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112 years ago, in 1895, Daniel Swarovski I, a Bohemian inventor and
visionary, moved to the village of Wattens, Tyrol in Austria, with his
newly-invented machine for cutting and polishing crystal jewelry stones.
From these beginnings, which revolutionized the fashion world, Swarovski
has grown to the world of leading producer of precision-cut crystal, for
fashion, jewelry and more recently lighting, architecture and interiors.
Today, the company, still based in Wattens, family owned and run by 4th
and 5th generation family members, has a global reach with some 20,000
employees, a presence in over 120 countries and turnover in 2006 of 2,37
Euros.
Swarovski comprises two major divisions, one producing and
selling loose crystals to the industry and the other creating
design-driven finished products. Swarovski crystal components, known by
their product brand names CRYSTALLIZED TM - Swarovski
Elements for fashion and STRASS® Swarovski® Crystal for architecture and
light, have become an essential ingredient of international design.
Showing the creativity that lies at the heart of the company Swarovski's
own-brand lines of accessories, jewellery and home décor are sold
through more than 1150 Swarovski stores and concessions in all major
fashion capitals, while the exclusive Daniel Swarovski accessories
collection has become the company's couture
signature.
The Swarovski Crystal Society has close to 400,000 members
worldwide, keen collectors of the celebrated crystal figurines. In Wattens Crystal Worlds, the multimedia crystal museum, has attracted
over 7 million visitors since it was opened in 1995, as a celebration of
Swarovski's universe of innovation and inspiration of crystal as the
ultimate creative material. The Swarovski corporation also includes four
industrial brands, Tyrolit®,
manufacturing grinding tools, Swareflex for road safety reflectors,
Optik producing precision optical instruments and Signity, Swarovski's brand for genuine and created gemstones. |
