Following on from other thread about Swarovski Crystals (fake/chinese)and us using their name, I have just received this reply from them. Copy and Pasted exactly as I got it. I think we can be sure of one thing, girls. Chinese crystals are a no no.

Dear Lorraine

Thank you for your email.
Regarding our crystals, as I do not know from where you are currently purchasing our crystals, it is very difficult for us to guarantee that they are genuine Swarovski components. In order to put your mind to rest, we would recommend that you purchase our crystals from one of our Recommended Stockists on the list attached.

Swarovski is an Austrian company and all of our crystals are produced in Austria.

Regarding the use of the Swarovski name on your website, there are a few stipulations regarding the use of the name and logo these are outlined below:

o Cannot use the Swarovski Swan Logo

o Cannot use the Swarovski Typeface

o Cannot use the Swarovski name as a headline

o Cannot use the Swarovski name in a statement

o Cannot use the Swarovski name in a larger font than your own brand name

o Cannot use Swarovski name on any form of packaging


The Swarovski name can ONLY be used in a descriptive way within a real sentence. For example, this bracelet was made using Swarovski crystals.

We are obviously trying to create a distinction between your brand which is of primary importance. We need to ensure that there is no confusion between a product that has been produced by yourself and a Swarovski's own finished goods.

I hope the above points are of help and that they are clear.
If you have any further queries, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Kind regards
Laura

That's an interesting post Lorraine, here's a photo I took of a shop in Holland.

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It looks like an official Swarovski shop by the branding but when you go inside it's actually quite run of the mill jewellery made by hand with Swarovski components. Earrings a novice could put together in a few minutes and necklaces which would no doubt delight the gullible tourist but they were only Swarovski hearts on a chain - prices starting from 15 euros. There were lovely light pendants but I was frightened to see how much they cost.

Do Swarovski have 'partnership' shops like these elsewhere?

I would imagine Swarovski head office may be a little interested in that photo as well Jenna!


As I've not used/bought that much Swarovski, being pretty much a beginner, then this real/fake discussion is really interesting to me, (much the same way the mass produced lampwork issue is as well)
This is what I love about this forum...things to make you think as well as drool all over the monitor....(thats the beady pics part, just in case you were wondering! )

Trish x

Great that they got back to you Lorraine ! Is there any chance that you could post the list of Recommend Stockists, although if its like the one i got then its not very extensive and misses out a few people i know get them from Swarovski direct.

Can I just second Nicky's request for you to post the list of suppliers Lorraine, if you can? Very Curious to see if the one we use is on there!

Thanks

Jo

Thank you for the info, Lorraine. It's very useful.
I don't understand though, why Swarovski won't let their name be used. Well, I can see the point in not using it for a piece of jewellery someone has made, as the design is that persons and not Swarovskis.
But for a bead seller who is just selling their product as it is, surely they would want that promotion. It is free advertising for them. They do need to protect against forgeries, but that doesn't seem to be the way to do it.
Isn't it better for their beads to be identified, then it's should be easier to monitor?
I sell Swarovski crystals, and that's what they are, so what's the problem with selling them as that?
Most companies are keen to get their name out and about, and for instance if you buy clothes with the brand name on them you're actually paying them to do their advertising.
I don't get it

Celia

I have been watching these threads with interest as I have purchaced a couple of mixed packs from beadsgirls on ebay.
They don't use the swarovski logo and the beads are cheaper than most swaro's. But they sell factory sealed packs and in this auction I'm sure that there is the swaro logo to the left of the hole.

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Would they sell genuine crystals alongside fakes?
The bead holes in my 4mm & 6mm bicones seem to be all central and they certainly sparkle well. I haven't noticed any chips either, but they also match exactly with some I bought from dreambell in Hong Kong.

So, real or not? Are they on your list Laura? I think this debate will go on...

Melanie

the beadsgirl stuff is good, really good, it would be nice to know, real or not, but the loot is lovely and reasonably cheap and I just say I use good quality crystals and leave the swaro name out of it totally.

I have a number of 14mm Swarovski hearts, and I've never seen a swan logo on any of them.

The problem with the list of recommended stockists is that it won't cover the beadshops who buy from authorised re-sellers.

For small beadshops like mine, it would be quite expensive to buy direct from Swarovski, but there are a number of intermediate wholesalers that I can go to, and I would still be buying and selling genuine Swarovski, but not appear on their lists.

I would just be wary of anyone that is selling them 'too cheap'.

Melanie B.

There's only 4 on the list they sent me, which I must admit, surprised me. Still, here they are.

Stephen Arnold Ltd

1 Bedford Mews
East Finchley
London
N2 9DF
Tel: 0208 442 2810
Fax: 0208 883 0969

All Elements
(loose crystals and forward integrated products)


Chrisanne

Chrisanne House
14 Locks Lane
Mitcham Surrey CR4 2JX
Tel: 020 8648 1113
Web:

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Flatbacks - No Hotfix
Sew-On-Stones


Creative Beadcraft
Shop
20 Beak Street
London
Tel: 020 7629 9964

Mailorder:
01494 778818

Beads, Pendants
Flatbacks - No Hotfix & Hotfix
Also small quantities available!



David Malik & Son Ltd
5 Metro Centre
Britannia Way
London NW10 7PA
Tel: 020 8965 4232
Fax: 020 8965 2401

Chandelier and Bath & Wellness Elements

I agree it's akward to trace swaro's when they have come through several re-sellers before the bead shop gets them.
Re: the logo
I have never seen a crystal in real lfe with the new logo, But it is only on the larger crystals and prisms. You can see the logo very clearly on the second picture on this page.

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I thought the mark on the heart in my link above looked very much like it.

I just had a look at the chrisanne website - the teardrop sew-on crystals would make lovely pendants with dangles on the bottom

Melanie

Nice to know what you are and aren't allowed to say about Swarovski in your work, I'd always been a bit confused about that!

Thanks for passing this on Lorraine, very interesting indeed. It's hard to know just what is real and not, like you all have said.

Good thing I removed their name from my jewellery titles!

Blimey that list is even smaller than mine, not sure if ive still got it !

I think i binned the snotty email. I contaceted them with regards to becoming a seller, and my question was forwarded to the correct department, but when they emailed me they forgot to take out the previous persons comments, which i must say were not nice !

And the correct departments reply wasnt much better, they were automatically negative, assuming that i wouldnt be able to afford the minium requirements and that i needed to be VAT registered.

As it is they were right, but they dont know that and i could of been a millionaire........ this time next year eh !