Swarovski® (Swore-off-ski) crystal components are regarded as the highest quality machine cut and polished crystal beads in the world. The Swarovski® company creates its glass with a special compound that imitators cannot duplicate. This special compound creates the incredible brilliance of their product. The delicate color palette is another quality that sets Swarovski® crystal components apart from others.

Unfortunately, there are many imitators. The new 'Chinese Crystal' is often sold as Swarovski Crystal, and is actually cut glass. There is nothing wrong with using imitation crystals as long as you know what you are getting.

Swarovski® have recently changed the cut of their bicone crystals (from article #5301 to the new Xilion Cut #5328). The Xilion cut has more brilliance from more facets, a rounded hole to protect threads and a smoother outer edge for greater wearing comfort. The new cut will be gradually replacing the old cut. This will also make it easier to tell the imitations from the real thing.

With so many crystal beads and components out there, how can you tell if the crystal you are purchasing is actually a Swarovski® crystal component....or an imitation?

Here are some tips that can help you determine which crystals are genuine:

1. Swarovski® crystals are generally not strung when offered for sale.
2. Look for the original Swarovski® packaging. Dependant on size, the bulk packages will range from 10 gross to 1/2 gross, in well-branded, sealed envelopes. The newest Swarovski® bulk packaging is sealed with an authenticated silver toned hologram saying "CRYSTALIZED."
3. Swarovski® crystals are perfectly uniform. Since they are machine cut, each crystal is the same. This means that the height, width and slope are consistent. A hand polished imitator bead will not have as uniform a cut. You may also notice different dimensions from bead to bead.
4. Swarovski® uses machinery that precisely cuts each crystal. According to Swarovski®, "cutting hard materials such as crystal and gems, in such a way that they have a hundred identical facets in several directions, is a very complicated task; each direction of the reflected light must first be calculated by computer, then this has to be simulated in 3D, optimized and finally converted into control programs for complex machinery." This is just part of the technology that gives Swarovski® crystals their unbelievable flash.
5. The precision cutting of Swarovski® machinery allows each crystal to have its facet juncture "pointing up". This means the facet junctures all meet at precisely the same point. This is a similar aspect of diamond faceting.
6. AB finish Swarovski® crystals have a uniform surface luster. There are no swirling marks from the vacuum process that produces the AB finish, and generally there are no scratches. The "imitations" often have scratches, swirl marks ("oily" looking surface). Some of these imperfections, in the "imposters", have to do with the lower quality of the finish.
7. When you look inside the crystal, you will see no bubbles. If you see any bubbles, you know immediately that it is a fake.
8. Because of its special glass compounds, Swarovski® crystal will out-sparkle a bead of lesser quality when placed in a side-by-side comparison.

Your best bet is to buy from reputable suppliers known to be Swarovski® distributors. Just because they display the logo does not mean they are true distributors. Many vendors incorrectly (and illegally) display the swan logo of Swarovski® when selling beads. This swan logo is not permitted to be used by Swarovski® for selling beads and components. It is the logo for their jewelry and gift line. This is why you do not see it on our website.