Swarovski is a Austrian exempt private company with seat in Wattens (Tirol). The mark Swarovski is world-wide well-known as manufacturers of polished crystal glass and optical devices.

The Tiroler enterprise is today (2006) arranged into two main business ranges. The Swarovski crystal produces decoration crystals and drives these out world-wide, the Swarovski group belongs the Tyrolit abrasive in Schwaz and the Swarovski optics in Absam. Swarovski employs, or over its subsidiaries, world-wide more than 16,000 coworkers in 40 countries.

History

The enterprise was created 1895 by the Glasschleifer Daniel Swarovski from the Georgenthal, which had invented 1892 an electrical grinding machine for gem stones and on the search for water power in Wattens established itself.

After the Second World War the company in the public of Austria formed itself by its Brillenglasschleiferei and world-wide by its fine optics products. The already at that time important cash Cow abrasive was not particularly well-known. The eyeglass lens manufacturing was then sold into the 1990er years to the French company Essilor, who keeps line optical devices however. This very day the sights and the field glasses of Swarovski are considered as leading products of the optical industry beside the marks Zeiss and Leitz.

Products

The products were divided into:

• Crystal gem stones and crystal components
• Crystal sculptures and accessories with and from crystal
• optical precision devices (Swarovski optics)
• Sharpening and wheel dressers (Tyrolit)
• synthetic jewels (Signity, to 1999 Swarogem)
• Road marking buttons and reflectors from glass (Swareflex)
• luminescent traffic guidance mechanisms (Swareflex)
• Road sign with LED lights (Swareflex)

In the year 1976 the business field crystal objects was begun. After rather modest beginnings today crystal figures are global sold such as fruit or animal sculptures in own shops or a depot selling system by Optikern, Juwelieren or gift shops. The marketing concept of the limited production of series is so successful that some crystal objects are proper collected and fan clubs formed. These - organized partially by the enterprise - own series are offered to combinations.

In North America one became secured approx. 1500 shops comprehensive decoration chain the selling way to the final consumer into the 1980er years by the purchase. This acquisition was at that time one of the largest acquisitions of a Austrian enterprise and shook the financial situation of the company first substantially.

Swarovski does not only manufacture products for final consumers, but supplies also strass and Lustersteinen to other manufacturers from the decoration, mode, light and interior arrangement industry and reflector from glass to road construction.

"Crystal worlds "

To the hundred-year firm anniversary 1995 in Wattens as tourist attraction the museum "crystal worlds were opened ". The opening and a transformation 2003 were arranged by the Austrian artist Heller.

Other

By the high energy consumption, which is necessary for the glass production, the enterprise sets strengthened on water power and leads for this reason its own power station in the cotton wool valley.

Also the Sponsoring has the water as emphasis, then not only the national park high Tauern but also a national park in India is supported by a water supply.

Related links

• Firm history and the individual products
• Firm homepage
• Create Your Style with Swarovski, DIY initiative

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