A look at the crystal ball

MANILA, Philippines - In the film Titanic, Rose DeWitt Bukater, the character played by then ingénue Kate Winslet, is made to wear the Heart of the Ocean, supposedly a medallion-sized blue diamond that provokes the controversy sparking the film’s plot. The Heart of the Ocean, though inspired by the Hope Diamond, is fictional. However, in creating the huge blue sparkler, the film producers commissioned crystal brand Swarovski.

This isn’t the first collaboration between Hollywood and the Austrian brand. Dorothy’s ruby red slippers in Wizard of Oz were studded with the famed faceted crsytals, Nicole Kidman’s costumes in Moulin Rouge were liberally dotted with Swarovski and so were the flapper dresses in Chicago. The upcoming Cher-Christina Aguilera musical extravaganza Burlesque is also a motion picture display of Swarovski crystal.

The red carpet also gives an eyeful of cut crystal with Oscar winners Hillary Swank and Marion Cotillard, and Asian stunner Zhang Ziyi carrying Swarovski-studded clutches, whether in Cannes or during the Oscars.

While the Hollywood recall greatly helps the image of the crystal brand, Swarovski on its own is already hugely marketable. In 115 years of creating and perfecting cut, faceted crystals, Swarovski has become a household brand, the first and most recognizable name when it comes to cut crystals, a go-to brand for the world’s most prominent designers, from Chanel to Dior to Givenchy.

What makes crystal so appealing is its versatility. According to Swarovski creative director Nathalie Colin, crystal can be fashioned into anything. It’s absolute made-to-measure, made-to-order material, hence all the Hollywood tie-ups. It can be made into huge statement necklaces, fashioned into dainty drop earrings or embedded in delightful bag charms.

For their most recent collection, recently showcased to the Asian press in Singapore, Colin, who has been heading Swarovki creative’s since 2006, continues to prove just how much can be done with crystal. The spread for spring/summer 2011, Wings of Poetry, takes a lot of influence from the pretty little things in nature: butterflies, flowers and their myriadic color. Colin than appends inspired streaks of Monet impressionism and the ‘70s. The result: plated papillons in mid-flight, jade bangles embedded with crystals in the entire rainbow palette, luminous pendants, chunky necklaces made of chains and earth-toned crystals, oversized flowers, delicate scarf necklaces and intertwined beaded chokers.

Swarovski and Colin also debuts two new collections for next year: eyewear and a men’s collection. Their sunglasses, intricate pieces embedded with tiny crystals, are, according to Colin, made by the same company that makes those favored Tom Ford sunnies and Galliano’s summer pairs. Though they won’t be available in the Philippines yet, they will be sold in Singapore and other big Asian markets.

Colin is particularly proud of her first men’s collection. Deviating from all the prettiness that permeates the women’s jewelry, the pieces are mostly done in black and silver, incorporating a lot of mechanical and innovative elements. Crystal is mixed with carbon fiber, chains, screws and fierce creature interpretations (one bracelet features the head of a crocodile as the focal point).

From Hollywood to home interiors, from trendy pieces to classic crystal bits, from women and now men, Swarovski has combined history, creativity and collaboration to complete an ongoing tradition and to keep itself, as far as crystals are concerned, top of mind.

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Swarovski is available at Rustan’s Makati, where it recently opened a boutique in the store’s ground floor.