Posts Tagged ‘rhinestone earrings’
An Abridged History of Rhinestone Jewelry
When you think of rhinestones, you might be forgiven for looking back fondly on the late ’70s and early ’80s. Back then, Glen Campbell had sent the popular fashion accessory into the stratosphere with his chart-topping hit “Rhinestone Cowboy.” In fact, rhinestones have been used as embellishments on garments and highlights in jewelry for centuries. In the 13th century, the merchant elite in Bohemia wore them in Prague and other cultural centers.
In the 1920s, famous fashion designer Coco Chanel was instrumental in bringing about a style revolution. The de facto dress code had changed from modest and conservative to loose and unrestrained. Colorful gems were all the rage, and the colored glass pieces of rhinestone jewelry became popular across America. As we all know, fashion is cyclical. It should come as no surprise that these accoutrements have once again found favor in fashionable circles.
All That Glitters – Rhinestone Jewelry – Part IV
There are two primary categories of Czech rhinestone crystals. The primary difference between these two rhinestones is the lead content. One is a lead crystal rhinestone with a lead content of at least 20% while the other rhinestone is cut glass and contains no lead. It is important to keep in mind that almost all rhinestone jewelry made from high quality rhinestone crystals will have excellent sparkle and shine – regardless of the type or brand of rhinestone used.
Czech Extra Grade Rhinetones: This rhinestone is made by Preciosa. It is double cut (top and bottom only) and facets are molded. The facets are not as sharp as the machine cut, and there is considerable variance in quality of this stone. This is NOT lead crystal, but is glass. Therefore, this stone does not have the brilliance of either Swarovski or Czech Machine cut rhinestones.
Czech Preciosa Rhinestones: Most costume designers select this rhinestone for stage costumes. It is a less expensive, high quality stone that has a greater sparkle when seen from a distance (fewer cut facets equals greater sparkle). The colors are not considered to be quite as brilliant as Swarovski rhinestones but when seen from a distance of greater than about 6 feet, this difference becomes minimally noticeable.
This eight facet stone is considered to be a very high quality lead crystal rhinestone and contains at least 20% lead by weight. While the cut of this rhinestone gives it a greater sparkle from a distance, because they are flatter, the side sparkle is minimal. Also, the crystal is not quite as bright and sparkly due to slightly lower lead content. However, it is often difficult to tell the difference from a distance.