Preciosa Hotfix Crystals

Preciosa hotfix crystals are precision-cut Czech rhinestones with a heat-activated glue already on the back. They come in the complete MAXIMA range, from SS3 to SS48, in 100+ colours and effects, in a round flatback shape for direct application to fabric and textiles. The flagship MAXIMA line uses the Chaton Rose Maxima cut, with 15 facets for SS5 to SS20 and 18 facets for SS30 and above. That gives strong light refraction and colour depth at every size. Any designer, business or individual can buy straight away in retail or wholesale quantities.

Bluestreak Crystals: Authorised Preciosa Partner

Bluestreak Crystals is an official Preciosa Authorised Partner. This gives you direct access to the complete range of genuine Preciosa MAXIMA hotfix crystals. Every stone is quality-checked and made to Preciosa's exacting standards in the Crystal Valley of Bohemia in the Czech Republic.

What Are Preciosa Hotfix Crystals?

Preciosa hotfix crystals are MAXIMA flatback rhinestones with a specially made heat-activated glue already on the foil backing. When you apply heat with a hotfix wand, heat press or household iron (with the steam turned off), the glue melts and bonds the crystal permanently to the fabric or textile. Once it cools, the crystal is fixed in place, with no separate adhesive needed.

Preciosa's hotfix glue has a low melting point, so it activates evenly across a wide range of fabrics, including stretch and elastic materials. That makes it the preferred hotfix crystal for dancewear and performance costume production. The glue is built to stand up to sweat, friction and repeated cool-temperature washing, so it keeps a secure bond through regular stage and performance use.

What Is the Preciosa MAXIMA Hotfix Rhinestone?

The Preciosa MAXIMA is Preciosa's premium flatback rhinestone line, cut with the Chaton Rose Maxima faceting pattern. MAXIMA hotfix rhinestones have 15 facets for sizes SS5 to SS20, rising to 18 facets for SS30 and above, which captures more light and gives more intense sparkle at larger sizes. The result is strong light refraction and colour depth. That makes MAXIMA the closest Preciosa match to Swarovski hotfix flatback rhinestones in brilliance and performance.

How Do You Apply Preciosa Hotfix Crystals?

You can apply Preciosa hotfix crystals in three ways, each suited to a different scale and type of work:

Hotfix applicator wand — applies crystals one at a time with a heated tip, giving precise placement control for detailed designs and smaller quantities. The most popular method for one-off and bespoke embellishment work.
Household iron — applies crystals in bulk by pressing down over a pre-positioned design or transfer with the steam setting turned off. Practical for home use and smaller production runs. Also referred to as iron-on application.
Heat press — delivers the most consistent and professional result for larger production volumes, allowing precise temperature and pressure control across a flat surface for fast, uniform application of large quantities.

What Sizes Do Preciosa Hotfix Crystals Come In?

Preciosa MAXIMA hotfix crystals run from SS3 through to SS48. That covers the full range, from ultra-fine micro crystals to large statement sizes. The SS system refers to the stone size in millimetres, with SS3 about 1mm and SS48 about 11mm. The most-used sizes in professional dancewear and costume production are SS10, SS12, SS16 and SS20. SS30 and SS48 are popular for statement and focal work, where you need a larger hotfix crystal. Each product listing shows both the SS size and the millimetre equivalent, so selection is straightforward.

Are Preciosa Hotfix Crystals a Good Alternative to Swarovski Hotfix?

If you want professional-quality hotfix crystals without Swarovski's premium price, Preciosa MAXIMA hotfix is a strong alternative. The MAXIMA cut gives light refraction comparable to Swarovski's Xirius Rose hotfix at a much lower cost.

On high-volume work such as dancewear, performance costumes and large-scale fashion embellishment, where you apply thousands of hotfix crystals per garment, switching to Preciosa MAXIMA hotfix can cut crystal costs a lot while keeping a professional, high-quality finish.

Hotfix vs Non Hotfix vs Sew On: Which Should You Use?

Hotfix crystals are the fastest method for fabric and textile surfaces. They need no separate adhesive and give a strong, durable bond that stands up to cool-temperature washing. They are the standard choice for dancewear, performance costumes, garment embellishment and any fabric work where speed, cleanliness and bond strength come first. Preciosa non hotfix flatbacks, bonded with crystal adhesive, work on more surfaces. They stick to glass, metal, plastic, leather and other non-porous surfaces as well as fabric, which suits nail art, accessories and mixed-media work. Preciosa sew-on crystals give the most permanent and durable hold of the three. You stitch them straight onto fabric through pre-drilled holes, for performance costumes and garments that face repeated physical stress.

