Swarovski Flatback Crystals

Swarovski flatback crystals (also called rhinestones) are precision-cut stones manufactured in Austria, available in hotfix, non hotfix and sew-on versions for professional embellishment across fashion, bridal, dancewear, nail art and accessories. Produced using Swarovski's proprietary X-Cut technology, every stone delivers intense brilliance, uniform faceting and consistent colour accuracy across both bespoke and high-volume production. Bluestreak Crystals stocks the complete range, including SS3 to SS48, all three cut designs, and over 150 colours, effects and finishes, with same or next working day dispatch on the majority of orders.

Bluestreak Crystals: Authorised Swarovski Distribution Partner

Bluestreak Crystals is an official Swarovski Authorised Distribution Partner, one of a very small number of approved suppliers worldwide permitted to sell the complete genuine Swarovski range. Every stone is directly sourced from Swarovski Wattens, Austria, and quality-assured.

Alongside the Swarovski range, we also stock two further premium crystal brands: Serinity crystals, our own Austrian-made brand, and Preciosa crystals, premium Czech-cut crystals with excellent brilliance across the full range.

What Is the Difference Between Hotfix, Non Hotfix and Sew-On Crystals?

Swarovski flatback rhinestones are available in three application types, each suited to different materials and techniques:

Hotfix flatbacks — pre-coated with a heat-activated adhesive. Apply using a hotfix applicator wand, heat press or iron (steam setting off). The standard choice for fabrics, garments, dancewear, costumes and bridal embellishment. Also sold as iron-on crystals.
Non hotfix flatbacks — no pre-applied adhesive; bond using a crystal adhesive. Compatible with glass, metal, plastic, leather and fabric — the preferred choice for accessories, nail art and mixed-media work.
Sew-on stones — pre-drilled with holes for hand-sewing or machine-stitching directly onto garments and textiles. Recommended wherever adhesive alone may not provide sufficient hold over time.

What Sizes Do Swarovski Flatback Crystals Come In?

Swarovski flatbacks use the SS (Stone Size) system, running from SS3 through to SS48:

SS3 — 1.3mm — nail art, micro-detail work
SS4 — 1.5mm — nail art, ultra-fine embellishment
SS5 — 1.7mm — nail art, fine textile work
SS6 — 2.0mm — delicate garment and accessory embellishment
SS10 — 2.8mm — detailed garment work, competition nail art
SS12 — 3.2mm — versatile: garments, accessories, jewellery
SS16 — 4.0mm — fashion embellishment, dancewear
SS20 — 4.7mm — bridal wear, statement embellishment
SS30 — 6.4mm — focal stones, bags and accessories
SS48 — approx. 11mm — large focal and decorative applications

What Are Swarovski Flatback Crystals Used For?

Swarovski flatback crystals are specified by professionals across fashion, beauty and craft for precision rhinestone embellishment:

Fashion and garment embellishment — couture, ready-to-wear and luxury brand decoration
Dancewear and performance costumes — ballroom, Latin, ice skating, gymnastics and theatre
Bridal and occasion wear — dresses, veils, headpieces and accessories
Nail art and beauty — professional salon and competition nail embellishment
Accessories — bags, shoes, belts, phone cases and jewellery
Tooth gem application — professional tooth gem placement in SS3 to SS7 sizes
Craft and decorative projects — home décor, stationery, frames and personalised gifts

To complete your designs, these rhinestones pair naturally with our Swarovski crystal beads, Swarovski crystal pearls, chatons and fancy stones, and our full range of tools and adhesives.

Why Choose Swarovski Flatback Crystals?

Swarovski flatbacks are the industry benchmark for professional rhinestone embellishment. Every stone is produced in Austria using patented cut designs and advanced platinum foiling, delivering a standard of brilliance, colour depth and batch consistency that professionals across fashion, bridal and performance industries rely on. The full range is lead-free and fully compliant with EU REACH regulations, covers over 150 colours, effects and finishes, including Aurora Borealis (AB), shimmer and lacquer coatings, and scales equally well from individual bespoke commissions to high-volume commercial production.

How Swarovski Flatback Crystals Are Cut: 2000, 2058 Xilion and 2088 Xirius

Each Swarovski flatback cut is engineered to maximise light refraction at the sizes it covers:

2000 Rose Cut — 8 facets, available in SS3 and SS4. A clean, classic cut for fine detail work and micro-embellishment.
2058 Xilion Rose Cut — 14 alternating facets, used from SS5 to SS10. The Xilion geometry is specifically optimised to maximise brilliance in smaller stones.
2088 Xirius Rose Cut — 16 facets in a patented starburst arrangement, used from SS12 to SS48. Named after Sirius, the brightest star visible in the night sky, the Xirius cut delivers the highest brilliance of any flatback crystal on the market.

