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Swarovski Power Silver Shade Evening Purse as featured in the Sex and the City movie 

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About Swarovski

Swarovski was founded in 1895 by a Bohemian, Daniel Swarovski, who established a crystal cutting factory in Wattens (near Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria) where he could take advantage of local hydroelectricity for the energy-intensive grinding processes he had patented.

Today, Swarovski produces jewelry, fashion accessories, home accessories, eyewear, books, home décor, desk accessories, silver crystal, miniatures, treasures, inspirations and gift ideas.

The History of Swarovski

1892 29-year-old Daniel Swarovski invents an industrial device for cutting crystal jewelry stones with unsurpassed perfection and precision.

1895 Daniel Swarovski moves with his family from Georgenthal in Bohemia to Wattens in the Austrian Tyrol. Here, far from his home, a center of jewelry stone production since the early 18th century, the Alps provide what he needs to found his new company – an abundance of energy in the form of water power.

1913 Together with his three sons, Wilhelm, Friedrich and Alfred, Daniel Swarovski establishes a crystal production plant in which he can produce his own purest quality raw material. To this day the company’s success has been due to its uncompromising quality standards.

1919 Swarovski markets grinding wheels (originally developed for in-house use) under the registered trade name of TYROLIT®. Today TYROLIT® is the leading supplier of grinding wheels in Europe and one of the three largest suppliers in the world.

1931 Swarovski patents its “Trimmings” – bands and laces decorated with crystal jewelry stones for application on to garments and accessories.

1937 Retroflecting studs and pavement markers are presented as a world novelty in road safety products.

1948 The Swarovski Optik factory is founded. Under the registered trade name of HABICHT®, Swarovski’s precision optical instruments, telescopes, sniperscopes and binoculars gain a leading position on the world market.

1950 10 successful years after introducing reflecting glass elements as a means of improving road safety, Swarovski markets them under the trade name of SWAREFLEX®.

1956 Swarovski launches the “Aurora Borealis”, a jewelry stone shining in iridescent colors. This effect is achieved by a special vacuum coating.

1960 Swarovski founds its first sales company in Germany. Today 40 sales companies care for the distribution of the Swarovski products all over the world.

1965 A brilliant range of chandelier parts is launched under the STRASS® trademark. Today the chandeliers in the Metropolitan Opera in New York, in the Chateau of Versailles and in the Viennese Albertina are splendid examples of Swarovski chandeliers.

1966 Swarovski applies its expert cutting technology to natural and synthetic jewelry stones. Today these stones are marketed under the SIGNITY® trademark and hold a considerable share of the world market.

1972 Swarovski is the main supplier of the popular “Mood Stone”, a stone that changes its color according to the mood of its wearer.

1975 Swarovski’s new “Hotfix”-technology makes it possible to iron crystal on to fabrics. Prefabricated designs, known as “Transfers”, are launched soon after.

1975 Swarovski develops a lead-recycling process and has it patented in several countries. In this process, the etching sludge formed in the polishing acid is extracted and processed. The reclaimed material can thus be re-used as a raw material for crystal production.

1976 The success story of the world of the Swarovski brand begins with a tiny crystal mouse, which is soon followed by other lifelike animal figurines. Today the collection incorporates more than 120 gift items and collectibles. The brilliant cut crystal figurines depict themes from the world of fauna and flora, childhood memories and Christmas themes. They are available in over 160 company owned stores as well as in more than 9,000 retail outlets around the world.

1976 Swarovski discovers zirconium oxide, an extremely hard material used in laser technology for use in the production of jewelry stones. When Swarovski succeeded in machine-cutting “cubic zirconia”, this innovation became the best alternative to diamonds worldwide.

1977 Swarovski launches its first jewelry line. Today trend inspired creations and classic crystal jewelry designs of the highest quality, including designs specifically for the American, Asian and European market, are presented twice a year.

1987 The Swarovski Collectors Society (SCS) is founded with the aim of offering crystal devotees special services and a communication platform. The members, who today number over 430,000, enjoy special privileges such as the opportunity to purchase annual limited editions of specially produced collectors’ pieces, as well as the Swarovski magazine, which appears four times a year.

1989 Daniel Swarovski Paris, the luxury brand, is launched. Under the creative direction of Rosemarie Le Gallais, exclusive, handmade fashion accessories such as glamorous evening bags, bracelets, colliers, earrings and tops are created whichexpertly unite the latest technologies from Swarovski with the skills of French craftsmanship.

