In 2013, Swarovski is making some changes to the Hello Kitty lineup. There are a couple new kitties on the catwalk, and several other kitties are taking the exit ramp.
Swarovski and Hello Kitty fanatics will be excited to see the two new felines now available for purchase online:
Swarovski Hello Kitty Blue Bow
Swarovski Hello Kitty Ladybug
The Swarovski Hello Kitty 2013 introductions have a slightly lower price point than the original lineup from 2011….$150 (for the 2013 cats) vs $205 (original cat figurines), so that should be great news for our pocket books!
And effective just last month, that very original lineup of Hello Kitty figurines officially retired. So more good news for our pocket book… they are now on sale at 50% off at the Swarovski shoppe:
Swarovski Hello Kitty Pink Bow
Swarovski Hello Kitty Bear
Swarovski Hello Kitty Red Apple
So, three Swarovski Cat Hello Kitty figurines remains yet unmentioned…
Swarovski Hello Kitty Gold Bow – This feline friend was added to the lineup in 2012, so she is still relatively new to the kitty cat group.
Swarovski Hello Kitty Santa – A festive Hello Kitty that is sort of ‘out-of-season’ at this point.
Swarovski Hello Kitty Hearts – This kitty was a limited edition in 2012 and can no longer be purchased in the online shoppe. For collectors who may have missed out, the Hello Kitty Hearts Limited Edition can be found at the Crystal Exchange America web site in the Hello Kitty category.
So let’s give the nice new Swarovski Hello Kitty crystal figurines a warm welcome to Swarovski Cat clan!
One of the more interesting Swarovski crystal figurines is the 2013 Limited Edition Swarovski Hot Chili Mo! The Swarovski product description is as follows:
Hot! Hot! Hot! Dressed in her fiery costume, Hot Chili Mo will spice up your life. She sparkles in Fireopal crystal with a Citrine crystal head and ears, wearing a black elastic necklace with a hot chili pendant. This exclusive Limited Edition is engraved with the year of issue 2013. Not intended for children 15 and under.
This new Lovlots Hot Chili Mo was designed by Keiko Arai. The Swarovski assigned system # is 1173065. Swarovski Hot Chili Mo retails for $70. The chili pepper on this mo cow is a necklace, so I’m not sure if it is a crystal component or made of some other substance (since Swarovski is using other materials on some of their figurines….namely the Swarovski Emoti figurines)
As the official launch date of Hot Chili Mo was just a few days ago, Swarovski crystal fanatics should be able to place their order soon at the Swarovski shoppe or perhaps find one at their local Swarovski boutique!
If you are interested to purchase retired Limited Edition Cows (originally part of the) Swarovski Lovlots collection, check out Crystal Exchange America in the Limited Edition Swarovski category.
The Swarovski Lovlots showcase is showing some colorful new characters…the most noticeable being the new Swarovski Dinosaurs!
Swarovski has created 5 new characters, all types of dinosaurs, who are a part of Lovlots community according to the crystal giant’s own web site:
Swarovski Big T Dinosaur, a Tyrannosaurus Rex retailing for $100
Swarovski Brett Dinosaur, a Brontosaurus retailing for $160
Swarovski Pippa Dinosaur, a Pterodactyl retailing for $50
Swarovski Stephanie Dinosaur, a Stegosaurus retailing for $100
Swarovski Travis Dinosaur, a Triceratops retailing for $100
The five crystal dinosaurs are definitely out of the ordinary. In Swarovski trends from past years, there has been a limited edition for the new group. As none of these dinosaurs are identified as limited editions, I’m wondering if there is yet another Swarovski Dinosaur to be released yet in 2013?
Swarovski has released several other crystal dinosaurs:
Swarovski Dino 7550 000 010 / 268 204. Available 2002 through 2005 from Swarovski.
Swarovski Lovlots Jay D. Dino – 9400 000 052 / 832 181. Available 2006 through 2007 from Swarovski.
So cheers to Swarovski’s newest characters representing the enormous, extinct reptiles of the earth!
A recent Swarovski press release follows about the crystal giant’s new Disney Collection, which is a faceted salute to Mickey’s debut in 1928.
Swarovski and Disney are synonymous with magic and enchantment. The collaborations are a successful blend of Disney’s icons and Swarovski’s unique crystal expertise.
With an appreciative nod to history, Swarovski presents Disney’s Steamboat Willie. This piece celebrates the 85th anniversary of the first Disney movie with synchronized sound. Limited to the year of issue, the dynamic Steamboat Willie, Limited Edition 2013 is created in faceted clear and Black Diamond Crystal and, thanks to the separate bases, can be positioned in a number of different ways. It was in this heartwarming tale of adventure that Mickey and Minnie had their romantic debut. Who was to know, that for Disney too, it would all start with a mouse? (Personal comment….I think it may have started with a mouse for Swarovski too!)
Mickey aficionados should mark March 2013 in their calendar. In celebration of the most recognizable and beloved symbol of the world, Swarovski is issuing a limited edition Mickey Mouse entirely created in the Swarovski trademark Pointiage® technique. Limited to 100 pieces worldwide, each Mickey Mouse, Limited Edition 2013 is individually numbered. Ever-enchanting, the Mickey Mouse Limited Edition is covered in approximately 21,000 hand-set crystals and is available as of March 4, 2013 from selected Swarovski Boutiques or the Swarovski online shop.
