Swarovski Crystals: How to Make Sure What You are Buying is Real

If you make jewelry you probably already know what a Swarovski crystal looks like, but do you know how to tell if it is actually a genuine Swarovski crystal? I didn't when I first started making jewelry. In fact, I was almost duped into buying imitation Swarovski crystals.

I had gone into my local craft store to pick up a few supplies and while I was browsing around I saw that they sold Swarovski crystals. I almost bought a package right there, but then decided I would wait until my next trip into the store when I could be sure to have a little more cash on me. Later on that day, I was talking to a friend of mine, who also makes jewelry, about the Swarovski crystals and she asked me if I knew how to tell if they were real or not. Of course I didn't, so she explained it to me. Come to find out on my next trip into the craft store, the Swarovski crystals they were selling, were not Swarovski crystals at all. They were imitations.

So, after learning what I know now and realizing that there are probably others out there who are as naïve about the difference between real and imitation Swarovski crystals as I once was, I decided to share with you the information my friend shared with me.

First of all, when purchased, Swarovski crystals usually will not come strung together. They will usually come in bulk and depending on the size of the crystals, the bulk packages will range anywhere from 10 gross to ½ gross and will be in well-branded, sealed envelopes. Something else to look for on the packages to ensure you are buying genuine Swarovski crystals is a seal with an authenticated silver-toned hologram that says "CRYSTALLIZED".

Swarovski crystals are all perfectly uniform. They are machine cut so each individual crystal is the same in height, width, and slope. A fake, or imitation, crystal will not be as uniform in the cut and the dimensions of each crystal will vary. Also, real Swarovski crystals will exude a beautiful sparkle, whereas imitation crystals do not. Another thing to look closely for when buying Swarovski crystals are the facet junctures. If the crystal is real, the facet junctures will meet at a single point.

Swarovski crystals with an AB finish have a uniform surface luster with absolutely no swirl marks or scratches. Imitation crystals on the other hand, usually always have distinct swirl marks and scratches on their surface. One last thing to look for to tell the difference between a real Swarovski crystal and an imitation is bubbles on the inside of the crystal. Real crystals will never have bubbles in them.

The Swarovski Company's trademark logo is a swan, but don't let that fool you because many people use the swan logo illegally in an attempt to pass off imitation crystals as real. Always be sure to buy your crystals from reputable Swarovski distributors and you will never take the chance of being fooled.