, flat-back stones, sew-on
stones, pendants, beads, findings, designer cuts. As important as the secret
recipe for our crystal, is the secret technology used to cut and polish the crystal
stones.
Swarovski patents the new colors they create as well as their unique cuts so that
other manufacturers can’t compete with the enormous variety of products we
offer – over 300,000 unique products when color and size variations are taken
into account.
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Have you ever played the game, Six Degrees of Separation…now within 6 degrees
you can connect your customers to major fashion icons such as Christian Dior, you can connect your customers to major fashion icons such as Christian Dior,
Coco Chanel and Georgio Armani who have collaborated with Swarovski on
designer cuts, special effects and innovations.
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Christian Dior - Aurore Boreale effect – a special coating applied to a crystal stone
to reflect a variety of colors.to reflect a variety of colors.
Coco Chanel – Chanel cut stone, featured in the very first Touchstone created.
Andree Putman – Famous French architect and interior designer created the
orchid stone featured in Bali Ensemble.
Georgio Armani – diamond leaf cut stone
Swarovski will continue to collaborate with current and upcoming designers to
create and enhance their Swarovski Elements collection.
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Swarovski Pearls start out with a crystal center and are then frost coated with a
special scratch resistant, UV protected pearl coating.special scratch resistant, UV protected pearl coating.
The weight of Swarovski Pearls matches that of natural pearls.
Swarovski pearls warm to the skin in the same way a natural pearl does.
Swarovski Pearls are drilled with precision and accuracy for unmatched quality.
Their shape is perfectly round and flawless.
Swarovski pearls come in a variety of shapes, colors and sizes…Touchstone
Crystal utilizes a majority of these pearls to breathe new life into a classic look.
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Swarovski Zirconia are the world’s finest simulated diamonds.
Swarovski Gems are created and natural gemstones that have been cut using
Swarovski’s unmatched cutting technologies.
Swarovski uses a process called Thermal Color Fusion that colors white topaz
stones into a variety of fashion colors without the use of radiation – making them
environmentally friendly and very durable for daily wear.
All items in the Little Black Dress Collection feature rhodium plated sterling silver
for extra tarnish protection. All products that feature sterling silver have the .925
stamp on them.
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Plating thickness has increased from 0.1 micron on all products to:
•Necklace & Earnings remain 0.1 micron.
•Bracelets increased to 0.2 microns.
•Rings increased to 0.5 microns
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•Palladium, along with platinum, rhodium, ruthenium, iridium and osmium form
a group of elements referred to as the platinum group metals (PGMs). use. a group of elements referred to as the platinum group metals (PGMs). use.
•Platinum group metals share similar chemical properties
•The unique properties of palladium and other platinum group metals account
for their widespread use. This metal also does not react with oxygen at normal
temperatures (and thus does not tarnish in air).Palladium itself has been used as
a precious metal in jewelry since 1939, as an alternative to platinum or white
gold. This is due to its naturally white properties, giving it no need for rhodium
plating. It is much lighter than platinum.
Triple Electro-plating Process
Each piece of jewelry is charged with an electrical current causing the metal to adhere to
the piece.
1. We start out with a base metal usually brass or a white metal alloy.
2. Next a copper layer seals the base metal and gives it added protection.
3. Finally a third coat is applied giving it the desired finished appearance. In some
cases this third coat may be a precious metal such as gold. In most cases, we
use Palladium to provide a tarnish-free, durable surface designed to reflect the
most amount of light next to our crystals.
Between each coating, the pieces are washed and polished to ensure a smooth and
lustrous finish and permanent adhesion thereby meeting our quality standard.
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Each stone is hand-set with special glue.
All casting molds are created with special care to the size of the stones so they
can be set without shadows, excess glue, or uneven stone settings.
Pave settings are designed to imitate the look of expensive prong set stones.
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The Xilion cut is a patented cut that features alternating wide and narrow facets
on the face of the stone producing light reflection remarkably brighter than on the face of the stone producing light reflection remarkably brighter than
stones cut with consistent faceting.
It’s only fitting that the Touchstone, the one stone that you choose because it has
special meaning for you, is the stone that shines the brightest.
The 2011 Spring Summer Catalog features the introduction of the Touchstone
Crystal Signature Collection.
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