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Swarovski Overview Statement on Lead Content 10/16/08

Recently, there has been an increased regulatory focus on potential human exposure to lead from various consumer products, including jewelry. We hope that our customers will find this overview of current requirements applicable to lead in jewelry and other products useful. Recognizing that the regulatory landscape is rapidly changing, however, it remains the responsibility of our business customers to assure that their use of crystal in jewelry and other products is consistent with all applicable requirements.

How is lead in crystal different from lead in other products? Crystal has unique properties. The crystal manufacturing process creates a matrix, which inhibits the mobility of lead. Because of this structure, lead crystal poses no significant risk of excessive lead exposure to human health via surface contact (hand to mouth), mouthing or even ingestion. By contrast, lead in other materials that might be used in jewelry, such as coatings, metal or plastic, may be accessible to consumers. That is why some regulatory bodies, like the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), have focused on children’s metal jewelry and surface coatings, and not crystal.

Has crystal been tested to assess the potential for lead exposure? Swarovski crystals have been tested under a variety of test methods for extractable lead, including the CPSC’s Standard Operating Procedure for Determining Lead (Pb) and Its Availability in Children’s Metal Jewelry, ASTM F963-03 (the standard on accessible lead in toys), and EN 71/3 (the European standard for lead in toys). Test conditions and procedures do vary, but lead levels are well below regulatory limits even when the crystal is tested in an acid solution to maximize the release of lead.

What are the current national limits applicable to lead in crystal jewelry? The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) of 2008 was signed into law by President Bush on August 14, 2008. According to this law, the age of a child has been defined as 12 and under. All products for a child are required to have less than 600ppm lead by February 10, 2009 and the limit progressively decreases to 300ppm within 1 year and 100ppm within 3 years, if feasible. The CPSC does not have any restrictions on the use of crystal in adult jewelry; therefore, this would only be relevant to products intended for children as defined above.

Do state limits apply to crystal jewelry? The CPSIA includes language that prevents states from passing their own lead limits on children’s products. The states that had legislation in place prior to the Federal Act passing will now defer to the national standard. Certain states that have legislation referencing lead in adult products would not be affected by the CPSIA.

What is Swarovski doing? Swarovski will try to keep you informed of actions that affect your use of our products. Recognizing that the regulatory landscape changes often, it remains the responsibility of our business customers to assure that their use of crystal in jewelry and other products is consistent with all applicable requirements.

Do you want your project to have the perfect color?  Than  you can use this color card. Different computer screens can show the same colors differently.  This color card has an actual Hot Fix Swarovski crystal attached to it. Every color we carry is on this card. Just hold it up to your project and see what works best. All colors are in color order, not alphabetically.  Check it out http://www.hotfixcrystals.com/files/colorcard.htm These cards are especially great for wedding shops.

For maximum adhesion of your hot fix crystals, the “water drop” test can be used on potential fabrics or materials.  The optimum bond can only be achieved if the carrier material can absorb the glue.  If the fabric has a waterproofing finish, it will not absorb drops of water or glue. The water must penetrate the material.  With fabrics that contain a large quantity of softening agents, adhesion can be improved by washing the original materials before the application process. Very fine fabrics such as organza, as well as smooth leather, smooth leather imitations, tightly woven polyamides and fabrics with a silicone or wax finish may not be suitable for hot fix applications because they are unable to absorb the glue.

According to Swarovski, hot fix products can be used on many types of products including synthetics, silk, cotton jersey, lycra, denim, tulle, wool, linen, cotton, viscose, technical fabrics and artificial fur.  While some people have applied hot fix crystals to leather with no problem, Swarovski does not recommend it and they offer no application instructions for leather.   In addition, do not use hot fix crystals on any type of plastic or other material that can melt.   Application on wood products is possible, but Swarovski does not recommend it or offer any instructions for using the hot fix crystals on wood.  The best method for wood products is to use rhinestones without heat activated glue and apply your own glue to the back of the rhinestones for your project.

Many people ask how to apply Hot Fix Swarovski Crystals to a product. A regular household iron can be used, but might not provide the correct heat temperature and pressure for adhesion of the crystals. The best option for a professional look is a heat press machine. These can be purchased from several online vendors and, depending on features and size, the price begins around two hundred dollars for an economy heat press. Heat press machines have adjustable temperature controls and apply a consistent even pressure to your designIt is very important to test your fabric and crystals to determine the correct settings for your heat press machine before you hot fix the crystals to your final project. I recommend using a Teflon sheet on top of the crystals and the heat plate so the plate and crystals do not get scratched and you don’t get any glue on the heat plate. Another Teflon sheet should be used inside your item or garment so that you don’t accidentally glue the front and back together. It will take some trial and error to see what works best for you and the design you are creating.

