Swarovski

Geschichte

Swarovski is an Austrian producer of crystal headquartered in Wattens, Austria. The company is split into three major industry areas: the Swarovski Crystal Business, that primarily produces crystal jewelry and accessories; Swarovski Optik, which produces optical instruments such as telescopes and binoculars; Tyrolit, a leading manufacturer of grinding, sawing, drilling, and dressing tools, as well as a supplier of tools and machines.Today, Swarovski Crystal Business is the highest grossing business unit with a global reach of approximately 2,800 stores in around 170 countries, more than 27,000 employees, and a revenue of about 2.6 billion euros (in 2016).HistoryDaniel Swarovski was born in northern Bohemia (now the Czech Republic), 20 km from the current border with Poland. His father was a glass cutter who owned a small glass factory. It was there that the young Swarovski served an apprenticeship, becoming skilled in the art of glass-cutting. In 1892 he patented an electric cutting machine that facilitated the production of crystal glass.In 1895, Swarovski, financier Armand Kosman, and Franz Weis founded the Swarovski company, originally known as A. Kosmann, D. Swarovski & Co. and shortened to KS & Co. The company established a crystal-cutting factory in Wattens, Tyrol (Austria), to take advantage of local hydroelectricity for the energy-intensive grinding processes Daniel Swarovski had patented. Swarovski's vision was to make "a diamond for everyone" by making crystals affordable.

"Die Swarovski Kristallwelten in Wattens/Tirol machen Kristall von Swarovski zu einem Erlebnis, das sich stetig wandelt und neu erfindet: In den Wunderkammern und im weitläufigen Garten haben internationale, aber auch national renommierte Künstler, Designer und Architekten Kristall auf ihre ganz eigene Art interpretiert. Die Fantasiewelt des ikonischen Riesen bietet auf 7,5 Hektar ein einzigartiges Erlebnis aus zeitgenössischer Kunst, alter Geschichte, faszinierender Natur und einem ganzjährigen Veranstaltungsprogramm für jedes Alter.Seit ihrer Eröffnung 1995 haben die Swarovski Kristallwelten viele Millionen Besucher begeistert und gehören damit zu den meistbesuchten Sehenswürdigkeiten Österreichs."