Swarovski Basic

If you have any question that is not answered below, please feel free to contact us for information.

Part-cut and Uncut Articles

Any part-cut or uncut article will be identified by its article number.

/1 - Only part of the stone has been cut.
eg. 5309/1 Round Bicone

/2 - Only the table of the stone has been cut.
eg. 4200/2 Navette

/3 - The stone has not been cut and has pressed facets.
eg. 4813/3 Heart

/4 - The stone has not been cut and has no facets.
eg. 2080/4 Cabochon

Effects

Surface Effects Applied on the surface of the stone
AB	Aurore Boreale
ANTP	Antique Pink
API	Astral Pink
BLSH	Blue Shade
BRSH	Bronze Shade
CAL	Comet Argent Light
COP	Copper
DOR	Dorado
GSHA	Golden Shadow
HEM	Hematite
IRIG	Iridescent Green
LISH	Lilac Shadow
LUMG	Luminous Green
METBL	Metallic Blue
MLGLD	Metallic Light Gold
METSI	Metallic Silver
MOL	Moonlight
NUT	Nut
REDM	Red Magma
ROGL	Rose Gold
SAT	Satin
SSHA	Silver Shade
TRA	Transmission

Translucent Effects Applied on the back of the stone, effect shines through the crystal
BBL	Bermuda Blue
HEL	Heliotrope
MBL	Meridian Blue
SAG	Sage
SAH	Sahara
SBL	Sky Blue
STS	Star Shine
SINI	Silver Night
TAB	Tabac
VL	Vitrail Light
VM	Vitrail Medium
VOL	Volcano
PATINA EFFECTS
BLAPA	Black Patina
GOLPA	Gold Patina
ROSPA	Rose Patina
SILPA	Silver Patina
WHIPA	White Patina

Variations on Surface Effects

V - Effects applied on the reverse side.

Z - Only part of the stone is treated for an effect.

B - Effects on three sides of a cube shape article

2X - Both sides of the stone are treated with an effect.

Special Surface Effects
These effecs are achieved by chemical or mechanical process.
MAT - Matt Finish
FRO - Frosted
COS - Cosmojet

Foiling

Platinum Foilng (F) - A silver mirror that is coated with a newly developed platinum colored, protective layer.
Aluminum Foiling (M) - An aluminum mirror is applied using a vacuum coating process.
Silver Foiling (S)
Green Gold Foiling (GG)
Unfoiled (U) - Usually an article not marked with any kind of foiling is unfoiled.

Hotfix

Hotfix (HF)
Hotfix technology involves applying a specially developed glue onto the reverse side of Flat Backs. The glue, which is extremely flexible, is activated by temperatures between 120 and 170°C and bonds with the carrier material. The crystal element is permanently fixed onto the carrier material during the cooling off process.

Hotfix Transparent (HFT)
This variant of the Hotfix technology is a patented bonding agent that is applied to the reverse side of non-mirror finished Flat Backs resulting in an interesting “raindrop” effect during which the crystal takes on the color of the carrier materials.

No Hotfix (NoHF)
All Hotfix articles are also available as No Hotfix without glue applied onto the reverse side.

Plating

Plating is an option available for most Swarovski settings that contain metal parts.

Gold 3-5 Mil (3) - anti nickel allergenic
Sterling Silver 15 Mil (S) - anti nickel allergenic (retired 2014 July)
Gun Metal Plating (G) - anti nickel allergenic
Rhodium (H) - anti nickel allergenic
Antique Gold (A) - only available for Filigrees (62000 series)
Antique Silver (B) - only available for Filigrees (62000 series)

No Plating (Z)
All metal settings are made with brass. Settings without plating will appear in the golden brass colour. Streling silver base metal can be requested for additional charge.

From left to right: unplated (raw brass), sterling silver plated, gun metal plated, gold plated.

Setting Configuration

H2O: 4 holes (2 on each side), with base hole (open back)
H2C: 4 holes (2 on each side), without base hole (closed back)
00C: No hole, without base hole (closed back)
00O: No hole, with base hole (open back)
H1C: 2 holes (1 on each side), without base hole (closed back)
H1O: 2 holes (1 on each side), with base hole (open back)
G2C: Cross groove

Application Techniques

	Gluing	Soldering and Electroplating	Hotfix Application	Sewing and Embroidery	Beading	Mechanical Application	Setting
Round Stones	O						O
Flat Backs No Hotfix	O						O
Flat Backs Hotfix			O
Sew-on Stones				O	O
Fancy Stones	O						O
Beads				O	O
Crystal Pearls				O	O
Pendants				O	O
Transfers No Hotfix	O
Transfers			O
Crystal Tattoos	O
Crystal-it	O
Crystal Fabric	O		O	O
Crystal Transfabric	O		O	O
Crystal Glaze	O			O
Crystaltex	O		O	O
Crystal Yarn				O
Plastic Trimmings	O			O	O
Zippers				O
Buttons & Fasteners				O	O	O
Metal Trimmings	O			O		O
Crystal Mesh	O		O	O
Cupchains & Findings		O		O	O

Quality Comparison

Please note flaws will always exist in every product from any manufacturer. Some brands have higher defect rate than others. Unless the defect is extensive and recognized by the manufacturer, any quality issue will not be entertained. Purchase sample first where available or avoid materials that are proned to chippage or production flaw.

	Price	Defective Rate	Production Time	Color Consistency	Overall Quality
Swarovski Crystal	$$$$$	<5%	3~8 weeks	>95%	★★★★★
Preciosa Crystal	$$$	<10%	1~4 months	>90%	★★★★
Premium Crystal	$$	<10%	1~3 weeks	>85%	★★★
ValueMAX Crystal	$	<25%	1~3 weeks	>80%	★★
Swarovski Gems	$$$$	<3%	2~4 weeks	>95%	★★★★★
Preciosa Gems	$$$	<3%	2~8 weeks	>95%	★★★★
Premium Gems	$$	<10%	1~3 weeks	>80%	★★★
Stellux Crystal	$$$	<5%	2~4 weeks	>85%	★★★★
Oktant Crystal	$$$	<5%	2~4 weeks	>85%	★★★★
MIYUKI Glass Bead	$$$	<5%	2 to 8 months	>85%	★★★★
TOHO Glass Bead	$$$	<5%	2 to 8 months	>85%	★★★★