What Are Preciosa Hotfix Crystals Used For?

Designers and makers use Preciosa MAXIMA hotfix crystals across dancewear and performance costumes, covering ballroom, Latin, Irish dance and dance sport, as well as bridal and occasion gowns, figure skating and gymnastics costumes, theatrical and stage costumes, fashion and garment embellishment, and accessories and footwear. Their consistent sizing, batch accuracy and specialist hotfix glue suit both one-off bespoke pieces and large-scale production runs, where reliable, repeatable results matter.

Complete Your Designs

Preciosa hotfix crystals combine naturally with Preciosa non hotfix crystals and Preciosa sew-on crystals for projects that use more than one method in the same design, and with Preciosa crystal pearls and Preciosa chatons and fancy stones for mixed embellishment. Browse our full range of hotfix tools and accessories, including applicator wands, heat presses, Teflon sheets and rhinestone placement grids. We also stock Swarovski hotfix crystals (platinum standard), Serinity hotfix crystals (Austrian-made) and Estella hotfix crystals (budget-friendly) across all price points.

Why Buy Preciosa Hotfix Crystals from Bluestreak?

Authorised partner — guaranteed genuine Preciosa MAXIMA hotfix crystals
Complete MAXIMA hotfix range — SS3 to SS48 across all colours and effects
Fast dispatch — 95% of orders shipped same or next working day
Worldwide shipping — reliable international delivery with tracked options
Colour support — Preciosa colour charts and a sample service to support colour and size selection

Browse the full Preciosa hotfix crystal range and shop straight away.

Wholesale and Trade Pricing

Preciosa MAXIMA hotfix crystals come in both retail and wholesale pack sizes. For regular large-volume buying, apply for a Bluestreak trade account to access discounted wholesale pricing across the full Preciosa hotfix range.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Preciosa hotfix crystals? ▾

Preciosa hotfix crystals are MAXIMA flatback rhinestones with a specially formulated heat-activated adhesive pre-applied to the foil backing. When heat is applied using a hotfix applicator wand, heat press or household iron, the adhesive melts and bonds the crystal permanently to fabric and textiles without separate glue required.

What sizes do Preciosa hotfix crystals come in? ▾

Preciosa MAXIMA hotfix crystals are available from SS3 to SS48, covering the full range from approximately 1mm through to approximately 11mm. The most widely used sizes in professional dancewear and costume production are SS10, SS12, SS16 and SS20. Larger sizes including SS30 and SS48 are popular for statement and focal applications.

How do you apply Preciosa hotfix crystals? ▾

Preciosa hotfix crystals can be applied using a hotfix applicator wand for individual placement, a household iron for bulk application over a pre-positioned design, or a heat press for high-volume professional production. All methods activate the heat-sensitive adhesive pre-applied to the crystal backing.

Can Preciosa hotfix crystals be washed? ▾

Yes. Preciosa hotfix crystals withstand washing at cool temperatures when applied correctly. Avoid fabric conditioner as this can loosen the bond over time. Always wash on a cool setting and avoid tumble drying where possible.

What is the difference between Preciosa hotfix and non hotfix crystals? ▾

Hotfix crystals have a heat-activated adhesive pre-applied to the backing, requiring heat to bond to fabric but no separate glue. Non hotfix flatbacks have no pre-applied adhesive and are bonded using jewellery glue or specialist adhesive, offering greater surface versatility across glass, metal, plastic and leather as well as fabric.

Are Preciosa hotfix crystals a good alternative to Swarovski hotfix? ▾

Yes. Preciosa MAXIMA hotfix crystals deliver comparable light refraction to Swarovski's Xirius Rose hotfix at a significantly lower cost, with no approval or application required to purchase. For high-volume production runs, Preciosa MAXIMA hotfix is one of the most cost-effective professional-grade hotfix crystals available.

What is the Preciosa MAXIMA cut? ▾

The Preciosa MAXIMA is Preciosa's premium flatback rhinestone cut, featuring the Chaton Rose Maxima faceting pattern. MAXIMA hotfix rhinestones have 15 facets for sizes SS5–SS20, increasing to 18 facets for SS30 and above. The increased facet count at larger sizes allows greater light capture and more intense sparkle, delivering brilliance and colour depth comparable to Swarovski's Xirius Rose cut.

Can I order samples before placing a larger order? ▾

Yes. Bluestreak offers a sample service and Preciosa colour charts to support colour and size selection before committing to a full order.