Ever wondered why Swarovski crystals are so different, so special, so utterly superior to anything else on the market? Well, it’s all down to Daniel Swarovski ( 1862-1956) Born in Bohemia, the centre of the glass industry, he worked in his father’s glass cutting factory where he became determined to automate the process. True to his vision, in the years that followed, he not only designed the first electrical cutting machine, but also revolutionised the grinding and polishing processes before expanding into glass manufacturing. By 1912, as well as clear gemstones, he added the first-ever coloured crystals to his list of achievements, creating the famous Swarovski brand that would dominate costume jewellery for the entire 20th Century. Today the finest cut crystals are still created exclusively in the Swarovski factory in Austria and these are featured in each one of the superior and very special pieces shown here.