Kristall Buzz… Swarovski Crystal News Blog by Crystal Exchange

I have good news for Swarovski collectors…..the Warner’s Blue Ribbon Book on Swarovski: Beyond Silver Crystal Swarovski catalog is now available!

This Swarovski catalog is in its 15th year of publication.   Tom and Jane Warner, the book authors, are true Swarovski collectors and annually publish new Swarovski books each year.

Swarovski 2011 Book featuringi non-silver-crystal figurines

The Swarovski Beyond Silver Crystal catalog contains Swarovski pictures and detailed information about Swarovski crystal figurines across many company product lines for the past 35 years! It is the photos in the book, along with dimensions and other facts that allow for accurate Swarovski identification to properly insure a Swarovski collection.  The Swarovski product lines or groupings include in the Beyond Silver Crystal book are:  Swarovski Crystal Moments, Swarovski Myriad, Swarovski Chinese Zodiacs, Swarovski Soulmates, Swarovski Home Accessories, Daniel Swarovski Home Accessories, Daniel Swarovski Masterpiece, Julia’s World, Perfumes, Paperweights, Swarovski Trimlite, Swarovski Crystal Signatures, Swarovski Christmas Memories, Crystal Scents, Swarovski CrystalograMs, Arribas Creations, and Swarovski Paradise. That’s nearly 1700 Swarovski Crystal items in the Beyond Silver Crystal Book.

• Include previous year Swarovski crystal introductions and retirements
• Revise Swarovski Value (Swarovski ERV in the publication) to 2011 standards

For the 2011 Swarovski catalog, approximately 75 new crystal figurines have been added from the 2010 edition.  Approximately 35 retirements are now newly retired from the 2010 edition. Investigation for 2011 Swarovski ERV was completed in January 2011, so the determined Swarovski Value for the retired Swarovski figurines for the 2011 edition is fresh.

Swarovski collectors who have never purchased the book can find contact information for the authors at the Warner’s Blue Ribbon Book web site http://www.wbrb.com/ (on the About Us tab) to determine which book is best for the collector or if the collectors should purchase the complete book set.  For loyal Swarovski collections who know exactly what they need, the Warner’s Blue Ribbon Book on Swarovski: Beyond Silver Crystal, can be placed at Warner’s web site or http://www.crystalexchange.com/c-PUB.html.

Here are more acronyms used in advertising Swarovski crystal that is offered for sale.  While the many experienced Swarovski Crystal collectors understand the frequently used acronyms, there are still a lot of people buying and selling Swarovski who do not have knowledge of the acronyms or can be mislead by improper use of the acronym.  So, I thought I’d do my best to cover a few more acronyms and offer cautions on the use of them.

Swarovski CRV – Swarovski Current Replacement Value.  The term CRV was used in Dean Genth’s Swarovski book in 2004. I have not seen it used in publications since.  The basis of his research was not disclosed in the book.  Auction sellers using CRV in an auction may be using very dated values.

Swarovski ERV – Swarovski Estimated Replacement Value.  Swarovski ERV originated in a reputable Swarovski Book, Warner’s Blue Ribbon Books on Swarovski.  The intended definition and use of the term today is ‘Swarovski value for insurance purposes’.  Swarovski ERV is a recommendation for insurance value based on professional research performed in the past 12 months.  If a Swarovski collector damages or has a figurine stolen, it is likely that the collector can replace the figurine with a MINT one at a cost of the Swarovski ERV or slightly less.

So many times Swarovski ERV is mis-used in the online auctions.  Sellers may not honestly know what the acronym ERV stands for because they have not read the Warner’s Blue Ribbon Book preface.   Or perhaps, their auction data was based on another erroneous auction description.  Or, perhaps, the seller has simply manipulated the acronym to imply Estimated Retail Value, thus inflating the value of the crystal figurine for less knowledgeable bidders.  No matter what the case, the important fact to realize is that Swarovski ERV is an insurance value, not a selling value.  No seller should ever expect a Swarovski figurine to sell for a price near the Swarovski ERV.  If the item is sold using a professional brokerage service, the seller will not be able to collect the Swarovski ERV when a transaction for the Swarovski crystal collectible is completed, since ERV is a suggested insurance value, not a selling price.

Another way the Swarovski ERV is mis-used is when a seller cites an outdated ERV in the auction.  It is a natural assumption that a Swarovski value increases over the years.  For many years this was true, but this has not been the case in recent years.  So when an auction seller quotes an ERV from 2005 and then states that the value is on the rise, this is sort of like a trap to a less knowledgeable buyer.  Sadly, in all likelihood, the 2011 ERV is less than the 2005 ERV.

In conclusion, Swarovski Value can have a number of defininitions….selling price, insurance replacement value, or a sentimental value.  Be careful not to get caught up with a seller’s version of value when the term Swarovski ERV or Swarovski CRV is used in the auction description.  Thoroughly review the auction description.  Do research when deciding your maximum price:  check recently sold items and brokerage sites.  Know the seller’s return policy.  When the transaction is over, the buyer should be happy with outcome.