Introducing Zodiac

We have spent years researching, testing, and quality checking different rhinestone manufacturers so we could offer a high quality, more cost-effective brand to the market, as an alternative to more expensive brands like Swarovski. And we know we’ve cracked it with Zodiac Crystals. With brilliant sparkle, a durable foil backing and scratch proof coating, our Zodiac crystals are certain to impress. Since launching, our Zodiac crystals have achieved 1500+ five-star reviews for quality & performance, with 96% of customers saying they would recommend them to a friend.

Zodiac rhinestones and crystals consistently match other top brands when it comes to quality and durability. They have been applied to many different surfaces without failure to adhere and we can assure our customers that they will stand the test of time. A common issue faced by costumiers, dressmakers and fashion designers is the loosening or even falling off of rhinestones, however, if applied using a recommended glue such as Gem Tac, our non hotfix rhinestones have been tested on dance dresses and theatre costumes with a 100% success rate.

The Zodiac brand is now recognized amongst costumiers, fashion designers, nail technicians and dressmakers across the country as being a high quality and cost effective alternative to Swarovski.

In this article we will be addressing topics that frequently come up in conversations with customers when they ask ‘how does Zodiac compare to Swarovski?’

• Can Zodiac match the famous Swarovski sparkle?
• Money, money, money.
• Does Zodiac offer the same product range as Swarovski?
• Who else is using Zodiac?
• What customers are saying about Zodiac Crystals.

Can Zodiac match the famous Swarovski sparkle?

Zodiac is a Swarovski alternative brand, the rhinestones have the same number of facets and are cut in the same Xirius style as the Swarovski 2088 crystal, giving Zodiac an almost identical sparkle. When compared side by side, it's almost impossible to see the difference between the two brands.

We’ve had many customers comment on the likeness between Zodiac and Swarovski, and most of those have now switched to Zodiac. Our dress designers, costumiers and dancers are loving the AB sew on Rivoli, which has a stunning bright AB shine and is now preferred to the Swarovski brand.

Money, money, money.

Other than the quality of the product, customers are mostly interested in the price difference between Zodiac and Swarovski. With the cost of living rising, everyone is tightening their purse strings a little. This is why we are so keen to spread the word of Zodiac.

Here are two examples of what you will be paying for a Swarovski product, versus the Zodiac equivalent:

Swarovski Non Hotfix SS16 Clear (Wholesale pack x 1440) - £48.76

Zodiac Non Hotfix SS16 Clear (Wholesale pack x 1440) - £19.85

Swarovski Sew on Rivoli AB (Wholesale pack x 72) - £63.56

Zodiac Sew on Rivoli AB (Wholesale pack x 72) - £45.52

Does Zodiac offer the same product range as Swarovski?

With the Zodiac collection, you can enjoy a wide range of colour, shape and size options. And with a larger selection of shapes, sizes and over 60 different colours & coatings than both Swarovski and Preciosa, we are delighted to present Zodiac Crystals as the number one choice for sew on stones.

When it comes to flatback rhinestone colours, Zodiac offers a very similar portfolio to Swarovski, including metallic, neon and iridescent coatings as well as multi-tone finishes. They also produce an identical Clear and AB crystal which are the two most popular colours for embellishing.

Zodiac have recently expanded the range to include more Swarovski similar crystal products, such as hotfix transfer sheets, self adhesive crystal sheets and rivoli buttons.

If you're a designer looking for unique crystals, or you require a particular shape in a colour that isn't otherwise available, we can offer a bespoke manufacturing service. We can supply any shape, in any colour or coating. This service is unique to Zodiac and is something that cannot be offered by other brands. To see our full range of Zodiac sew on stones and flatback rhinestones, you can take a look at our handy colour charts.

Who else is using Zodiac?

Although a relatively new brand to hit the market, Zodiac is certainly creating waves in the theatre and performance world. Here are just a few of the designers we’ve recently worked with that are now using Zodiac Crystals:

• Sam Ryder – All of Sam’s recent performance outfits have been adorned in Zodiac Hotfix Rhinestones and Flatback Pearls. See Sam sparkle on stage at the Platinum Jubilee Concert, and on The Graham Norton Show and read about how the iconic Union Jack costume was hand embellished in our blog here.
• Ant & Dec – The performance from Lady Antoinetteand Miss Donna Lee aka Angels of the North aka Ant & Dec, went viral earlier this year on Saturday Night Takeaway. And we were honoured to play a small part in their transformation. The duo’s iconic outfits were embellished with Zodiac Sew on Stones and flatback gems.
• Lancôme – We recently supplied thousands of crystal rhinestones in the form of self adhesive Crystal Sheets, to create the display units for the new fragrance LVBE launch