I’ve recently gotten into jewelry-making, and I keep running across the terms ‘Swarovski crystal’, ‘Austrian crystal’, and ‘rhinestone’. Are these interchangeable, or do they only sometimes overlap? Here’s what I know already (I think)…
Swarovski is a particular company that makes Austrian crystal items.
I’ve heard ‘rhinestone’ used to describe pretty much any kind of artificial gem.
Austrian Crystal beads are leaded glass beads, usually cut to show facets.
Daniel Swarovski invented the machine that cuts these facets, so the beads are often called Swarovski crystal. I don’t know whether the company that bears his name makes beads, but I think it’s sort of dishonest to imply that all Austrian crystals have anythign to do with Swarovski
Rhinestones are glass, cut to show gem-like facets. They can, and are, made from leaded glass (“crystal”), but can also be made of other types of glass (but leaded glass sparkles better).
Swarovski is, indeed, an existant company. I’ve toured the company museum in Austria, and it’s an interesting way to kill an afternoon. It sells rather pretty leaded glass `crystal.’ (Glass, by definition, cannot be a crystal in the true sense of the term. Iron is a crystal, however, even though it doesn’t catch the light very well. ;))
A rhinestone is, to me, a shiny piece of glass that’s used as cheap decoration. “Like a Rhinestone Cowboy” and all that dreck. (I don’t know where that song got into my head, but it’s an earworm through and through.)
I’ve never heard of `Austrian crystal’ as a specific term. I suppose the tchotchkes I bought at the Swarovski museum could be called Austrian crystal, as they are from Austria and certainly look like crystals, but using Austrian crystal as a name for anything more specific is beyond my experience.
Thanks. I’ve heard the term ‘Austrian crystal’ used for a long time, but was never sure what it was-- manmade, natural, or whatever. ‘Swarovski’ is a name I’ve only heard recently, so even if the company uses Swarovski as a trade name, they don’t have any exclusivity on ‘Austrian crystal’.
Austrian crystal is not distinct from crystal, except it comes from Austria. No other connotations.
Like Waterford crystal comes from Waterford.
It describes a location known for the product.
If you make Pakistani crystal, you might make it of highest quality but wouldn’t bother to describe it as Pakistani Crystal just because that history isn’t as impressive.
But be careful, sometimes “Waterford” Crystal comes from Eastern Europe. they make the cheap - non hand cut stuff there and sell it as Waterford.