Understanding rhinestone effects is the key to choosing the right crystal for any project, and this guide explains the bestselling effects across our brands. We break down what terms like AB, Shimmer, Metallic and Opal actually mean, so you can tell your Neon from your Electric and your coatings from your chromes. We also compare how Serinity, Preciosa and Estella interpret each effect, to help you find your perfect crystal.
We all love the sparkle and shine of a rhinestone, and with so many colours, shapes and effects available, the creative potential is limited only by your imagination. But how many of us know the details that make one type of crystal different from another? A simple idea such as "I want a red rhinestone" can lead to no fewer than twenty possible options once you factor in the various effects, which create additional variations of the original colours. It can be a lot to consider, so we have put together this handy guide to make those choices easier.
Standard Crystal
When a colour has no effect in or on it, it is the standard version of that colour. Classic Crystal (Foiled) is where the glass is completely colourless, and you can see straight through to the silver foiling on the back. The foil is reflective like the back of a mirror and helps the multi-faceted laser-cut glass sparkle to its fullest potential. If a crystal is a colour from the standard range, this means the glass itself is coloured and the silver foiling on the back is there to both enhance the boldness of the colour and prevent it from being see-through and therefore affected by whatever colour is behind it.
Standard rhinestone colours can be found across all three brands on our website, and there are multiple examples where the same name is used by all three. However, because Serinity, Preciosa and Estella are completely separate manufacturers from different countries, each using their own colour formulas, there is no obligation to perfectly colour match each other. Just like paint manufacturers, they achieve their own unique balance of shade, richness and tone when aiming for any given colour. When searching for a colour match online we strongly recommend the digital colour guides so you can compare physical examples side by side, or you can purchase colour samples from our website to make a fully informed choice.
A good example showing how the same name is used but the physical result varies across brands is Blue Zircon. The Preciosa version looks lighter and brighter compared to the more sombre Serinity version, while Estella's Blue Zircon looks more like a green than a blue, resembling a light version of Preciosa's Emerald or a deeper shade of Shamrock. Because Blue Zircon is mostly blue but contains a touch of green, the three brands have each interpreted the colour in their own way. If you are substituting one brand for another, it is worth taking the time to check first.
Crystal AB
AB is short for Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights. This spectacular natural phenomenon is mimicked by the effect, which has an iridescent coating across the top of the crystal that makes it shimmer like a rainbow. The AB effect can look different depending on the brand: Serinity AB shimmers predominantly in hues of pink with subtler notes of blue. When applied over a coloured crystal such as Light Siam, you can still see the red underneath but there is a noticeable pink and blue shine as it hits the light. If you are curious to compare for yourself, you could try our sample service.
Like Serinity, Preciosa has an AB version of every colour in the standard range, however theirs shimmers mostly in shades of yellow and blue. An interesting illusion results from the AB effect: the rhinestone looks more three-dimensional, because the coating enhances the visibility of every facet by making them less transparent. This extra dimension makes the crystal look more sparkly, because even the side of the stone not hit by direct light is still shimmering. Standard colours rely solely on the cut glass sparkling in direct light, making them more delicate in appearance compared to their AB counterpart.
Before you conclude that AB is always better, it is worth remembering that the AB coating affects the visibility of the underlying colour. If you are seeking a bold solid colour that delicately twinkles in the light, standard might be your preferred choice.
The AB effect can also be found across the Estella range, and their version is slightly more opaque and noticeably bluer in hue. The effect of Estella's AB coating is strong enough to make red Siam AB resemble Fuchsia AB, while Jet AB shimmers more like Sapphire.
These natural variations between the brands mean you can choose depending on the effect you want: mostly pink is iconic of Serinity, Preciosa is great if you want a yellow sheen, and Estella is the best choice for a cool blue tint across your finished project.
Shimmer
The Shimmer effect is very similar to AB but more subtle in opaqueness, tending to shine in tones of yellow and blue instead of pink. This makes Shimmer a delicate middle ground between a crystal's classic colour and its bold AB alternative. These slight tone variations can build up to make a big difference on large projects, so knowing all your choices helps you select the right effect for your intended look. This effect is mostly unique to Swarovski Crystals, with the exception of a few pendants from Estella, which should make your options easier to narrow down if you decide Shimmer is the effect you want.
