Once, in a different century, in a different world, Daniel Swarovski, a young man from Bohemia, invented, then patented a machine that could cut crystal stones with precision and consistency.

With his family, Daniel Swarovski moved to the tiny village of Wattens in the Austrian Tyrol, where his invention could be powered by water. So began a lifetime's journey towards the realization of his shining crystal vision.

Daniel Swarovski came from Bohemia, a region which belonged to the Austro-Hungarian Empire and possessed a glass-cutting industry that had been renowned for centuries. His father taught him the craft of crystal cutting at an early age. A visit to the first International Electric Exhibition in Vienna in 1883 inspired him to design an automatic jewellery stone cutting machine. He then leased an old factory in the tiny village of Wattens, tucked away in the Tyrolean Alps, to put his invention to use. The surrounding mountains provided his rapidly expanding operation with an abundant source of clean hydroelectric power.

In 1895, with the help of his brother-in-law Franz Weis and financier Armand Kosmann, Daniel Swarovski founded a family-owned company specializing in jewelry stones. So superior was their quality that the company’s name was soon well-known in Paris, America and the Russian Empire.

The fashion and jewellery industries are revolutionized by the quality and quantity of Swarovski’s perfectly cut crystal stones. The small mechanical glass-cutting works in the Tyrol blossoms and thrives over the decades, rapidly turning into an international concern, continually improving, expanding, developing new ideas, offering a wider and wider array of crystal attractions.

After two years of research and development, Swarovski starts to market their own grinding tools and abrasives for cutting crystal stones. The trade name is “Tyrolit”.  In 1931 Swarovski comes up with crystal “trimmings”, decorative ready-to-sew edgings and borders, set with crystal stones, pre-setting new possibilities to the fashion world. in 1937 Svarowski launch the ingenious glass reflectors for the road or rail safetyin, for road lane dividers, or reflective panels for guard-rails. In 1950 these products are named Swareflex.

Modern Timeline:

1935

Wilhelm Swarovski, the eldest son of the founder, had produced the first prototype for a pair of binoculars.

1948

Swarovski Optics is founded.

1955

Swarovski, working with Christian Dior, presents an innovation that takes the world by storm; the Aurora Borealis, a coated crystal stone, flashing with rainbow coloured lights.

1965

Swarovski makes crystal chandelier parts, that in turn create spectacular chandeliers to grace the Metropolitan Opera House and the Palace of Versailles.

1967

Swarovski decides to apply their stone cutting experience and expertise to natural and synthetic gems, including cubic zirconia, the most successful imitation diamond. Swarovski is the first to cut cubic zirconia by mechanical methods.

1976

A charming crystal mouse heralds the dawn of a whole new era, as it becomes the first ever animal in Swarovski’s crystal menagerie. This quantum leap, both creative and technical, marks the company’s first bold step into the consumer market.

1977

Swarovski’s first jewellery line

1987

Foundation of the Swarovski Collectors Society

1989

The Daniel Swarovski accessories and jewellery line

1992

Exclusively designed crystal objects

1993

Crystal miniatures

1988

The company decides to change its Edelweiss logo, essentially Tyrolean, for a new visual identity: the swan, the embodiment of purity, elegance and metamorphosis, has now become known around the world as the mark of Swarovski’s dedication to perfection.

1995

The history of Swarovski crystal reaches a momentous milestone, as the company celebrates its centenary. The opening of Swarovski Crystal Worlds in Wattens shows the company in a new role: that of cultural entertainer.

Today

With more than 12.400 employees all over the world, Swarovski, still family owned and run, is now one of the largest and most successful Austrian companies, with a vast international market for its diverse products. From its birthplace in Wattens in the Austrian Tyrol, crystal conquers the whole world.

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