As the Swarovski stock that was bulk purchased over a year ago begins to dwindle, more and more people across the embellishment and nail art industries are finding themselves unable to purchase new Swarovski Flat Back Crystals. This is because Swarovski updated their rules about who is allowed to purchase their products and now you need to apply and be authorised. You are either approved to purchase Swarovski Crystals, or you are scraping around to buy what’s left out there on the internet and if they’re sold out, you must find new options such as Preciosa Flat Back Crystals or Serinity Rhinestones. This has left many feeling unsure about where to go for their future sparkle and the competition to be the next big bling supplier has been fraught.
An industry that has been hit especially hard is the world of nail art, and nail technicians across the globe have been trying to find replacements for the best sellers. We at Bluestreak have taken this seriously and have come up with a range of choices that cater to different needs and budgets. The closest match to Swarovski are Serinity Rhinestones and is our top of the market recommendation for those who are looking for the highest quality alternative.
Then we have Preciosa Flat Back Crystals. We are extremely proud of our Platinum Partner relationship with this prestigious company based in the Crystal Valley of the Czech Republic and they offer extremely strong competition against the likes of Serinity and Swarovski, however there are a few differences that matter when the tiniest details count.
The key difference between the brands is the number of facets that can be found on their flatback crystals in SS5 and above. Preciosa Flat Back Crystals use the Chaton Rose Maxima design when cutting their glass crystals, which gives that familiar round cut that catches the light extremely well. Serinity Flatback Crystals and Swarovski Rhinestones on the other hand use a different cut on their flatbacks called Xillion and Xirius Rose, this style has a far greater number of facets that give a starburst appearance over the top of the crystal. This results in next level sparkle and is the result of each stone going through a longer manufacturing process and this extra effort is reflected in the price.
The range of shapes, sizes and colours is also a key element when comparing the brands. Preciosa has a good range of colours in round flatback crystals, however, the range of shapes, sizes and colours is extremely limited. On the other hand Serinity Rhinestones are available in the an extensive array of shapes, sizes and colours, which is very similar to the range offered by Swarovski. For the Nail Industry the availability of shapes in colours and small sizes is essential and this is where Serinity is the ideal replacement for Swarovski.
The variation in available colours is also something to consider when comparing the brands. When you compare colour charts side by side you will see there is an impressive amount of overlap between the brands but because the named colours are manufactured separately by different companies there is no obligation to exactly colour match each other. Therefore, if you are replacing a missing crystal from a rhinestone embellishment it’s worth checking the colour physically first, our sample service or colour charts are the best ways to do this.
In conclusion, Serinity Crystals is definitely going to be the solution that many nail technicians and embellishers are looking for!