The Swarovski Zales Birds

These were issued in the 80’s only in the USA for the Zales Jewelry stores. Each of the frosted birds are perched on a clear faceted vase.
There were six of these:

•     Cockatoo
•     Dove
•     Eagle
•     Owl
•     Parrot
•     Toucan

They were issued in 1998 & Retired in 1991 & retailed between $20 and $35. Their value today is between $100 - $150. They measured from 33mm to 46mm in size.
It is very likely that the same frosted birds used on the Swarovski Thimbles (see my Sep 7th article this month) are also perched atop these Zales figurines too.
Zales also issued other Swarovski pieces, some of them highly sought after by collectors, but that's for another article.

You can SEE ALL of these RARE, Exclusive Issues in our FABULOUS CFC Photo Galleries!

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Do You Know About the Swarovski 'Employee Awards' ???

Most the Swarovski 'Employee Awards' are in the form of paperweights in various sizes, issued to employees of Swarovski as gifts, in commemoration of their service to Swarovski. Employees who work for Swarovski of America Ltd (SAL) and the Jewelry Division receive them. Among some of these issues are: 3, 5, 10, 15, & 20 Year Paperweights.
There were also awards for employees in the Consumer Goods Division, as well as the Swarovski Components Division
We even found an old Giftware Suite Sales Conference Paperweight that is in the Collection of one of our Crystal Fanatics.

A special Centenary Paperweight was also issued as an Employee and Retailer Gift in 1995 to celebrate Swarovski's 100th Anniversary. Known as the 'Centenar' (a German word for a person reaching 100 years old), it is a 60mm Paperweight with 100 crystal facets, issued in special 100 Year packaging.

Authorized Swarovski Retailers are also given paperweights for their successful sales.
Among them are the Retailers SCS 20 Award in 2006 and some retailers have received a Large Crystal Chaton for sales in excess of a certain amount.

A special book called "Metamorphosis" was given to some Swarovski employees in 2001; the book cover is encrusted with 1,849 crystals.

Because these issues are not issued to the public, they are highly sought after by 'Crystal Fanatics' who love adding them to their collections.

You can SEE ALL of these RARE, Exclusive Issues in our FABULOUS CFC Photo Galleries!

Come JOIN The Crystal Fanatics here to Learn MORE About Your Swarovski Collection.
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The 'Official" Premier website For Collectors of Swarovski Crystal !

© Copyright 1999-2011. Crystal Fanatics Club, Inc.

The Swarovski Thimbles

The  Swarovski Thimbles were produced in the 90's with frosted birds perched on top of clear crystal thimbles, produced under the “Crystal Colors” name in the European market. They were never distributed in the U.S.A.

The Swarovski Thimbles figurines were available with 5 different birds on 2 different thimble bases - the Pinecone base and the Straight, sometimes called the Barrel base.

The 5 different Swarovski birds are (left to right):

• Cockatoo on Thimble
• Toucan on Thimble
• Eagle on Thimble
• Owl on Thimble
• Parrot on Thimble

The crystal thimbles are approximately 2.25” tall. The retail price is unknown, but they are estimated to be valued between $100 – $200 each on the secondary market. They are fairly difficult to find sometimes. 

 

You can See ALL the Swarovski issues in our FABULOUS CFC Photo Galleries!

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For Collectors of Swarovski Crystal

The Swarovski Clocks

While Swarovski may be best known for its crystal figurines, they also make functional items as well. Some of the most useful are the Swarovski Clocks.

Swarovski issued time pieces of elegance in the Silver Crystal line; some of the oldest clocks were produced from 1987 through 1992.

• Swarovski Athena Clock
• Belle Époque Clock
• Colosseum Clock (only available in the European market); in addition a 'special edition' had a religious motif on it
• El Dorado Clock (only available in the European market)
• Napoleon Clock
• Polar Star Clock

Worth mentioning also is the Solaris Clock, 1998-2004 originally in the Silver Crystal line & later moved to Crystal Home Accessories in 2002.

