Swarovski Seals ‘Save Me’ – the SCS Swarovski Box

Sep 162012
 

The second crystal figurine in the Swarovski SCS “Mother and Child” trilogy was the Swarovski ‘Save Me’ Seals.    The Seals were a charming figurine illustrating a new mom and her young seal pup resting on an iceberg.  The Swarovski Seals Box is designed to protect and store the crystal figurine.

The SCS Seals Box is a big white cylinder with silver-gray end caps.  It is much like the Turtledoves Box and Dolphins Box at a quick glance.  On the Seals cylinder, collectors can read the text ‘Annual Edition 1991 “Save Me” – the Seals.  This same text is repeated in 5 other languages on the cylinder container. The Swarovski Seals Box can be found using reference # DO1X911B, which was originally used in the Warner’s Blue Ribbon Books on Swarovski Price Guide.  There is no number on the Seals Box to indicate a factory-assigned identification number.

Swarovski SCS Save Me Seals Box from 1991

Swarovski SCS Seals Box

The custom foam in the cylinder is specific for the Swarovski SCS Seals figurine. This packaging for the Seals is the first to use two completely separate pieces of foam vs a single foam utilizing a (foam) hinge.  The Swarovski Seals Certificate is simply placed on the top foam before putting the gray cap on it as it is small enough that bending does not occur.  Proper placement of the Save Me Seals in the box is fairly simple.  The Seals tail should be placed over the ‘round’ holes / bubbles in the foam and the figurine will easily fit into the foam.  The top foam has similar bubbles / holes that also go over top the tails.  Then aligning the notches along the foam sided allow for the Swarovski-designed fit.  (Hint… When I put the top foam in, I gently twist / untwist the top foam, with a slight downward pressure, to ensure that the foam is pressed down as much as it is supposed to be.)  When in proper position, there is about a ½” of the cylinder showing above the foam for the lid to fit on.

The SCS Seals Box can be found at Crystal Exchange America in the Empty Boxes category.  A number of them are available in the $90 – $110 price range at this time.  All the Save Me Seals boxes include original foam inserts.



Swarovski Seals ‘Save Me’ – the Swarovski COA

Sep 122012
 

SCS membership was continuing to grow across more countries when the Seals were introduced as the 1991 SCS Annual Edition.  Whereas the Swarovski Dolphins Certificate included 7 different language translations, the Swarovski Seals was the earliest certificate to include yet one more language.

Swarovski Save Me Seals Certificate, 1991

Swarovski Seals Certificate for the 1991 'Save Me' Seals

 

The genuine Swarovski Seals Certificate was the first certificate to be like a stapled pamphlet, with each page featuring a different  languages  English, Spanish, French, Italian, German, Dutch, Flemish, and Chinese.

The Swarovski –assigned reference number is located on the back side of the certificate in tiny print.  Officially, the Swarovski Seals certificate is DO4MM91XX.  The Seals ‘Save Me’ Certificate can also be found using another reference # DO1X911C, which was originally used in the Warner’s Blue Ribbon Books on Swarovski insurance price guide.

Regarding availability and replacement value, the SCS Swarovski Seals Certificate easy to find at the moment.  At Crystal Exchange America, the last ones sold were in the neighborhood of $50 – $150, there are not a high number of transactions on them for a consistently reliable replacement value.  We recommend purchasing Swarovski SCS AE figurines as a total package with original box and original certificate.



Swarovski Seals ‘Save Me’ – SCS 1991 Annual Edition

Sep 062012
 

The Swarovski Seals is the second crystal figurine of the second Swarovski trilogy is the “Mother and Child”.  All SCS crystal figurines in this series were constructed of completely clear crystal components, which is a unique characteristic of all the Swarovski SCS figurines.

Swarovski SCS Seals - 'Save Me' 1991 Annual Edition

Swarovski 'Save Me' Seals, 1991 SCS AE

 

The Swarovski Seals could be purchased only in 1991 by SCS collectors with membership in the Swarovski Club (SCS).  The Swarovski Seals measures about 4” long.  It is a figurine with 2 clear seals, a mother seal and a baby seal, resting upon a clear iceberg.

The SCS Seals contain what the crystal brand calls the ‘backstamp / bottomstamp’, which is included for the sake of authenticity.  It is simple to see the designer’s initials “MSt” and the year “91” on the underside of the iceberg.  “MSt” is used for Michael Stamey’s initials since MS is used for Max Schrek (Lovebirds)

The ‘Save Me’ Seals can be identified using the Swarovski part number DO1X911 or system number 158 872.

In addition to the 1991 SCS Seals, the crystal giant has produced other crystal seal figurines, all of which are retired:

  • Swarovski Large Seal – 7646 085 000 / 012 261.  The Swarovski Large Seal was produced with 3 different styles of noses / whiskers.  The Large Seal, in some variation, was available 1985 – 1995.
  • Swarovski Baby Seal – 7663 046 000 / 012 530.  The Swarovski Baby Seal was produced with 3 different styles of noses / whiskers.  The Baby Seal, in some variation, was available 1986 – 2005.
  • Swarovski Playing Seal – 7661 000 006 / 622 526, 2003 – 2007

The SCS Swarovski Seals retailed for $225 USD in 1991.  The purchase price included the SCS crystal figurine, a cylinder with custom foam for the figurine, and a Swarovski COA (certificate of authenticity).    At this time, Swarovski Seals , in mint condition, complete with original packaging can generally be purchased on the secondary market for $350 – $400 from professional Swarovski expert dealers, like Crystal Exchange America.