1991 Opening of the traveling exhibition “Jewels of Fantasy – 20th Century Costume Jewelry”, organized and sponsored by Swarovski. To date this exhibition has been presented at more than 20 venues. Specially for this exhibition Swarovski developed a new glass fiber optic lighting system for the showcases. The lighting operates without UV rays, which might be detrimental to the illuminated objects, and is easy on the eye.

1992 International designers such as Borek Sipek and Andrée Putman are asked to interpret contemporary design trends in cut crystal. The resulting vases, bowls, candleholders and clocks include items combining crystal with other materials such as wood and metal.

1992 A first on the world market – Swarovski presents its SCENT STONES® - small crystal jewelry stones that can be filled with the wearer’s favorite perfume.

1993 Swarovski introduces its emerald-green jewelry stone “Swarogreen”. Thanks to its excellent refractive qualities and its extreme hardness, this new synthetic stone is a real alternative to the emerald.

1993 Swarovski launches a collection of high quality crystal miniatures. The emotive designs provide gift ideas for every occasion. Some incorporate gold or rhodium plated metals. The latest products show a tendency towards more colored crystal.

1994 The first Creative Service Center is opened in Wattens. Here designers are given the unique opportunity of discovering the various techniques which can be applied in the use of crystal.

1995 Swarovski registers a technological breakthrough in the cutting of colored gemstones. Rubies, sapphires and emeralds, which hitherto have had to be cut by hand, are now available in larger quantities and precise shapes and colors.

1995 “Crystal Mesh”, an innovative processing format, is launched: flexible metal mesh set with crystal jewelry stones creates an amazingly supple material setting new momentum in the fashion and jewelry industries.

1995 As the culmination of its centenary year, in October Swarovski opens the Swarovski Crystal Worlds, created by the Austrian artist André Heller, in Wattens, Tyrol. In this architectonically unique construction in the shape of a botanic giant, the magical world of crystal can be experienced in over 4000 square meters. Works of art and fantastic installations convey the diverse beauty of crystal. To date over 5 million visitors have been enchanted by the magic of crystal.

1997 With its luminous ReflexxTransfers, another absolute first in the world market, Swarovski links the subjects of safety and fashion for the first time.

1997 Daniel Swarovski Paris launches the Daniel Swarovski Crystal Eyewear range, an extraordinary collection of spectacles and sunglasses, the frames of which are set with cut crystal stones and plated with 23-carat gold. Distributed by the Silhouette Group under license, three separate eyewear collections are available, “Prêt-à-porter”, “Couture” and “Evening Eyewear”, which offer diverse expressions of elegance, individuality and discriminating taste.

1998 The “Wilhelm Swarovski Observation Point” opens. With the help of the latest equipment from Swarovski Optik, visitors are offered wonderful views into the high mountain region of the Hohe Tauern National park as well as interesting insights into the world of animals.

1999 Swarovski develops the “Transmission effect”, whereby a crystal jewelry stone adapts its appearance to its surroundings.

1999 Swarogem and Golay Buchel, two of the world’s largest manufacturers of cubic zirconia and synthetic gemstones, merge and market their products under the trade name SIGNITY®.

1999 With “Crystal Time” Swarovski launches its first watch collection, which today presents new designs, in keeping with the latest Swarovski Jewelry Collections, launched twice a year.

1999 “Crystal Tattoo”, crystal jewelry stone designs worn directly on the skin, set trends all around the world.

2000 Swarovski sets up the Water School, which is unique worldwide, in the Hohe Tauern National Park. During several days courses everything which is worth knowing about water is conveyed to students in an exciting way in order to promote awareness of its ecological and economical significance.

2000 “Homage to Nature” is the name of the latest line in the Swarovski “Paradise” range. Colorful designs and the very highest quality standards are the hallmarks of this new collection of accessories and decorative objects.

2001 Swarovski presents potential designs for bathroom décor, which consist of a range of sparkling crystal elements, which can be intercombined. The diverse “Crystal Bath Impressions” is inspired by the brilliant beauty of Swarovski Crystal which exactly symbolizes the well-being concepts of purity and harmony.

2002 The Daniel Swarovski Home Accessories collection of design objects is launched. With this range, Daniel Swarovski Paris offers fresh, modern interpretations of decorative objects for living spaces.

2003 Swarovski brings “Crystal Fabric” onto the market. A material which fuses fabric and crystal into a second skin. This world first is a transparent Hotfix-foil, the surface of which is set with tiny full cut and round crystal stones which can be ironed, sewn or glued onto materials such as lace, velvet, silk, jeans, leather and synthetic fabrics.

