The Swarovski Chess Sets

The Swarovski Chess Sets are some of the more unique items issued by Swarovski. 

The original set, the Swarovski Wooden Chess Set, was introduced in 1984 and retired in 1986. The Chess board is distinguished by a pale brown color tinted with yellow and chocolate brown squares on the playing board, surrounded by a wood frame. Convenient storage of the actual chess pieces is provided inside the board with a lock and key to secure them. It was only available in the USA and Canada.

In 1984, the Swarovski Glass Chess Set was introduced.  The glass board is a mirror with a frosted border and frosted squares to create the checkerboard pattern for the playing board. Some of the cases allow the board and chess pieces to be stored in either a single case or separately. The Swarovski logo is displayed on the outside of the Gray leatherette storage case. It retired in 2007.

Chess pieces included: 1 King, 1 Queen, 2 Bishops, 2 Knights, 2 Rooks, and 8 Pawns for each player with half the figurines in clear crystal and the other half in black crystal. 

 

Both were issued with the same product number. 

 

Chess pieces were also available separately; this was convenient for collectors who may have lost or damaged chess pieces, making it possible to replace them at a much lower cost than purchasing the entire chess set.  The Glass Chess Board and the Glass Chess Case were also sold separately.

The Chess sets were produced during the period when the official Swarovski logo changed, so the chess pieces can be found issued with both the old SC Block and Swan logos. The logos are not on the pieces, but instead a sticker was used, found on the underside of the chess pieces.

At CrystalFanaticsClub.com, you will find Photos of ALL the Swarovski Issues in our FABULOUS CFC Photo Galleries, featuring Photos in Full Color, the Swarovski Product Name, Product Number, Designer, Current Value, Year of Issue and Retirement (if applicable) for every issue.
No More Need for outdated Collector Books.

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All About The Swarovski Lovlots 'House of Cats'

The Swarovski 'House of Cats' from the Lovlots Collection reside in the posh Park Hills district. They include:

• Swarovski Camille  - A Fully faceted sleeping copper crystal cat with a Jet crystal nose, designed by Stefanie Nederegger.  Retires in 2011
• Diane – Diane is the big sister to Ines. She has a Golden Shadow faceted body; ears and tail in Smoky Quartz with Aquamarine crystal eyes & black print pupil, & a Jet crystal nose. She wears a Light Cream-rose Pearl necklace, designed by Edith Mair. Retires in 2011.
  
• Emily – Faceted Fuchsia cat with silver-tone metal butterfly on ear. Eyes in Chalk White crystal with black printed pupil and Jet crystal nose, designed by Peter Heidegger.
• Ines –  Faceted body in Shadow crystal, ears and tail in Morion crystal. Aquamarine crystal eyes with black printed pupil, wearing a Dark Grey Pearl necklace, designed by Edith Mair.
• Marie and Pierre –  Marie is in fully faceted Kakadu Red Satin crystal with a small heart in Chalk White crystal. Pierre is in fully faceted Indian Sapphire crystal, eyes in Chalk White crystal with black printed pupil and Jet crystal nose, designed by Edith Mair. They retire in 2011.
  
• Theo - 2009 Limited Edition is a black cat, posed in a Halloween position with a Jet Nut faceted body, unfaceted tail, Chalk White crystal eyes with black printed pupil, and Jet crystal nose, designed by Edith Mair. Theo retired in 2009.

At CrystalFanaticsClub.com, you will find Photos of ALL the Swarovski Issues in our FABULOUS Photo Galleries, featuring Photos in Full Color, the Swarovski Product Name, Product Number, Designer, Current Value, Year of Issue and Retirement (if applicable) for every issue.
No More Need for outdated Collector Books.

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The Swarovski FalconHeads

The Swarovski Falcon heads are among some of the favorite issues of our Crystal Fanatics, and can be very difficult to find.


Photo Compliments of one of our Very Own 'Crystal Fanatics'
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The Silver Crystal Falcons
The Large Falcon Head - Versions 1 and 2, designed by Max Schreck, were issued in the Silver Crystal product line in 1984 and retired in 1991. Measuring 4 inches / 102mm high, Version 1 has a base that forms a V with one narrow facet, approximately 5/8" under the beak, and a wider facet on each side. This version bears the Old SC Block logo. Both versions Weigh in at 2 lbs 9 oz.
Version 2 has a very flat chest under the beak and looks like the small falcon head. There is a single wide facet, approx 2-1/2 inches, under the beak. Version 2 can be found with either the old SC block logo or the Swan logo.
Version 1 is valued at more than $1800.00 while Version 2 has a value in excess of $1600.00.

