SWAROVSKI

Named after Czech glassmaker Daniel Swarovski — who in 1892 invented a glass-cutting machine that revolutionized the crystal-making industry — this Austrian company develops crystals used in every imaginable setting: precision binoculars, grinding tools, road reflectors, the chandeliers at the Palace of Versailles, clothing, interior fittings, Philips headphones and USB memory drives, art exhibitions, even crystal-based theme parks (Swarovski’s own Crystal Worlds facility in Wattens, Austria). Yet most people recognize Swarovski as the world’s leading designer of high-end crystal jewelry and watches. From shimmering bangle watches encrusted in pavé "crystal mesh" to the more sparsely decorated Lovely Crystal and Octea series, Swarovski’s timepieces epitomize elegance. Jewelry, picture frames and home accessories, eyeglasses, crystal figurines, and beautifully packaged fragrances are some of Swarovski’s various other glittering products, which are so beloved that the company has created a special club for collectors: the hundreds-of-thousands-strong Crystal Society.