Swarovski Kristallwelten

The company runs a crystal-themed indoor theme park, Swarovski Kristallwelten (Crystal Worlds) at its original Wattens site and has had over 5,000,000 visitors to date.

The Swarovski Crystal range includes crystal sculptures and miniatures, jewelry and couture, home decor, chandeliers, and beads and rhinestones for manufacturers and artists.

Before 1988, the Swarovski logo was an edelweiss flower, but was replaced with the current swan logo. All sculptures are marked as authentic with Swarovski's swan logo. A notable recent development was the 2004 release of a new copyrighted cut, Xilion, designed to optimize the brilliance of Roses (crystal components with flat backs) and Chatons (diamond cut).

Swarovski is the brand name for precision-cut crystal glass products produced by companies owned by Swarovski AG of Feldmeilen,, Switzerland.

Swarovski Crystal Society

The overwhelming success story of the Swarovski Crystal Society (SCS) started at the Winter Olympics in 1976 with the creation of a little crystal Mouse. Lovers of the sparkling crystal animals and figurines soon became avid collectors. The Swarovski Crystal Society was founded in 1987. Every year one of Swarovski’s designers creates a unique and limited edition especially for the Swarovski Crystal Society.

In 1987 Swarovski founded the Swarovski Crystal Society (SCS) to address a new community of individuals that cherish the beauty of crystal. Today the SCS is the world’s largest collector society with an international following.

Swarovski invites you to partake in their exclusive club so that you too can share your passion for crystal.

Each year, a special Annual Edition is created exclusively to SCS members. The crystal design always mirrors state-of-the-art Swarovski technology and is part of a trilogy on a special theme.
In addition to six complete SCS trilogies, a number of other exclusive collectors' pieces have been brought out over the years. These include the Anniversary Editions to mark the 5th, 10th and 15th birthday of the SCS as well as Numbered Limited Editions that are always in great demand.

The Swarovski Crystal Society opens the door to the fascinating world of crystal with a range of events, tours and other opportunities to meet fellow crystal enthusiasts and enjoy unforgettable experiences. Members of the SCS also receive the quarterly Swarovski Magazine full of news, information and lifestyle features.Members also have their very own area on the Swarovski web site.

The Swarovski Crystal Society has members of all age groups from all over the world. Regardless of social and geographical boundaries, they all have one thing in common – their passion for crystal - Swarovski Crystal.


The future comes from a rich past

Over a hundred years of experience

The basis of the exemplary quality of Swarovski products is our long years of expertise in highly technological precision cutting.

Swarovski has not only continually refined and perfected our raw materials and our finishing processes, but they have also developed technical problem-solutions for the clients who process our components.

Swarovski Research and Development department has traditionally enjoyed high status and, hence the reason for its large size and capacity. It has therefore been possible for them to develop and realize pioneering technologies to assist in the preservation of the environment.

Today one of Swarovski's highest priorities is to pass on our environmental know-how to other industries and to assist in its worldwide implementation.

Signity, a subsidiary of Swarovski, is the leading company in the sale and distribution of exact-cut gemstones. More than 100 years of experience in the science of precision cutting is reflected in our genuine and created gemstones, cubic zirconia, and Alpinites. Each gem is crafted to the most stringent criteria of color, quality, size, and shape, producing uniformity in workmanship that is unparalleled in the industry.

Signity
Earth, Water, Fire and Air — the four essential elements that form the beauty in our world. It is a combination of these ambient factors that symbolises the core values of Signity. Reliability, Precision, Service and Innovation – Signity creativity offers a wide spectrum of superior gemstones.

How can Signity promise standard-setting workmanship, quality control, and order selection? It's simple. At least 95% of the gems sold are cut and polished in our own factories using sophisticated proprietary technology that allows Signity to set and maintain the world's strictest standards for proportion, polish, size, and shape. Gemstones not cut in Signity facilities are selected according to the same demanding criteria they use.

Based in Horgen, Switzerland, Signity employs 130 skilled professionals worldwide. With sales and representative offices in the Americas, Europe, Asia, India and Middle East, Signity customers around the globe enjoy top quality service. We cater to every sector of the jewelry trade from wholesalers and manufacturers to designers and retailers.

Customer satisfaction is their primary goal. Signity strives to provide all their clients with the utmost quality in both product and customer support. With worldwide accessibility, innovative technology, large capacity programs, and a service-oriented staff, Signity keeps best interest in mind.

Swarovski Music
"Good teamwork" has always been a motto for Swarovski, and that's why a works' band has accompanied the company since its formation - for more than 100 years. Today Swarovski Musik Wattens is an orchestra of international repute and travels the world as musical ambassador.