Mickey Mouse fanatics may be interested in other Swarovski crystal Mickey Mouse releases:
Swarovski Mickey Mouse, (colored) introduced in 2012
In the past few years, Swarovski has done some online only jewelry exclusives just weeks prior to the Christmas holiday season. Yesterday, the crystal giant sent out emails about the Swarovski Rice Siam Set, stating that this is a limited edition jewelry set of just 500 pieces and available this weekend only.
The Swarovski Rice Siam Set consists of a necklace and matching pierced earrings. This limited edition is available online only December 2nd and 3rd at their web site shoppe. The retail price of the Rice Siam Set (identification # 1193976) is $125.
The Rice Siam Set is rhodium plated with a pave cross shape suspending a red siam crystal stone. It looks like a nice addition to any holiday outfit for the upcoming holiday parties!
If you like the Limited Edition Swarovski design, but are unsure about the ‘red’, Swarovski does have this same design in other colors! There one with a light purple feature stone: Swarovski Rice Provence Lavendar Set Limited Online Edition, one with a light blue feature stone: Swarovski Rice Aquamarine Rice Set, and lastly one with a light pink feature stone: Swarovski Rice Vintage Rose Rice Set. All four ‘Rice Sets’ have a sticker price of $125 each.
Although I don’t recall seeing any official news about Swarovski’s weekend special in advance of yesterday, I believe they there were 3-4 of them in 2010 and 2011, so be sure to watch your email for more Swarovski Limited Edition opportunities in the upcoming weeks!
Last year, Swarovski launched 2 Skull figurines as a part of the Soulmates group. They are unique, and the crystal fanatics that have talked to us, don’t seem to want the Swarovski Skulls in their crystal cabinet.
After release of the Skull figurines, Swarovski began releasing men’s jewelry with the Skull motif: pendants, cufflinks, keyrings, and more. I found a total of 21 product offerings in the online Swarovski Shoppe when I queried ‘Skull’.
Recently, I found another Skull item in their store with some integrated technology. And it’s an Online Limited Edition! As the title of our article reveals, it is an iPhone 4 and 4S Swarovski N the Skull Docking Station.
Here’s a summary of the product taken directly from the Swarovski web site:
Limited to just 199 pieces, this unique fashion accessory makes a very special gift for modern men. Perfect for charging or transferring data to your phone, it comes with a USB cable and is compatible with the iPhone® 4 and 4S (iPhone® is a trademark of Apple Inc). The skull shines darkly in Jet Hematite crystal with a ruthenium finish metal face. It is engraved with the individual Limited Edition number.
It’s a good thing that Swarovski didn’t make too many of these…when the iPhone 5 was released in September, Apple changed the charging port from a 30-pin adapter to a ‘lightning’ adapter. That means that the Swarovski iPhone Skull will not work with the newest iPhone 5 models.
If you have the older iPhone 4 or 4S and are considering the purchase of a Swarovski charging station, the Swarovski Skull charger will set you back a mere $1100. But act quickly as less than 200 N the Skull Docking Station, Swarovski Limited Online Edition are available at their web site!
I recently heard that Swarovski was changing the contents of the Silver Crystal formula to be ‘lead free’. So if it might become virtually lead free, does that mean that it contain(ed) lead? Well, yes, it contained lead, more than 30%! If you look on some older labels of Swarovski figurines, it can be clearly seen > 30% Pbo.
Hearing of a possible formula change, I sought the crystal giant for official answers about a lead free Swarovski crystal, and here is the information received…
We are pleased to confirm that Swarovski has developed a new formula for crystals, which we call ‘Advanced Crystal’. These cryse crystals continue to have the radiance, joy and sparkling abundance that Swarovski is famous for throughout the World. They are made using the same high quality standards that we always use.
Whilst the precise details of the change are proprietary, we are pleased to confirm that this is a natural development for Swarovski. It continues our long term commitment to innovation, to the environment and to developing sustainable products.
Advanced crystals can be used and adapted for use in exactly the same way as any of the crystals that we have previously produced. We believe that this is an exciting development for Swarovski and reinforces our reputation as the market leader for product innovation, product development and for manufacturing the highest quality crystals. This also applies to all figurine products, such as Silver Crystal.
Far-reaching developments are afoot at Swarovski, with the announcement of a dramatic change to the DNA of its crystal. By September 2012, SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS will have its entire assortment switched to the new ADVANCED CRYSTAL standard a patented, lead-free** formula that is much more than merely compliant with the strictest laws on the planet. Hassle-free, rigorously tested and completely reliable, it is quite simply the most advanced crystal composition on the market today, providing perfect peace of mind.
* Crystal glass and all other materials containing 0.009% lead or less.
Please note that for our figurines you will still find both variations in the markets and that our new innovative crystal recipe results in a lighter weight, there is however no optical or visual difference
Please note, that the brilliance, the light dispersion etc. are not solely defined through the crystal composition but also determined by precision cutting, polishing and purity of raw materials all areas in which Swarovski takes a leading position in the industry.
