Crystals: Swarovski, Preciosa, and glass beads — what differs and how to tell it

## Crystals: Swarovski, Preciosa, and glass beads

A client from Brasilia once told me, holding one of our rings: "Patricia, this crystal is Swarovski, right?" I looked and answered: "No. This one is Preciosa. It is a Czech crystal of the same family, but from a different factory. Excellent shine, more accessible price, that is why this piece costs what it costs." She paused, thought, and bought it. Later she thanked me for the honesty — said she was tired of salespeople who said "yes, it is Swarovski" to anything that glittered. This lesson is so you never fall into that trap.