The Small Falcon Head also has 2 versions, also designed by Max Schreck in the Silver Crystal range, measuring 1-3/4 inches / 45mm high

The difference in the variations is the width of the cut of the facet at the bottom of the piece. Version 1 has a narrow facet on the base under the beak. Version 2 has a wide facet under the beak at the base area.  This version can be found with either the old SC block logo or the Swan logo. It was issued in 1986 and retired in 1991.

The Optik Falcons
Optik is a division of Swarovski, specializing in Binoculars, Telelscopes, & Rifle scopes, founded by Wilhelm Swarovski in 1949, son of the original founder.

The small Optik Falcon Head  is 1 3/4 inches 45mm High & made for the Swarovski Optik retailers in Europe to celebrate 50 years of manufacturing. It Retired in 1999.

The Optic Falcon Head Set, again was produced for Swarovski Optik dealers in Europe to celebrate 50 years of manufacturing.
The Optic Hawk Logo can be found on the Large size and the Swan logo on the smaller size.
The Large Falcon measures 4 inches, while the smaller issue is 2 3/4 inches high.
They were issued & Retired in 1999 and are valued at more than $1900.00

The Optik Falconhead, Large was also issued separately for Swarovski Optik retailers in Europe to celebrate 50 years of manufacturing.
It measures 4 inches 102mm High & Weighs 2 lb. 9 oz.
It has an etched Optik logo and also Retired in 1999.

At CrystalFanaticsClub.com, you will find Photos of ALL the Swarovski Issues in our FABULOUS Photo Galleries, featuring Photos in Full Color, the Swarovski Product Name, Product Number, Designer, Current Value, Year of Issue and Retirement (if applicable) for every issue.
No More Need for outdated Collector Books.

Come JOIN The Crystal Fanatics
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All About the Swarovski Mo's

The Swarovski Mo's - Yes Cows! are all the rage amongst our Crystal Fanatics !
Most of them average 1-3/4 inches / 44mm long in size.

The Lovlots Collection Display, Compliments of one of Our Crystal Fanatics Club Members

© Copyright, Crystal Fanatics Club, Inc.

The very first Mo was introduced in 2006 and nothing has been the same since.  Swarovski issued Missy Mo, a clear crystal faceted cow, in the first collection of Lovlots, at Paris Fashion Week.

More Mo's followed:  Pinky Mo took center stage in 2007, and in 2008, Soccer Mo, commemorating the European Masters Cup in Soccer between Austria and Switzerland, was made available in the host countries, as well as in the Swarovski Online Shop.

The Mo’s continued to grow in the 'West End district' of Lovlots City. Flower Mo, another Online Limited Edition was introduced in 2009, followed by Halloween Mo.  Then along came the Country Mos Online Limited Edition, the midsized Belle Mo, (retiring this year) in Lavender crystal with a floral motif, and the Glamour Mos in 2010.

The Lovlots 5th Birthday in January, 2011 was celebrated with a midsized Limited Edition Charming Mo with a removable heart charm.

The Sunshine Mo, again a Limited Online Edition, is only available for purchase at Swarovski Online. Designed in Jonquil crystal, she wears a necklace in tropical crystal colors.
The newest 2011 edition,dressed as Santa Claus all in red, is Santa Mo.

They are / were (as the case may be) all available on a first come, first served basis.

Among the Mo's are the coveted and much sought after 'Prototypes' - issues that were never sold to the public. They include the Alabaster Pinky Mo, given to Journalists at press & media events in 2007, much to the dismay of our Crystal Fanatics, and the RARE Golden Mo, issued in very small numbers. We're sure there are others to be found out there!
Of course, a few of our lucky Crystal Fanatics have managed to add these to their collections!

According to Swarovski, "The West End district of Lovlots City is leaving plenty of grazing space for more Mos to come!" 

At CrystalFanaticsClub.com, you will find Photos of ALL the Swarovski Mo's in our FABULOUS CFC Photo Galleries, featuring Photos in Full Color, the Swarovski Product Name, Product Number, Designer, Current Value, Year of Issue and Retirement (if applicable) for every issue. No More Need for Outdated Collector Books!

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The Trimlite 'Gnomes'

Within the Swarovski Trimlite line, "The Gnome Family" theme group was released during the 1980's.  Swarovski demonstrated skill in the execution of the gnomes - delightful little figurines with round crystal bellies and goldtone faces, pointed goldtone hats, goldtone arms, hands, legs & feet.

These 6 issues were:

• Trimlite Gnome Brother Playing Horn
• Gnome Dancing Daughter
• Gnome Laughing Brother
• Gnome Laughing Sister
• Gnome Mama
• Gnome Papa

Gnome Papa and Mama are the tallest figurines, measuring 3.5" tall.  All the Trimlite Gnome children: Dancing Daughter, Laughing Sister, Brother Playing Horn, and Laughing Brother are smaller, measuring 2.5" high.

