Apr 162012
 

Exclusively available from April 14, 2012 onwards, Swarovski is proud to present the Limited Online Edition Lime Panther.  This eclectic, eye-catching crystal sculpture is limited to 888 pieces which are only available from the Swarovski online shop.  The Limited Online Edition Lime Panther is the third in a series of online exclusive panthers. Balanced and impressive, the sculpture captures a graceful poise and seduces with its exceptional color in perfectly faceted crystal. The Black Spot granite base sets a nice contrast and further underlines the strength inherent to these famed creatures. Graceful power combined with luxurious materials which better combination could possibly grace your interior?

The Swarovski Lime Panther Online Limited Edition has a retail price of $1100.00 USD.  The system number for the crystal Lime Panther is 1142792.

Swarovski Lime Panther, Limited Online Edition

Swarovski Limited Online Edition Lime Panther

Other Swarovski Panthers available for purchase from the crystal brand include:

  1. Swarovski Soulmate Panther (clear) – 9600 000 074 / 874 337.  Introduced in 2007 and retired in 2011.
  2. Swarovski Soulmate Limited Online Edition Panther (black) – 9600 000 151 / 1060325. Introduced and sold out in 2010.
  3. Swarovski Soulmate Moroda Panther (moroda) – 1096051.  New release for 2011.
  4. Swarovski Soulmate Limited Online Edition Orange Shine Panther (copper-like) – 1096050. Introduced and sold out in 2011.

The Limited Edition Black Panther (500 units) sold out in under 48 hours according to the Swarovski web site.  The Limited Edition Orange Shine Panther (888 units) took about 3 months to sell out.

The designer for the Swarovski Soulmate Panther figurines is Heinz Tabertshofer.  All the crystal figurines are fully faceted animals attached to black spot granite bases.  The online limited editions (black and orange shine panthers) are engraved in the granite base with a unique # and the words “limited online edition”.

The Limited Edition Black Panther has been trading at favorable pricing to the seller on the secondary market, with selling prices in the $2900 to $3300 range.  The Limited Edition Orange Shine Panther has been trading prices very close to original retail price….$1200 – $1400.

I’m sure that crystal fanatics wish they had a crystal ball (pardon the pun) to know how this one is going to sell in the future…buy only one for their collection, or buy several in hopes of making a few bucks?  (Reminder….Swarovski indicates on their web site that quantities are limited to 3 per person).  I have purchased mine (just one).  One thing for sure…you’ll want place your order now, so that you won’t have to pay secondary market prices to add this Swarovski Limited Edition to your crystal collection later.



Mar 062012
 

Swarovski has announced to its SCS members that they are releasing another Limited Online Edition Panther.  The impending NLE release is for the Swarovski Lime Panther.

Swarovski NLE Lime NC Panther

Third Eclectic Panther: Swarovski Lime Panther

The crystal brand’s article states that the Lime Panther is the third issue of the Eclectic Panther collection.  The other two panthers are the Swarovski Black Panther available in April, 2010 and Swarovski Orange Shine Panther available in August 2011.  All three Swarovski Soulmates panthers are Limited Online Editions with a maximum production of 888 units.

When I initially heard the color Lime (Lime NC in the article), I immediately thought it would be a shade of green.  However, when I see the pictures on the Swarovski site, to me, it appears much more yellow, like a banana yellow.

There is no mention of the price, but I expect it to be similar to the other Swarovski Eclectic Panthers in the $900 – $1100 range.  The Black Panther sold out in days.  The Orange Shine Panther took several months to become a sell-out.  It will be interesting to see the time frame that the Swarovski Lime NC Panther remains online prior to sell-out.  It is worthwhile to mention that the crystal giant plans to impose a maximum quantity for purchase to 3 per person.  I would think that if the company wants everyone to have a reasonable chance to purchase, that they should limit to 3 per address.

For Swarovski crystal fanatics ready to purchase the Swarovski Lime NC Panther, mark your calendar for April 16, 2012.  For cat fanatics looking for the other Eclectic Panthers, Crystal Exchange America has the Swarovski Black Panther and Swarovski Orange Shine Panther in their online store in the ‘Limited Edition Swarovski’ category!



Dec 132011
 

Several days ago I wrote about a Swarovski Panther figurine that I found on ebay.  The article sparked a good bit of conversation about the authenticity of the panther in the auction.

Summarizing the ebay product description, the seller states that the Swarovski panther is…. “frosted flocked white (matt)”, “very rare”, “prototype”, about “15 pieces worldwide”.

In short, the Swarovski Frosted Panther article here on the Kristall Buzz posed the possibility that the ebay auction panther could be an aftermarket alteration.  The reason is due to the ambiguous terminology in the description “frosted” and “flocked”.

We have received definitions that the crystal brand themselves would use to describe a “flocked figurine” and a “frosted figurine”

  • Frosted means the crystal is either sandblasted or treated with an acid liquid – both would take away/smoothen the facets slightly.
  • Flocked Crystal means that a special textile has been applied/glued to the crystal. It would feel a bit fuzzy/velvety to touch.

So what can be stated as fact in the “panther discussion”?  Flocked Panther authenticity itself has not been debated on the Kristall Buzz..  The Swarovski Flocked Panther is in the Swarovski Eclectic Panther display (Click here to view a Swarovski Flocked Panther picture in a new window).

One of our trusted contacts has indicated to me that Swarovski NEVER frosted the panther, so we believe the Frosted Panther to be an aftermarket modification.