Swarovski crystals have seen a definite rise in popularity over the past years. That’s because it is so easy to transform what you have into something that has BLING, SPARKLE, SHINE! Even top designers have been known to use crystals to embellish different articles of clothing and accessories to help show off their designs. Check out http://www.hotfixcrystals.com/files/crystals.htm and take a look at the wide variety of hot fix embellishments.
By using the applicators or heat irons you can transfer these crystals to different items. You can put these crystals in different patterns on all articles of clothing. From jeans to scarves to shirts. You can go out and buy a plain white T-Shirt and transform it into a beautiful masterpiece that no one else will have because it is your design!
You can also use crystals on your accessories. Cell phone covers, computers, notebooks, trapper keepers, wallets, eyeglass cases, eyeglasses. You can also add them to purses, wallets, head bands, shoes, the list is endless! This is where your creativity can really come out!
Any design of your choosing can be used to make your personal belongings have more of a personality. With the dozens of different colors and sizes the possibilities are endless of what you can do with these crystals! You can dazzle and shine any way you please!

Swarovski crystals have seen a definite rise in popularity over the past years. That’s because it is so easy to transform what you have into something that has BLING, SPARKLE, SHINE! Even top designers have been known to use crystals to embellish different articles of clothing and accessories to help show off their designs. Check out http://www.hotfixcrystals.com/files/crystals.htm and take a look at the wide variety of hot fix embellishments.
By using the applicators or heat irons you can transfer these crystals to different items. You can put these crystals in different patterns on all articles of clothing. From jeans to scarves to shirts. You can go out and buy a plain white T-Shirt and transform it into a beautiful masterpiece that no one else will have because it is your design!
You can also use crystals on your accessories. Cell phone covers, computers, notebooks, trapper keepers, wallets, eyeglass cases, eyeglasses. You can also add them to purses, wallets, head bands, shoes, the list is endless! This is where your creativity can really come out!
Any design of your choosing can be used to make your personal belongings have more of a personality. With the dozens of different colors and sizes the possibilities are endless of what you can do with these crystals! You can dazzle and shine any way you please!

The son of a glass cutter named Daniel Swarovski became so skilled in the art of glass cutting that he came up an electric cutting machine that facilitated the production of crystal glass. This machine was patented in 1892 and in 1895 the company Swarovski was founded by Armand Kosman and Franz Weis using Daniel’s expertise and name. Behold the start of the Swarovski crystal explosion.
By 1913 the Swarovski Company built their own production plant. The company perfected the formula for flawless crystal with the help of Daniel’s sons. The crystals were then made into jewelry stones. Fashion designers such as Chanel adopted and used these crystals with costume jewelry. These stones blew up in the fashion world in the 1920s and were in demand worldwide.
The next innovation by the Swarovski company was the Aurora Borealis crystal. This was designed in 1956 and was coated with a layer of metal to give these crystals a sparkle unlike any other seen. Daniel’s grandson, Manfred Swarovski, and French designer Christian Dior worked together to come up with this effect.
In 1976 the infamous Silver Crystal Mouse was introduced. This mouse was the first figurine to use crystal chandelier parts. This marked a historical step in the world of crystal as it started the great Silver Crystal story.
In 1977 Swarovski entered the jewelry world starting with the United States. It later expanded to Great Britain and Europe in later years. And not only is the Swarovski company producing jewelry and fashion statements it is all in the home accessories world. With items of such abstract detail and faceted crystals they dazzle any home interior.
As time goes on the Swarovski company and name grows and becomes more prominent. The Daniel Swarovski collection of handbags and accessories is introduced in 1989. The Crystal Mesh was invented in 1993 which is a robust fabric made up of tightly woven crystals. Crystal Fabric comes about in 2003 where more than a million crystals per square metre shimmer.
In 1995 Swarovski celebrated its 100 years by opening the Swarovski Kristallwelten. This is the second most visited tourist attraction in Austria. This grotto features magnificent crystal creations. Designs from celebrated artists are put on display for the world to view in awe.
Today one can see Swarovski crystals everywhere, from figurines to fashion bags to the small rhinestones that adorn clothing. Everybody from prominent fashion designers to actresses to everyday people can take part in the fantastic invention that one Daniel Swarovski came up with over a 100 years ago.
Bibliography
Most of the information used in this article was taken from the Swarovski website http://www.swarovski.com

Take your banana’s apart and they wont turn brown as quickly

Hot Fix Swarovski Crystals are made of genuine Swarovski crystal. Rhinestones are made of glass. The glass rhinestones will reflect the light. The Swarovski Crystals will refract the light. In other words the crystals will twinkle with different colors, much like that of a genuine crystal Chandelier.