These clocks were available, with the exception of the Solaris, in 2 different metal finishes in gold and rhodium. They were also available with 3 different faces, allowing you to choose one of 3 styles:

• Alarm face - a simple face with roman numerals
• Date face - had numbers 1-31 instead of the “3” on the face to indicate the day of the month
• Moon Dial face - also had roman numerals, but other dials on the face also indicated the phase of the moon.

Each clock had ‘Swarovski’ printed across the face.

Seiko precision clock movements were used in what was then known as the Selection product line (now Home Interiors) and included:

• Enigma Carriage Clock: 1992 – 1998 Limited Edition of 6450 units with a removable base
• Helios Table Clock: 1992 – 2004 Roman numerals are displayed in the crystal component & of note is the fact that the number four on this clock is a III rather than IV.
• Curacao Table Clock: 1995 – 2000 clear crystal with a beautiful a blue natural Sodalith stone displayed on the front of it.
• Providence Table Clock: 1998 – 2003 this was a numbered edition & the most expensive clock, retailing at $850.
• Allegra Pendulum Clock: 1999 – 2004 numbered pendulum clock, done in an art deco style.
• Op Art Clock: 2002 – 2004 conical crystal with classic long facets; funky abstract décor without any numbers on the clock face & two drop-shaped metal front feet. The Artist's signature, Anna Gili, is engraved on the back of the clock. This issue had different product numbers assigned for pieces issued in the U.S.A. & Europe.

Swarovski made a single clock in the Daniel Swarovski Home Accessories product line, the Cadence Table Clock, from 2002 – 2005. This clock has the Daniel Swarovski logo on it.

Swarovski also issued a few non-functioning clocks in the Crystal Moments (formerly Crystal Memories) product line:

an Alarm Clock 1998 – 2002 and Mantle Clock: 1996 – 2001

Functioning clocks in the Crystal Moments product line were part of the 'Secrets' theme group & they opened, hiding a 'secret clock' inside:

• Book Clock : 1999 – 2003
• Gift Clock: 1997 – 2004
• Globe Clock: 1997 – 2004
• Handbag Clock: 1997 – 2004

A Kris Bear functioning Clock in this line was also issued from 1997 – 2002. Kris wears a green & red ribbon.

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© Copyright 1999-2011. Crystal Fanatics Club, Inc.
For Collectors of Swarovski Crystal

Swarovski Acronyms

Acronyms are often used by Collectors when discussing Swarovski crystal. 

Here are some of them:

AE - Annual Edition
MIB - Mint in Box
NRFB - Never Removed from Box
MRP - Manufacturer's Retail (Original) Price
SC - Silver Crystal (Product Line)
E&R - Ebeling & Reuss (Product Line)
CM - Crystal Memories / Moments
D.S. - Daniel Swarovski
NLE - Numbered Limited Editions
Ltd. Ed. - Limited Edition
SCS - Swarovski Crystal Society (Members)
CFC - Crystal Fanatics Club (Members)

CV - Current Value.  The term CV is often used to place a 'current value' on a Swarovski retired piece. This term is often misused in online auctions.  Current values are usually an insurance value (what you would collect from an insurance company for a damaged piece if your collection is insured), not a suggested selling value.  No seller should ever expect a Swarovski figurine to sell for any quoted insurance value, as they are usually highly inflated. Additionally, If the item is sold using a secondary market specialist, their commission is often factored into the value's selling price. For many years, Swarovski values increased over the years. Unfortunately, this has not been the case in recent years.

Always remember that, unless it's a piece that is rarely found in the marketplace, that its value is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.

Want to Learn MORE about Collecting Swarovski ?

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© Copyright 1999-2011. Crystal Fanatics Club, Inc.
For Collectors of Swarovski Crystal

WHY Join a Collecting Club ?

If you are visiting collecting club websites, you are probably confronted with all kinds of statements about why collectors should join one club or another.