I found out that the recipe change applies to both clear and colored components used in assembling figurines.
Since the modification took place this year (2012), that means that old-stock figurines may be purchased with the original leaded content, and that new nearly lead-free identical figurines can be purchased. The only difference is that the ‘Advanced Crystal’ figurines may weigh slightly less. The famous Frauenhofer institute in Germany tested and confirmed that old recipe figurines and ‘Advanced Crystal’ figurines have the same visual and optical resemblance.
It would be interesting to set two identical Swarovski crystal figurines, one with leaded content and one with nearly lead free content, side by side to see if any of us thought we could tell any differences!
The free web site www.RetiredSwarovski.com shows a list of Swarovski Lovlots that are scheduled to retire by the end of 2012. The list contains just over 30 Swarovski Lovlotsfigurines that will not be offered at Swarovski.com or boutiques in 2013.
Included in the Swarovski Lovlots Retirements list are:
7 Happy Ducks
7 Kris Bears
3 Limited Edition Mos
More!
To me, the biggest surprise was to see the Swarovski Lovlots Bo Bear So Brilliant in the list of retirements. Why? Because the Bo Bear community was just launched in July, 2012. This means that Swarovski is offering this figurine for less than 6 months. While the crystal brand has never advertised this Lovlots as a Limited Edition figurine, I think it certainly could have been! My curiosity is now a bit peaked about the actual quantity produced given its brief availability.
For a more complete list of 2012 Swarovski Lovlots retirements, RetiredSwarovski.com is the place to go. To purchase retired or Limited Edition Swarovski Lovlots, check out the Lovlots and Zodiac category at Crystal Exchange America’s web site.
Just within the past month, Swarovski launched a colorful series of the Disney favorites Winnie the Pooh series. This full-color series consists of:
Swarovski Eeyore – 9100 000 390 / 1 142 842. Eeyore was designed by Dominic Schöpf and retails for $290.
Swarovski Piglet – 9100 000 387 / 1 142 841. Piglet was designed by Elisabeth Adamer and retails for $120.
Swarovski Tigger – 9100 000 389 / 1 142 841. Tigger was designed by Anton Hirzinger and retails for $300.
Swarovski Winnie the Pooh – 9100 000 385 / 1 142 889. Winnie the Pooh was designed by Anton Hirzinger and retails for $230.
The 2012 Swarovski Disney figurines are quite lively with their new coloring and will certainly allow for Disney fanatics to get in on the Swarovski Crystal-collecting action!
In 2007, Swarovski and Disney collaborated to launch a (mostly) clear series for these same four Pooh friends. All the Swarovski Disney crystal caricatures in the clear series were designed by Mario Dilitz. The figurines with identification numbers and retirement dates are:
Swarovski also produced a title plaque for the clear Swarovski Disney Pooh friends: Winnie the Pooh Title Plaque – 9100 000 083 / 905 772. The plaque was also designed by Mario Dilitz and retired in 2010.
If you like the new colored figurines, place your order with Swarovski.com or any authorized retailer. If you prefer the clear Swarovski Disney figurines, those would have to be purchased from a secondary market dealer like Crystal Exchange America.
While I have not seen or heard any news from Swarovski, I have been seeing a Tinker Bell in Red on various authorized retailer web sites and on eBay too.
Here are my conclusions about the Swarovski 2012 Tinker Bell…
Swarovski Red Tinkerbell is a Limited Edition in 2012. It is not clear if there is a maximum quantity of production or if distribution is limited in some way to geographic area.
Swarovski Limited Edition Tinkerbell will retail for $315.
Swarovski Christmas Tinkerbell is about 5″ tall.
The 2012 Swarovski Tinker Bell looks similar to the Swarovski Tinker Bell that the crystal brand introduced in 2011, but there are differences (other than simply replacing a green outfit with a red one):
Swarovski Green Tinker Bell has a more curvy base than Swarovski Red Tinker Bell.
Swarovski Green Tinker Bell has green poms on her shoes. Swarovski Red Tinker Bell has white poms on her shoes.
Swarovski Green Tinker Bell has a clear bun on her head. Swarovski Red Tinker Bell has a red bun on her head.
Both Swarovski Tinkerbell crystal figurines appear to have a silver toned wand and have Aurore Boreale wings that shimmer.
The 2012 Swarovski Christmas Tinker Bell can be identified with the part number of 9100 000 409 and system number 1143621. At this point in time, it appears to be a pre-order item. I would imagine that the release date will be similar to the Christmas merchandise in USA, which is early October. (Nothing official found on launch date.)
This video, posted by an authorized retailer in the USA, shows The 2012 Swarovski Christmas Tinker Bell rotating in 360 degrees for a total view of this limited edition figurine.
In 2008, the crystal giant also produced another Limited Edition Swarovski Tinker Bell which has commands an unusually high price of $700-$900 following retirement.
The newest Swarovski Limited Edition Tinker Bell (Christmas Tinker Bell) looks like a real beauty the Disney fanatics and Swarovski crystal fanatics will certainly want to purchase!