What Are Swarovski Pearls?

When you think of Swarovski, high end crystal ornaments and luxury jewellery comes to mind. Renowned worldwide for their precision cut glass, Swarovski has been at the forefront of crystal craftsmanship for over a century. But did you know they also produce stunning simulated pearls? So what are crystal pearls? A Swarovski pearl combines the elegance of a natural pearl with the durability and consistency of modern technology. With a crystal core and an innovative pearlescent coating, these simulated pearls offer a luxurious alternative to real pearls, making them a favourite among jewellery designers, fashion houses, and crafters alike.

In this blog, we'll explore the key differences between Swarovski pearls and natural pearls, and the many ways a Swarovski pearl can be used – from classic jewellery pieces, bridal wear, nail art, craft, dancewear, costume design and fashion. Whether you're a jeweller, designer, crafter, or simply a magpie for all things expensive looking, read on to discover why Swarovski pearls are a fantastic choice.

We will also be looking at the best alternatives to Swarovski, including Preciosa pearls and Zodiac pearls.

Swarovski Pearls vs. Real Pearls – What's the Difference?

Real Pearls

• Natural pearls are made by freshwater mussels and marine oysters, and are formed as a defence against parasites that enter their shell, or damage to their body. To protect itself from harm, the mussel or oyster secretes a substance that encases the parasite, and over time, this forms a smooth dome over the top. The substance is made from the same material as its shell, called Nacre, also known as mother-of-pearl.
• Commercially cultured pearls are where an irritant has been manually inserted into the mollusc shell, forcing it to create a pearl.
• Each pearl is unique in shape, size, and lustre.
• Typically, natural pearls are more expensive due to their rarity.
• They can be affected by environmental factors and require careful maintenance.

Swarovski Pearls

• Swarovski simulated pearls, also known as Swarovski pearl beads are essentially made from a crystal or glass bead that has been perfectly rounded to have a smooth finish. The bead is then coated in a single layer of Nacre to give it the lustre effect of a natural pearl.
• The crystal core gives them a realistic weight.
• They are available in a wider range of colours, shapes, and sizes than natural pearls.
• Man-made pearls can be produced as a flatback, round or half drilled pearl.
• They are more durable and resistant to sweat, perfume, and UV exposure.
• They are cheaper to buy and more readily available than real pearls.

What are the physical differences between real and Swarovski pearls?

The main difference between a real pearl and a Swarovski crystal pearl is the Nacre coating. While good quality man-made pearls do have a similar shine, the hardwearing and durable aspect doesn't match the layers of strong Nacre formed on a natural pearl. There are also a few physical differences:

• Imitation pearls can be scratched, so damage is more likely to be seen on a glass pearl.
• Natural pearls are made from the same material as the mollusc shell, so there isn't a huge variation in colour. However, imitation pearls can be produced with many different coloured coatings.
• Natural pearls are more often round in shape, whereas a glass pearl can be formed into many different shapes, such as baroque, pearshape, flatback or elongated.

Why Choose Swarovski Pearls?

• Consistent Quality – Unlike natural pearls, which vary slightly in size and shape, Swarovski pearls are uniform and perfect for precise designs. If you're making a pearl necklace, you want the pearls to be identical, unless you're going for the natural look, in which case the Baroque shaped Swarovski pearl is the perfect choice.
• Wide Colour Range – Choose from classic ivory and cream, which is perfect for bridal designs and sophisticated jewellery, to bold colours like navy, gold, and rose which are used in costume design and nail art.
• Affordable Luxury – Swarovski pearls give you elegance of natural looking pearls without the hefty price tag of real ones.
• Highly Durable – They won't scratch or lose their shine as easily as cheaply made simulation pearls.

How Swarovski Pearls Are Used in Different Industries

Jewellery Making

• Ideal for creating elegant necklaces, bracelets, brooches, rings and earrings.
• Often used as an alternative to freshwater pearls in beaded jewellery.
• Perfect for layering with Swarovski crystals for extra sparkle.

Fashion & Footwear

• Sewn onto high-end couture and fashion garments for a timeless look.
• Used in embellishing handbags, gloves, and shoes for a sophisticated finish.

Crafting & Textiles

• Great for adding embellishments to handmade greeting cards and invitations.
• Used in embroidery and decorative home décor projects.

Bridal Wear & Accessories

• Swarovski pearls are a popular choice for decorating wedding dresses, veils, and tiaras.
• Commonly used in hair accessories, bouquets, and wedding stationery.

Nail Art

• Small flatback pearls are a popular embellishment in luxury and bridal manicures. Preciosa pearls are a high quality affordable option too.
• Used to create elegant and delicate nail designs, often paired with crystals.

Dancewear

• Large flatback pearls can be heat fixed or glued onto dance dresses to give them a sophisticated, elegant feel. They are particularly popular for decorating Irish dance dresses.

What are the best alternatives to Swarovski pearls?

Swarovski pearls can be expensive to buy, but there are some great cost effective alternatives on the market:

• Preciosa Round (full-drilled) Pearl – Round pearls are probably what you think of first when you picture a pearl, they are a completely spherical pearlescent bead with a hole through the centre. This classic shape has a timeless appeal, and is the most popular pearl type for jewellery design, fashion and bridal. The 'full-drilled' term refers to the hole being drilled all the way through the pearl, as opposed to 'half-drilled' which is where the hole stops in the centre. Because the hole runs all the way through the pearl, it can be sewn onto fabrics or threaded onto jewellery wire and elastic to make necklaces and bracelets.
• Preciosa Round (half-drilled) Pearl – 'Half-drilled' is referring to the fact that the hole running through the pearl stops at the centre, so it has been drilled only halfway through. This means that the pearl can be set onto a peg or piece of wire from the bottom, where the hole cannot be seen and you get a nice clean, smooth finish. Half-drilled round pearls are most often used in jewellery making, for pearl stud earrings or rings. In appearance they are identical to a full-drilled pearl, however they are missing the hole on the other side.
• Preciosa Non hotfix flatback Pearl – Flatback non hotfix pearls, sometimes known as cabochon pearls, are more commonly used for dancewear embellishment, bridal couture, nail art, cardmaking and craft. Unlike a round pearl, they have a completely flat bottom, allowing them to be glued onto the surface.
• Zodiac Hotfix Pearl - Hotfix pearls are available in the Zodiac brand and they require an applicator tool or household iron to attach them. Hotfix pearls are popular among bridal designers and costumiers who prefer to use heat than glue or hot melt glue guns. Looking from above, flatback pearls are similar in appearance to round pearls, they have a smooth, pearlescent shiny coating that is rounded – essentially, they look like a round pearl that's been cut clean in half.
• Preciosa Drop Pearl – Drop pearls can be oval, elongated or pearshape and are usually used for making drop earrings.
• Zodiac Flatback Pearl – Zodiac flatback glue on pearls are another affordable option for craft, cardmaking and nail art. There is a huge range of colours available including neon shades, pastel shades, metallics and classic neutral tones.