Swarovski was founded in 1895 by Daniel Swarovski. Daniel learned his craft of crystal cutting as a traditional family trade. Employing newly invented machines he took crystal cutting to the next level. In business for over 100 years, Swarovski is renowned worldwide for manufacturing crystal "products of precision" in many different forms, sizes, and shapes, paying close attention to detail, in an effort to present the best in the cutting, clarity, and brilliance.

Crystal is pure glass devoid of any color. Impure glass can be seen on the edges as blue or green colored due to contaminants. Pure crystal acts as a prism allowing light to refract in a perfect rainbow spectrum. The sharper the precision cuts on a crystal the more of the spectrum you will see. Swarovski's precision cut is so precise that when you feel the edge it is sharp and defined creating maximum refraction. Lead creates the refraction of the crystal with the maximum refraction at 30-32% lead content. Lead also adds to the weight of the crystal giving it a more substantial feel. Austrian Swarovski crystal contains approximately 32% lead. Full lead crystal must contain above 30% lead oxide content in order to be consider full lead crystal.

Swarovski offers a wide range of colors and special coatings to meet the needs of all occasions. Special coatings are bonded chemically to the outer surface of the beads for a more brilliant effect. Aurora Borealis, better known as "AB", is one of the more popular coatings that gives off a rainbow-like effect. Crystal Transmission, Volcano, Aurum and Dorado are some examples of special effect beads. AB 2X signifies that the stone has been coated with AB two times. The special effect and special coating of each bead is permanent.