All the gnome children were issued BEFORE the gnome parents.  The children were introduced in 1983 at a retail price of $25 each.  They retired in 1988. 
The gnome parents were issued in 1985 at a retail price of $50 each and also retired in 1988.
Today, any one of these charming little gnomes can cost you up to $300 each on the secondary market.

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© Copyright 1999-2011. Crystal Fanatics Club, Inc.
Originally Posted 8-8-11
Re-posted 10-3-11

The 1986 Swarovski Christmas Ornaments

Swarovski used a Crystal teardrop component for the 1984, 1987, 1989 Swarovski Christmas Ornaments, and on some of the 1986 Swarovski 'Holiday Etchings' ornies, issued by Giftware Suite.

In 1984, a RARE Fleur De Lis ornament was issued on a teardrop component & in 1985, etched trees were used.

There are 11 'known' 1986 Holiday Etchings & you never know when more of them will be found. These 11 'Holiday Etchings' are among the rarest of Swarovski Ornaments.

There were 4 Angels, 3 Bells, a Dove,  Holly,  a Snowflake design, and a Peace ornament on various shapes.   The  limited editions have the year 1986 etched on them below the featured design & come packaged in white velvet bags in white Giftware Suite boxes.   The product numbers on the boxes are 5 digit numbers, beginning with "9".  They were only available in the USA at the time of production, making them more sought after by our Crystal Fanatics.

These ornaments were also produced with the same design and shape, but do NOT include the etched 1986 on them; therefore, they are not considered Limited Editions.  They were issued by Kristallwelten & sometimes found packaged in red, blue, or green vinyl-like boxes.

Other corporations have also been known to utilize the Teardrop component ornament as a promotional item for their firm.

Note to our Crystal Fanatics: if 1986 Swarovski Ornaments are on your Christmas Wish List, and you want the Limited Editions, make sure the etched 1986 is visible on the ornament. Truthfully, I'd be happy to have any of these issues.

Merry Christmas!  :)

At CrystalFanaticsClub.com, you will find Photos of ALL the Swarovski Christmas Ornaments in our FABULOUS CFC Photo Galleries, featuring Photos in Full Color, the Swarovski Product Name, Product Number, Designer, Current Value, Year of Issue and Retirement (if applicable) for every issue.

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The Swarovski Boxes

About the Swarovski Boxes

The controversy rages on among Crystal Fanatics about whether or not to keep and store the Boxes (packaging) used to protect the Swarovski Crystal inside. The concensus of opinion among collectors is to keep the boxes.
Some say having the 'complete package' adds value to the piece. Others balk at the space taken up by storing the boxes, and the time involved in keeping yet another inventory of where they are located.

The earliest Swarovski boxes are the gray cylinders with the old Swarovski Block (SC) logo.

Many had two removable plastic ends, some were also imprinted with the Old logo.

The block SC logo was replaced by the Swan logo in 1989 and the gray cylinders were modified to reflect this change with the Swan logo imprinted on them.

Again, some of the plastic ends have the Swarovski swan stamped on them. A further modification happened later on when only one end would open the box at the top of the cylinder because, over time, the dual plastic ends did not remain securely closed.

In 2002, Swarovski introduced new corporate colors in a dark navy blue & red in their retail stores, and the boxes were also changed to reflect the new colors. At first they were designed the same way as the old gray containers, with the Swan logo.


It should be noted by our collectors that the gray cylinder boxes, logos & certificates did not always match.  This is especially true during the transition period from the old to the new logo. It is not unusual to find the same product issued in a gray or blue box, as Swarovski used the old gray boxes until their stock was depleted, before using the newly designed blue cylinders.

Currently, the crystal is issued in square blue boxes (as shown) that the collectors do not like, as the 'Tab' that is used to open the box is sometimes hard to open, tears easily, and 'The Box' becomes less than perfect.

Many products were also issued in Square White Boxes.


Special boxes were designed for the AE's, Ltd, Editions, some Christmas issues, Annual Ornies, Lovlots, & the Happy Ducks, as well as in some other issues.

Many of us are hoping the new 'Crystal Forest' white design that is now replacing the dark navy & red interiors in Swarovski stores will also replace those Blue boxes!

Despite the familiar refrain we hear from our Crystal Fanatics all the time, but 'we collect crystal, not boxes', most agree that it is wise to save the packaging.

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For Collectors of Swarovski Crystal 

P.S. This one is for You, George!  :)