Recently I was lucky to be invited to a prestigious party organised by one of my good friends where I got the chance to meet some interesting people.
One of these people, who shall remain nameless runs a very upmarket crystal business selling unusual crystals to jewellery suppliers worldwide.
They own several mines around the world and have recently ventured into the diamond trade.
Now you can imagine how excited I was when I got the offer to work with this person to produce high quality crystal jewellery.
Everyone who knows me, knows I absolutely adore crystals, especial the Swarovski ones.
If you visit my site, you will find a number of handmade crystal jewellery including, bracelets, rings, earrings and necklaces.
I also love to make crystal hair accessories for bridal wear which will go on the site soon.
Now you might be thinking, what's so special about crystals, you can buy them anywhere?
That maybe true, but did you know most of the crystals sold in craft shops are not high quality.
There's a huge difference between cheap imitation crystals and the real thing.
Some crystals are clearly man-made and of poor quality.
These are the types of crystals you can buy practically anywhere.
Some of them might even go by the name, "Superior Crystals", in the hope you might fall for it.
There's nothing wrong with cheap crystals if that is what you can afford, but quality should always override price.
The beauty of crystals is that they can look incredibly enchanting to the end user.
People generally like sparkling things, they love glamour, beauty and sophistication which crystal jewellery provides.
Crystals can look great on anything. Try adding them to clothes, shoes and hang bags.
I have a friend who designs crystal shoes and they look amazing.
You could even design your own crystal collection without spending a fortune.
Swarovski and Austrian crystals are some of my favourites, but I do have a weakness for quartz.
When buying crystals for the first time, do some research and ask a lot of questions.
If you opt to buy Swarovski Crystals it's best to buy them directly from the company who makes them. If that's not possible try to find reputable dealers who sell the genuine Swarovski Crystals.
Look out for the authenticated silver logo on the package, "Crystalized" symbol.
Another thing to look out for is the shine, genuine Swarovski Crystal is multifaceted and richer in colour giving it a unique brilliance not found in cheaper versions.
They are precision cut in all the same sizes and shapes giving them a smooth equal appearance.
The clarity is stronger and the colour richer adding a brilliant shine to the crystal.
The presence of bubbles and clouds in the crystals are strong indicator of a poor imitation.
Real Swarovski Crystals don't have bubbles or a cloudy presences.
Also look out for chipped, scratched, marked and crystals not in their original packaging.
Anything else would be a fake.
