Swarovski innovations boost jewellery design

2.9 k views | Posted April 05, 2016 | By Emily Mobbs • Former Editor

Industry juggernaut Swarovski has used BaselWorld as a launch pad for a new range of gemstone cuts and colours expected to enhance the design, manufacturing and sales opportunities for jewellers.

Swarovski Gemstones Business, a division of Swarovski Group, unveiled the offering at the 2016 watch and jewellery trade show that took place in Basel, Switzerland from 17 March to 24 March.

The business specialises in synthetic and natural gemstones, and among the new releases included the 10-sided cubic zirconia dahlia cut, said to be ideal as a centre stone or set in amongst a “bouquet” of gemstones; and the cubic zirconia antique cushion checkerboard cut, a geometrical combination of a rectangle and oval, suitable for use as a statement centre stone.

New cuts were also revealed for two other materials, topaz and marcasite, as well as additional colours for cubic zirconia and nano, which is a castable glass ceramic material.

Kurt Zbinden, Swarovski Gemstones Business vice president operations for Asia Pacific

Swarovski Gemstones Business vice president operations for Asia Pacific, Kurt Zbinden, said it was important for the business to provide gemstone innovations as it not only helped to inspire jewellery designers but also acted as a way for jewellers to maintain competitiveness.

“Consumers are increasingly demanding; they want to be wowed with novelties,” Zbinden explained. “By launching innovations every year, we offer our customers – manufacturers, brands, designers – the possibility to differentiate themselves in a competitive market.

“We at Swarovski already work with many retail chains in Australia and New Zealand but we do believe that we have also a great product assortment for designers and creators of jewellery,” he added.

Zbinden said the new nano products generated significant interest amongst BaselWorld visitors, as did the green cubic zirconia hue.

“The new Swarovski zirconia fancy light green also attracted a lot of attention as green continues to be such a strong trend colour,” he comments, adding, “In terms of cuts, the new Swarovski genuine topaz puresse cut was very well received, as it combines a cabochon dome with a facetted pavilion and thus opens up new manufacturing possibilities. It is a truly unusual cut.”

Swarovski Gemstones Business was founded in 1965. Its gemstone products are supplied across international markets, including Australia and New Zealand.