Facts & Figures

A large family
Our products are aimed at everyone. They satisfy the senses in a fascinating way. That is why we have been able to build up a global company within a century.

Pleasure, brilliance and uniqueness are universal values and fundamental building blocks of every culture.

Swarovski – a world of crystal
Swarovski represents the height of unmatched quality, unique variety, crystal brilliance, latest trend information and cutting edge innovations.

Interior & Lighting
The unique brilliance of our crystal is a style medium which enables it to transform spaces. Architecture and light compositions with crystal bring joy and make the world gleam with a new sparkle.
We show you, how beautifully you can live.

STRASS® Swarovski® Crystal
The legendary brilliance and variety of STRASS® Swarovski® Crystal have made it into a symbol of the highest crystal quality in interior and lighting design. Designers and manufacturers throughout the world insist on original STRASS® crystals.

Best advice: STRASS® Partnershops
A number of authorized specialist lighting stores throughout the world can offer expert advice on the purchase of your STRASS® Swarovski® Crystal lights.

Unsurpassed: STRASS® quality
The purity and the high precision faceting of STRASS® crystals transform ordinary light into a sparkling kaleidoscope of color.

Crystal Worlds

Crystal Worlds - Kaleidoscope of magic
5 million people from all corners of the globe have already been thrilled by the Swarovski Crystal Worlds since they first opened their doors in 1995. Now it's time for the world of experience in Wattens/Tyrol to be expanded around inspirational chambers of wonder.

"What originally set out to be an extraordinary gesture to mark the 100-year anniversary of the founding of the Swarovski Crystal company, has developed into a real crowd-puller in the eight years of its existence.

The extension is intended to express our respect and gratitude for this interest." says Andreas Braun, General Manager of the Swarovski Crystal Worlds.

www.swarovski.com/crystalworlds

With the cultural sponsoring project "The Crystal Web", Daniel Swarovski & Co. has brought a virtual museum into being.

The public website of thecrystalweb° provides an archive of history, meanings, scientific findings and everyday uses for crystal.

One further innovation is the museum's very own software LIQUID. LIQUID is a new navigational structure, which for the first time ever allows content to be displayed with ever-changing associations.

www.thecrystalweb.org

Lifestyle
Immerse yourself in the crystalline universe! Join us at the hottest, most exciting fashion shows and see how our crystal really makes stars sparkle. Experience crystal in lifestyle and architecture!

Spotlight

Crystal presents itself according to the mood and the occasion. Irresistible and sensuous, full of light and vitality – always with its own inimitable radiance. Exciting fashion shows, glittering stars and flashing spotlights everywhere. Join us on the high altitude flights of the most glittering stars of our time

Crystalmini
Crystals and songs: Swarovski decorates the new iPod generation!

New York. Sparkling Chanel Exhibition.
The Costume Institute presents a special exhibition in honor of jewelry and fashion icon Coco Chanel, one of the very first creators of the trend to crystal!

Crystal Expressions in Barcelona
Pasarela Gaudí 2005: Swarovski showcases their entire lingerie and swimwear collection for the very first time at the Barcelona Fashion Week.

Interior & Lighting
The unique brilliance of our crystal is a style medium which enables it to transform spaces. Architecture and light compositions with crystal bring joy and make the world gleam with a new sparkle. We show you, how beautifully you can live.

STRASS® Swarovski® Crystal
The legendary brilliance and variety of STRASS® Swarovski® Crystal have made it into a symbol of the highest crystal quality in interior and lighting design. Designers and manufacturers throughout the world insist on original STRASS® crystals.

Unsurpassed: STRASS® quality
The purity and the high precision faceting of STRASS® crystals transform ordinary light into a sparkling kaleidoscope of color.

Swarovski Optik
Top quality precision optical instruments: binoculars, telescopic sights, observation telescopes, night vision devices and range finders, as well as fine mechanical and optical components.

Swarovski Music
"Good teamwork" has always been a motto for Swarovski, and that's why a works' band has accompanied the company since its formation - for more than 100 years. Today Swarovski Musik Wattens is an orchestra of international repute and travels the world as musical ambassador.

Give someone a shopping spree with an Swarovski Online Gift Certificate!
Choose a design for the Online Gift Certificate, write a personal message and select the gift amount. You can either have the recipient receive all the information directly by email, or have the Online Gift Certificate sent to you electronically in order to print it out to hand over in person.

Swarovski produces jewelry, fashion accessories, home accessories, eyewear, books,
Home décor, desk accessories, silver crystal, miniatures, treasures, inspirations and gift ideas.