Unfoiled
Some crystal colours have an Unfoiled or Transparent option, where the silver foiling on the back is not present. Unless the colour of the crystal is opaque, like Jet, this means you will be able to see through to whatever is behind it. This can be useful when you want added sparkle but no colour, such as gems on a bridal veil, or in jewellery making when you know the back of the stone will be visible.
Metallic
This coating gives a chrome metallic finish, best for when you want a look that shines like actual metal rather than coloured glass. Popular examples include Rose Gold and Light Chrome for a truly metallic finish, and Jet Hematite, which uses the same effect to give a dark silver sheen over the classic black stone.
Preciosa has its own variations of metallic effects, providing a wider range of metallic tones that include gold and copper. You will find some crossover between Serinity and Preciosa Flatback Crystals; for example Serinity Light Chrome and Preciosa Labrador are both light metallic silver, though not exactly alike. Preciosa branches out further to include gold in the form of their Aurum crystal, with darker shades including Starlight Gold and Monte Carlo. Preciosa's equivalent of Serinity's Rose Gold is Capri Gold, as both have a coppery warmth.
Coatings
Coatings are manufactured similarly to metallic crystals, in that the effect is the result of a shiny coating placed over the top of the glass, however there is more than just gold, silver and Jet Hematite to choose from. This method specialises in two-tone effect styles: the glass is one colour and the coating a different colour, resulting in a spectacular shift in appearance as the stone is tilted from side to side. Popular examples from Serinity include Paradise Shine, the DeLite colours, Volcano, Vitrail Medium and Vitrail Light.
Much like Serinity, Preciosa boasts an impressive range of coating options with their own unique tone shifts, a few favourites being Peacock Green, Lava, Heliotrope and Venus. Some colours share the same name in both Serinity and Preciosa, however they are not guaranteed to look exactly the same. If you are at all unsure, we recommend either the digital colour guides for both brands or ordering samples of the same colour from multiple collections.
Lacquered
This effect has a layer of coloured lacquer on the back of the rhinestone instead of silver foiling. The absence of the silver backing does mean a slight loss of twinkle, however it is traded for boldness of colour and is the secret behind the Royal and Electric colours in Serinity. You will also find a few lacquered crystals that have a coating effect over the top, creating a really unique shimmering effect; great examples are Royal Red Delight and Silky Sage DeLite.
Preciosa also has several lacquered stones, primarily their Neon colours and Deep Sea crystal, while the rest of the range has the standard grey foiled backing. These can be observed easily on the Preciosa colour chart, thanks to the clear plastic page the crystals are displayed on, which lets you view the fronts and backs at the same time.
Neon
Nothing grabs the attention quite like Neon, and the Electric colours from Serinity feature bold hits of pink, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet. These bright lacquered colours are perfectly suited for festivals and nightclubs, but they contain a secret superpower: place them under UV light and they glow brighter than ever, guaranteeing your place at the heart of the party.
The Neon colours can also be found in the Preciosa Flatback Crystals range, and they shine just as brilliantly under UV light for an ultra-bold fashion statement. Placed side by side there are slight variations in shade and tone compared to the Electric colours by Serinity; most notably Neon Blue is darker than Electric Blue, Neon Green is slightly warmer than Electric Green, and Electric Orange leans more towards peach compared to Preciosa Neon Orange.
Estella's range of neon colours is noticeably more pastel in tone and does not glow under UV light, however it includes more options such as Neon Peach and Neon Rose on top of those provided by Serinity and Preciosa. If you want the brightness of neon but with a more delicate tint, Estella is well worth considering.
Opal
Opal crystals are foiled like the standard coloured stones, however the glass itself is pigmented so that it appears translucent or milky. The result is a thickness of colour almost like the lacquered crystals, but because it is foiled it retains more of its twinkle. A good example highlighting the difference is White Opal and Electric White: both are the same colour, but the finish is subtly different, with White Opal looking more like milk and Electric White glistening like snow. The availability of opal colours extends beyond flatback crystals into beads and fancy stones, making them perfect for statement jewellery and clothing embellishment.
Preciosa currently supplies the largest selection of opal colours in their flatback crystals compared to the other brands, including shades such as Rose Opal, Light Sapphire Opal and Chrysolite Opal. These stand out as the pastel options of the collection and are perfectly suited to spring or baby-themed colour schemes. Estella also offers several opal shades that are generally pastel, however compared to Preciosa the colours are slightly richer. White Opal is exceptionally popular around Christmas, matched only by the reliably popular Light Siam and Emerald.
