 Is The Preciosa Rhinestone Brand a Good Investment?Sparkling objects always capture our attention. For whatever reason, the reflection of light is irresistible. Rhinestones are pieces of glass that catch and reflect light. Skaters, dancers, and movie stars love to attract your attention by embellishing with rhinestones. Admittedly, it’s hard to look away from a rhinestone-encrusted garment. But, if you’ve ever shopped for rhinestones, you may find it confusing with many different manufacturers. Some rhinestones have more brilliance than others due to the composition or arrangement of facets. Others have different colors or shapes. And while some manufacturers are new to the market, the Preciosa rhinestone brand has been around for almost 500 years. In the Czech Republic, the art and tradition of glassmaking passed on from generation to generation. Bohemian glass became sought after for its high brilliance, brightness, and sparkle. No other rhinestone manufacturer has been around for as long. Starting with Preciosa’s humble beginnings in the Crystal Valley to a leading brand, the company continually strives for crystal perfection. A Brief History of Bohemian Crystal GlassRhinestones, leaded glass with a reflective backing, have dazzled for centuries. Its history is steeped deep within the Crystal Valley in the Czech Republic. Almost 500 years ago, craftsmen fired up the first glassmaking kiln. And over the years, Bohemian glassmakers have amazed the world with their innovative products. In 1715, Bohemian craftsmen introduced the chaton, the world’s first cut stone. Shortly thereafter, craftsmen began coating the back with a metal foil to reflect the incoming light. The resulting product closely resembled diamonds in appearance. But because craftsmen needed to cut each stone by hand, these early rhinestones were still quite expensive. It took almost 200 years for the invention of a machine that cut crystal faster and more precise. This particular craftsman, Daniel Swarovski, moved to Austria to open his own company. Meanwhile, the craftsmen of Bohemia continued to work independently until 1948. At this time, 25 companies and factories merged into one national company under the name of Preciosa.  The Maxima RhinestoneToday, Preciosa craftsmen continue the tradition of innovation. The company manufactures 35,000 premium products, all 100% made in the Czech Republic. Rising to meet the concerns of consumers for safer crystal, Preciosa unveiled its lead-free rhinestone in 2013. Named the Maxima, it features 15 pristinely cut facets. Preciosa’s lead-free formula has a refraction index comparable to leaded glass. The refraction index is a measurement tool to assess the rhinestone’s brilliance. In a complicated mathematical equation, scientists compute the index on how much light bends when it enters into the crystal. Basically, an object with a higher refractive index reflects more light back to your eyes. Or in other words, the object has more sparkle. Having a similar refractive index, the Maxima rhinestone is indistinguishable from its leaded counterpart. Preciosa starts with the purest raw materials. Then, using advanced technologies, craftsmen cut and polish components to guarantee color consistency, sparkle, and brilliance. Combined with its revolutionary Dura-Foiling layer, Maxima possesses a brilliant dispersion of light. Furthermore, there are rhinestone colors in every shade of the rainbow to choose. Moreover, effects and special coatings broaden the color selection. Effects are specialized coatings applied to the crystal to give rhinestones unique properties. The most popular of these is the AB which is an iridescent, rainbow-like coating. With crystal sizes ranging from the tiny 2ss to the large 40ss, design possibilities are endless.  The Preciosa Rhinestones Brand Represents Tradition and ExcellenceToday, there are many different manufacturers of crystal rhinestones. Each company has its own unique formula for creating sparkle. When looking for quality with hundreds of years of heritage, buy the Preciosa rhinestones brand. Their continued commitment to provide consumers with beautiful, eco-friendly products makes them an industry leader. When you want to capture attention in a bold and beautiful way, choose Preciosa.