Why Buy Swarovski Flatback Crystals from Bluestreak?

Authorised distributor — guaranteed genuine Swarovski crystals sourced directly from Wattens, Austria
Complete range in stock — all sizes (SS3–SS48), all three cuts (2000, 2058, 2088), all application types (hotfix, non hotfix, sew-on) and 150+ colours
Fast dispatch — majority of orders shipped same or next working day
Worldwide shipping — reliable international delivery with express options to the USA in 2 to 5 days
Colour support — Swarovski colour charts and a sample service for confident colour matching
Trade pricing available — apply for a trade discount for tiered pricing on bulk and repeat orders
Alternatives available — Serinity flatback crystals (Austrian-made, our own brand) and Preciosa flatback crystals (Czech-made) also available

Browse the full Swarovski flatback crystal range to start ordering. For pricing enquiries or help sizing a production order, contact our team at hello@bluestreakcrystals.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Swarovski hotfix and non hotfix flatback crystals? ▾

Swarovski hotfix flatback crystals have a heat-activated adhesive pre-applied to the reverse, allowing them to be bonded to most fabrics and textiles using a hotfix applicator, heat press or iron (steam off), also called iron-on crystals. Non hotfix flatback crystals have no pre-applied adhesive and are bonded using jewellery glue or two-component adhesive, making them suitable for a wider range of surfaces including metal, glass, leather and plastic.

Where can I buy genuine Swarovski flatback crystals? ▾

Bluestreak Crystals is one of the few remaining official Swarovski Authorised Distribution Partners in the UK and globally. Purchasing through an authorised partner is the only way to guarantee you are receiving 100% authentic Swarovski flatback crystals that comply with Swarovski's brand guidelines and quality standards. You can apply online to become an approved customer and access our full Swarovski flatback range.

What are the Swarovski flatback crystal sizes (SS sizes)? ▾

Swarovski flatback crystals are measured using SS (Stone Size) numbers. Common sizes include SS3 (1.3mm), SS5 (1.8mm), SS10 (2.8mm), SS12 (3.2mm), SS16 (4.0mm), SS20 (4.7mm), SS30 (6.4mm) and SS48 (approx. 11mm). Smaller sizes (SS3–SS10) suit nail art and fine detail work; mid-sizes (SS12–SS20) are the most popular for general embellishment; larger sizes (SS30+) are used for statement and focal embellishment.

What is the difference between the Swarovski 2058 Xilion and 2088 Xirius flatback cuts? ▾

The 2058 Xilion Rose features 14 alternating facets and is used for smaller sizes (SS5–SS10), optimised for maximum brilliance at a small surface area. The 2088 Xirius Rose features 16 facets in a patented starburst arrangement and is used for larger sizes (SS12–SS48), named after Sirius, the brightest star in the galaxy, and engineered to produce the highest possible light refraction of any flatback crystal in the world. For the very smallest sizes (SS3–SS4), the 2000 Rose Cut with 8 facets is used. At SS12 and above, the 2088 Xirius is always the cut to choose for maximum sparkle.

What glue should I use for Swarovski non hotfix flatback crystals? ▾

For fabric applications, a fabric-safe adhesive such as Gem-Tac is recommended, holding well through repeated washing. For hard surfaces such as glass, metal or plastic, E6000 or a two-component epoxy adhesive provides the strongest, longest-lasting bond. For nail art, a specialist nail crystal glue is recommended. Browse our full range of adhesives and application tools to find the right product for your surface and technique.

What colours and effects do Swarovski flatbacks come in? ▾

Swarovski flatbacks are available in the widest colour palette in the premium crystal industry. Foundation colours include Crystal (clear), Crystal AB (Aurora Borealis), and the full spectrum of reds, blues, greens, purples, pinks, ambers, blacks and neutrals. Special effects include Shimmer, Glacier Blue, Light Chrome, Metallic finishes, DeLite colour-shifting effects, LacquerPRO durable coatings for high-wear applications and the Ignite enhanced-brilliance effect for darker base colours. Seasonal Innovations colours are released twice a year.

Are Swarovski flatback crystals lead-free? ▾

Yes. All Swarovski crystals manufactured since 2012 are fully lead-free and REACH-compliant, certified to Oekotex Standard 100 and ISO 9001, making them safe for use in professional production and consumer goods worldwide.

What are the best alternatives to Swarovski flatback crystals? ▾

Yes. Serinity flatback crystals are manufactured in Austria to equivalent standards, with the same Xilion/Xirius Rose-style starburst cut and platinum foiling. Preciosa MAXIMA flatback crystals are a high-quality Czech-made alternative. Both use the same SS sizing system as Swarovski for easy transition.