Rhinestones provide a luxurious sparkle to jewelry, clothing, accessories and other precious pieces. A few rhinestones can transform even the most common item into something fit for a star.

The rhinestones of the highest quality are made in Europe—specifically Austria and Czech Republic. These are actually crafted from leaded glass crystal, not the acrylic you find in many craft stores. The difference is in the sparkle, the fire and the longevity of the wear. Even after decades, a real crystal rhinestone will not lose its brilliance and shine. It is common to find exquisite rhinestone costume jewelry made in the 1930’s and 1940’s even now.

In 1775 George Fredrich Strass discovered a way to coat the clear stones from the Rhine River wit ha foil backing. The result was a shockingly sparkling stone akin to a natural diamond. Eventually, glass crystals replaced river stones. In 1892, rhinestones became mainstream when Daniel Swarovski won the patent to the machine he invented which automatically cut the stones. This caused rhinestones to become much more affordable and accessible to the public. Swarovski remains the largest maker of rhinestones to this day.

Rhinestones are available in every conceivable color, size and shape. They are used in costumes, formal wear and other pieces of special clothing such as wedding gowns. Swarovski makes a popular flat-backed rhinestone that can easily be attached to almost any kind of fabric.

Use only vendors who are trustworthy. Be sure they are selling authentic Swarovski or Czech crystals as opposed to the plastic rhinestones which become cloudy and lose their sparkle very quickly. Remember: If you’re getting a deal that is too good to be true, it probably is.

In addition to rhinestones, crystal beads are made by the same companies. Swarovski creates a range of beads that are available in a multitude of colors and shapes. These have in turn been made into handmade jewelry or other accessories. Millions of crafters have discovered the joy of using these gorgeous beads in an infinite number of ways.

There is no limit to what you can do using rhinestones. Use genuine crystals and beads to create unique clothing and accessories that can’t be found anywhere else.

Other than the Flat Back Swarovski Rhinestones, you can also look at Swarovski Hotfix Crystals