0 Comments
 Are Hotfix Rhinestones Easier to Use than Flatbacks?In the world of glitter and glamour, the rhinestone reigns. Facets catch and reflect light creating a brilliance that is unmatched by any other embellishment. And the beauty doesn’t belong only to Hollywood stars on the red carpet. You can achieve fabulous results by applying rhinestones to dresses, shirts, shoes, pocketbooks or any other clothing and accessory. But which ones should you use, hotfix rhinestones or flat back rhinestones? Generally, it’s a matter of preference and your project. Flatback rhinestones will easily stick to more surfaces with the right adhesive. However, when you use transfer paper, you can adhere more hotfix rhinestones at one time. Additionally, the glue on hotfix rhinestones cools in a few minutes, creating a permanent bond. ​​ ​What are Hotfix Rhinestones?Whereas some rhinestones need glue, these already have glue applied to the flat or back side. Heat activates the glue by melting it. When it cools, it becomes solid again firmly attaching to the fabric. It takes about 5 minutes for the glue to cool, but 24 hours to completely cure to become durable. Yet, not all fabrics are suitable. Smooth material like leather, imitation leather or tightly woven fabrics don’t allow for glue penetration. Other fabrics that are pre-treated with softeners, stain resistors, or Teflon are not suitable either. Generally, fabrics treated with these components lose some of their absorbency necessary for a good bond. Typically, it’s always advisable to do a water pearl test first to determine if the material will absorb the glue. Place a drop of water on the fabric. If it pearls, the fabric isn’t suitable for hot fix rhinestones. But if the material readily absorbs the water droplet, you can use hotfix rhinestones on it. Using a Hot Fix Wand Makes Rhinestone Application EasyCertainly, a wand works great for single stone application. There are several good brands, and most are relatively inexpensive. Wands come with different size tips to match the size of the rhinestone. When your wand is cool, screw the correct size tip, according to the rhinestone size, into the wand. Then, heat the wand which generally takes about 2 minutes. Position your rhinestones facet side up. Vertically position your wand over the rhinestone and with a very light touch, pick it up. Turn the wand upright and after a few seconds, you’ll see the glue begin to bubble. Once this occurs, hold the wand vertically lightly tapping the rhinestones to the surface of the fabric. Remember to use only a light touch as any pressure may cause the rhinestone to stick in the tip.   ​Can You Use Your Iron to Apply Rhinestones?For applying multiple rhinestones at one time, you create a transfer and use an iron. The iron should be flat and not have any steam vents. Vents present an uneven surface, and rhinestones will not stick properly. Additionally, any moisture from the steam vents will interfere with the glue. You’ll need to heat the iron to 250-340 F degrees in order to activate the adhesive. Be sure to check to make sure your garment is heat-resistant to this temperature range. Often, when applying a design, many find it easier to use transfer paper. Transfer paper is composed of 2 parts, a clear sticky part and opaque non-sticky part. The sticky part will keep the rhinestones in place until you apply heat. When you are ready apply your rhinestones, place the clear piece sticky side up. First, lay the rhinestones out on the transfer paper facet side down. Second. heat the iron to the correct temperature. Lay the transfer on the garment with the flat side of the rhinestones on the garment. Then press the iron down for 15-20 seconds. Pick the iron up and press on another part of the transfer. Be sure you have heated all the rhinestones to activate the glue. Don’t slide the iron as this can dislodge the rhinestones. Where Can I Buy Hotfix Rhinestones?Certainly, hot fix rhinestones can make embellishing garments easy and fun. And a great place to buy embellishments is Rhinestones Etc. With great customers service, fast shipping, and discount pricing, we want to be your rhinestones source. Stop by our online store to see our inventory. Because you too can look glamorous by adding rhinestones to your wardrobe.
|
Categories
All
Archives
March 2026
|
RSS Feed
Home About Policies Return Shipping
Contact Us Size Chart Privacy Products Reviews
Copyright 2014 - 2026 Rhinestones Etc. All rights reserved.
Contact Us Size Chart Privacy Products Reviews
Copyright 2014 - 2026 Rhinestones Etc. All rights reserved.