• "A serious collector is an educated collector and you can become an educated collector by joining our club."
  
• "A great way to become `connected' for buying, selling or trading."
  
• "To meet other collectors and develop friendships that can last a lifetime."
  
• "To gain knowledge on values, reproductions and how to care for my collection."

These are all very valid reasons to join a collecting club... and, there are dozens more, we're sure.

Some clubs do a tremendous job with membership services, Bulletin Boards, an educational website, annual meetings, price guides and research projects, resource libraries and archives, collector insurance programs, reproduction alerts, ethics guidelines for both collectors and dealers, extensive Photo Galleries, annual membership collector's items, and much more! 

Membership in most clubs is a real bargain - a year's worth of service is often offered for about the same price you would pay for your daily newspaper.

Another factor to consider is that for most clubs, we are only talking about a one year commitment. Membership dues are usually for 12 months.  At that time, you can choose to either renew for another year or two, or not.

Even for a beginner who is maybe only mildly interested in a collecting area, what better way is there to determine if you want to become a more serious collector? A year's worth of member services from a club supporting a collecting area you might be interested in can help you "weigh your decision."

OK, so maybe you're not that much of a joiner.  It still is the most practical way of letting the collecting club sell you on which area to eventually collect more seriously through the simple technique of comparison shopping. Let the clubs sell you on collecting in their area.

Another option, without the obligation of actively paying membership dues, simply ask a collecting club you may be interested in to send you some information on their club and the collecting area they support. Maybe you know someone who belongs to a collecting club, get a recommendation from them!

Now, getting back to the original question, "Why Join a collecting club?"
Probably the best answer is because YOU want to. It has to be your decision.
Like your collection itself, it's a personal thing. You decide what to collect... what to buy... how to display it... and everything else connected with your collection.
Most collecting clubs exist to support and help collectors, and deliver an excellent service to their members.

The Crystal Fanatics Club (CFC) For Collectors of Swarovski Crystal is such a club.
Avid collectors from across the world have been members and, most importantly, 'friends' for more than 12 years!

Our Crystal Fanatics Club members form the heart of a community united by an affinity for Swarovski Crystal. 

Want to Learn MORE about your Swarovski Collection ?

Come JOIN US! You'll be GLAD you did!
http://www.CrystalFanaticsClub.com

Proud Member of the Association of Collecting Clubs (ACC)
and the National Association of Collectors (NAC)

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For Collectors of Swarovski Crystal

The Swarovski Kris Bears

39 or so Kris Bears have been issued by Swarovski, as part of the Crystal Moments product line. I really don't know why they just do not have their own individual product line, like the Lovlots, since there are so many of them. Each figurine depicts a certain occasion, message an activity. Older issues included picture frames and a working clock. One set of issues portrayed bears from different countries. And, of course, there are the Christmas ornaments. 

The newest lot issued during 2011 include:

A Rose For You - Clear crystal bears holding a rose in Bordeaux and a silver-tone metal stem, retailing at $165.

You and I - two faceted clear crystal bears depicted in a marriage ceremony; the grrom's bow tie is in Light Sapphire Satin crystal & she carries a Violet crystal flower with Amethyst details. They also retail for $165.

Ltd. Edition Halloween - Trick or treat! Clear crystal, Halloween Kris Bear carries a vibrant Red Topaz crystal pumpkin lantern with a silver-tone metal handle. Only Available While supplies last, retailing at $100, and will retire at year end.


Ltd. Edition Annual Edition Christmas Bear - dated,standing Christmas Bear carrying a decorated green crystal Christmas Tree. He also retires at the end of the year and retails for $100.

Come JOIN The 'Crystal Fanatics' to Learn MORE About Your Swarovski Collection.

    Crystal Fanatics Club
The 'Official" Premier website 

For Collectors of Swarovski Crystal !


    © Copyright 1999-2011. Crystal Fanatics Club, Inc.