Our Glass
History of Czech Glass:
There is a long and rich history surrounding Czech glass, formerly known as Bohemian glass, or Bohemian Crystal, dating back to at least the 13th century. Celts and Germans are both accredited with being involved in the development of what we know today as Czech glass.
Northern Bohemia was the European glass manufacturing center because it was rich in the natural resources needed. For centuries this glass was made by hand, but when the Industrial Revolution of the 19th century came, it saw the development of machines, allowing for the mass production of moulded glass beads, though the making of Bohemian pressed glass beads, on the whole, remained a cottage industry. Machines and moulds were bought and used by individuals and families who worked from home and would supply the companies who traded the beads. The homes that produced these beads were easily recognized by their tall chimneys and roof vents.
In the year 1918 Bohemia became part of Czechoslovakia.
Sample men traveled the world to speak with Czech glass bead wholesale suppliers to determine what would sell best in each market. This approach was very successful, increasing demand world-wide.
From 1948, Czechoslovakia had a Communist government who did not see the production of the beads as approved industries. However, in 1958, after the death of Stalin, they restarted the industry. During World War II, Sudeten Germans who lived and worked alongside Czechs, were forced to relocate in Germany, taking these skills with them.
They restarted the industry in 1958 in an effort to trade them for currency to support the faltering economy. In doing so they nationalized the industry and the production became factory based.
The Making of Czech Glass:
The clarity and color intensity of Czech glass makes it very desirable. It differs from the glass produced elsewhere, and it is said that it contains potash, which makes it more durable. It is made by pressing the hot mixture into moulds, then letting them cool before faceting the beads.
Czech bead makers invented what is known as “fire polishing”. It is an extra step where after the facets are cut, the beads are ran through a furnace at extremely high temperatures to melt the surface of the glass into a glossy finish, which gives them a softer look and a beautiful shimmering color.
The History of Swarovski Glass:
Swarovski crystals were created in 1892 by Daniel Swarovski, the son of a Bohemian glass cutter. He invented an electric cutting machine that used hydroelectricity. It allowed the glass to be cut more precisely than it could be by hand.
The Swarovski manufacturing business was passed down through the generations. It is currently a 5th generation family-owned business.
In 1956, together with Christian Dior, Swarovski developed the Aurora Borealis effect that gives the beads a shimmering rainbow hue.
The Making of Swarovski Glass:
What makes Swarovski crystal special is the combination of a secret chemical formula and the highest degree of precision cut. They are manufactured in Austria, but the exact proportions and the formula remain a family secret.
Swarovski uses the highest quality materials to fashion the faceted lead glass (which is non-toxic to wear as the lead never comes in contact with your skin, it is trapped within the glass). According to Swarovski:
“Cutting hard materials such as crystal and gems, in such a way that they have 100 identical facets in several directions, is a very complicated task; each direction of the reflected light must be first calculated by a computer, then this has to be simulated in 3D, optimized, and finally converted into control programs for complex machinery.”