Rhinestones were originally rock crystals from the Rhine River, but as sources dried up, jewelers developed techniques to replicate their look. Metal coating clear crystals created modern rhinestones, and mass production began in the 20th century. Rhinestones are now made of glass, acrylics, paste, or gemstone quartz and are popular in fashion and jewelry. They should be handled with care and cleaned with isopropyl alcohol to avoid damage.
All that glitters isn’t gold, sometimes it’s rhinestones. They sparkle and sparkle and dance in the light, and they are nothing more than faceted pieces of glass.
The original rhinestones were rock crystals that were ripped from the banks of the Rhine River in Austria, hence the name. But, as the sources of genuine stones dried up, ingenious jewelers sought techniques to duplicate the look of the original.
In the latter part of the 1770s, a French jeweler by the name of George Frederic Stras came up with the idea of metal coating the backs of clear crystals, which would force reflection from recoil through the glass. stone. That method created rhinestones as we know them today. A breakthrough by Daniel Swarovski in the technique of cutting crystals to mimic the facets of gemstones more than a century later allowed them to be mass-produced, and the popularity of rhinestones skyrocketed.
Today’s rhinestones are relatively inexpensive and are made of glass, acrylics, paste, or gemstone quartz. They can be used to embellish everything from wedding tiaras to Vegas showgirl headpieces, from figure skating costumes to costume jewelry pieces.
Its popularity peaked during the modern era between 1945 and 1960, when high-end jewelers invested their talents in making fine pieces of rhinestone. Fashion designers styled most evening wear (and plenty of daywear) with this fun and flirty detail. High-end clothing decorated with them and exclusive jewelry have become a hot item in the antiques and collectibles market.
Crystal rhinestones today are still mainly made in Austria, with the Czech Republic coming in second. Those made of acrylic are manufactured in many countries. Regardless of where they were produced, they must be handled with care to avoid damage. When storing rhinestones, people should never place them face to face because they will scratch easily; they should always be stored separately or tissue placed between pieces. To clean them, a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol can be used. Water should be avoided as it will cloud the aluminum foil.
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