Conclusion
As you can see, there is a near limitless selection of options designed to give you the best chance of selecting the rhinestone that suits your needs. For the highest possible impact in quality and sparkle, Swarovski is the platinum standard: Austrian-made, with the patented Xirius and Xilion Rose cut that packs extra facets into the design for maximum brilliance from every angle.
Our best-selling brand Serinity is also Austrian-made and created by Bluestreak Crystals, sharing the same specifications as Swarovski including the same Rose cut on several flatback sizes, at around 10% below leading premium brand pricing. Swarovski Crystals and Serinity are therefore an excellent match in quality, giving you a premium sparkle at two price points.
Preciosa Crystals come from the historical Bohemian Crystal Valley region of the Czech Republic and bring centuries of Bohemian glassmaking heritage to a strong competitor brand. Using the MAXIMA cut, they provide a similarly impressive range across flatback crystals, beads, pendants, pearls and jewellery components at a more accessible price point, and the range is going from strength to strength in the fashion world.
We do our best to offer a choice for every budget while still providing the best the market has to offer. After extensive searching, we are proud to offer Estella as our most affordable brand, with a beautiful rainbow of colours and a refreshing variety of crystal shapes.
If you have any questions about project-specific details, our friendly Customer Service Team is always happy to offer advice. Whatever your creative ambition, we hope you will agree that you can trust Bluestreak Crystals for the best selection, service and support at every stage of your crystal journey.
FAQs
What does AB mean on rhinestones?
AB stands for Aurora Borealis, named after the Northern Lights. It is an iridescent rainbow coating applied to the top surface of a crystal that creates shifting colours under light. AB was developed by Swarovski in collaboration with Christian Dior in the 1950s. Serinity AB shimmers pink and blue, Preciosa AB shimmers yellow and blue, and Estella AB has a stronger blue tint. AB is the most popular rhinestone effect worldwide.
What is the difference between AB and Shimmer crystal effects?
AB (Aurora Borealis) has a strong iridescent rainbow coating that creates dramatic colour shifts under light. Shimmer is a more subtle version of AB, shining in softer yellow and blue tones rather than full rainbow effects. Shimmer is mostly unique to Swarovski and sits between standard colours and AB in terms of effect intensity. Choose AB for dramatic statement sparkle, Shimmer for delicate refined effects.
What is a metallic rhinestone?
A metallic rhinestone has a chrome-like coating that gives a true metal appearance rather than coloured glass. Popular examples include Rose Gold, Light Chrome, Jet Hematite (silver-over-black), Preciosa Aurum (gold), Capri Gold (copper) and Starlight Gold. Metallic crystals work best in jewellery, costume accents and any design where you want the look of actual gold, silver or copper rather than crystal sparkle.
What does opal mean on rhinestones?
Opal rhinestones have pigmented glass that appears translucent or milky, foiled on the back like standard crystals. The effect is a soft, dreamy colour that retains sparkle (unlike fully opaque crystals). Popular opal shades include White Opal, Rose Opal, Light Sapphire Opal and Chrysolite Opal. Preciosa offers the largest opal range. Opal crystals are particularly popular for bridal designs, spring colour schemes and Christmas decorations.
What is the difference between lacquered and metallic crystals?
Lacquered crystals have a coloured lacquer painted on the back of the rhinestone instead of silver foiling, creating bold solid colours with slightly less twinkle. Examples include Serinity Royal and Electric colours, and Preciosa Neon and Deep Sea. Metallic crystals have a chrome coating on the front of the crystal for a true metal appearance. Lacquered colours are bold and saturated; metallic colours mimic actual metals.
Do neon rhinestones glow under UV light?
Yes, Serinity Electric and Preciosa Neon rhinestones glow brightly under UV light, making them ideal for festivals, nightclubs and stage costumes. They are lacquered crystals with fluorescent pigments. Note that Estella's neon colours are pastel-toned and do not glow under UV. For genuine UV-reactive neon effects, choose Serinity Electric or Preciosa Neon. For softer pastel neon tones, choose Estella.
How do AB coatings differ across crystal brands?
AB coatings vary by brand. Serinity AB shimmers predominantly pink with hints of blue. Preciosa AB shimmers mostly yellow and blue. Estella AB has a stronger blue/cool tint and is slightly more opaque. The differences matter for design: Serinity AB suits warm tones and rose gold settings, Preciosa AB suits gold settings, and Estella AB suits cool-tone projects. Use the digital colour guides to compare before committing to a large order.