The panther authenticity issue stemmed from the use of two terms being used to describe the crystal figurine in the auction:  flocked and frosted.  Really, I don’t believe it can be both flocked and frosted.  The applications seem mutually exclusive.  If it is flocked, it would be fuzzy, likely very difficult to clean/remove dust and lint.  If it is frosted, the surface would resemble the Swarovski Apollo Bowl or Swarovski SCS Woodpeckers tree trunk.

Putting this into another perspective, how would one interpret the following hypothetical item description?

For Sale: Swarovski Limited Edition Black Moroda Panther

It would likely be difficult to distinguish the difference in a full-view picture. Would you conclude that it is the Limited Edition Black Panther?  Or would you conclude that the item is the Moroda Panther?

The hypothetical (confusing) description  “limited edition black moroda panther” (to me) is no different than the “frosted white flocked panther”.  While this article should clear up questions about the differences between frosted and flocked, it is still any seller’s responsibility to accurately describe auction items, hopefully eliminating ambiguity and confusion.  As a Swarovski crystal collector and possible bidder, I still urge people to use caution and do research when considering to bid or purchase any “unofficial” product, such as “prototypes” and items that “slipped out the back door”.



Dec 122011
 

Swarovski has produced 4 different colors of the Soulmates Panthers available for sale to the public:

But just how many Swarovski crystal collectors are fortunate enough to be able to see the Swarovski “Eclectic Panther” project which is on display in Vienna?  This is an amazing assembly of Swarovski Panther figurines.

Swarovski shows just a few of the panthers from the “Moments of Wonder” collection on their own web site: Swarovski Eclectic Panther .  Among the pictures, one shown is a hot pink panther (not one that would match my home décor very well) and a very attractive blackish-silverish, almost chrome-like, panther figurine.  The two photos below are compliments of Swarovski Vienna.

Swarovski Eclectic Pink Panther

Swarovski Pink Panther, member in the Eclectic Panther Collection

Swarovski Black / Silver / Chrome-like Panther

Swarovski Chrome / Black / Silver Panther, member in the Eclectic Panther Collection

Swarovski’s web site includes:

Constant renewal, change and innovation are some of the maxims of Swarovski: the “Eclectic Panther” project is the realisation of the fusion of creative minds in the company.

As diverse and variable crystal matter is, so also are the multitude of colours, effects and materials of more than 40 “Eclectic Panthers”. The high precision cutting technique, one of Swarovski’s core competences, has been newly interpreted and applied to much differing materials such as wood, silicone or concrete.

I hear that the Swarovski Eclectic Panther figurines have some type of special marking on it to indicate it is a part of this unique collection.  It would be interesting to see a close-up image of the marking.

For now, Swarovski collectors can only speculate if the crystal brand might release another Swarovski Panther figurine in 2012 and if so, is it a traditional release or is it a limited edition Swarovski crystal figurine?



Dec 072011
 

During the past couple of weeks, I noticed a Swarovski Soulmate Panther on eBay, which is advertised by the seller to be a very rare prototype.  This particular Swarovski figurine just might raise the eyebrows of Swarovski crystal fanatics wanting more information about it.

It can be very difficult to tell which items are truly Swarovski prototypes, and which items have after-market alterations enhancements and are misrepresented for sellers to make a buck.  The controversy will always remain without official company statements, which I seriously doubt would ever happen.

This press release is about a rare Swarovski Poodle purchased by a Swarovski crystal collector from Crystal Exchange America in October, 2010.  While official Swarovski literature shows the standing poodle with both a frosted tail and a clear tail, some critics still speculate that the crystal brand did not officially produce both the Standing Poodle with clear tail and Standing Poodle with frosted tail.

This press release is about a Swarovski Frosted Mane Lion that is for sale at Crystal Exchange America.  I’m not aware of any official company statement regarding its authenticity.  Having it for sale on our web site, I do get asked my opinion about the authenticity.  I can only say that I really don’t know….the Swarovski Frosted Mane Lion is interesting, and it is attractive.   If the price is right and you like it, buy it.  But I do not recommend a Swarovski collector purchase it with the impression that it is genuine and that it will increase in value, because there is simply no proof at this time to substantiate the claim.

Swarovski Soulmate Panther, with Matte Crystal Appearance

Swarovski Soulmate Panther, with Frosted Crystal Appearance

So, now on eBay (a closed auction), is a Swarovski Soulmate Frosted Panther, which the seller claims is a rare prototype, a part of the Eclectic Panther collection, in the Moments of Wonder display at Swarovski Vienna.  The seller’s description clearly states “frosted flocked white (matt)”.  And that it is “very rare”, “prototype”, about “15 pieces worldwide”.  What might be actually concluded about the authenticity of the Swarovski Panther from the auction?

  • The seller indicated that the Frosted Panther is on display at Swarovski Vienna.  There is a picture of part of the display, but it is impossible to tell if a Swarovski Frosted Panther is actually displayed there.  Why wouldn’t the seller have used a more conclusive photo for proof?
  • The seller indicated that it is prototype, with about 15 produced.  One of our trusted contacts has indicated to me that Swarovski NEVER frosted the panther, that the only explanation is that a frosted panther is an after-market alteration.

Swarovski crystal fanatics will have to form their own opinion.  IF this is a fake (aftermarket enhancement), I think it is sad that society has risen to the level of deceit to cash in from altering a fabulous Swarovski design, then misleading the public that the Swarovski company produced it AS IS.  And if it is genuine, the seller is going to have to come up with better proof of the statements in the auction….i.e. high quality conclusive photos of the display, perhaps prototype logos, or official company statement.  It will be interesting to follow this figurine through the holidays to see if it does ever sell.  I originally saw it listed and closed unsold for $5500 or best offer.  Several days later, it was relisted and closed unsold for $3950 or best offer.   My recommendation is that everyone should use caution when purchasing crystal advertised as “prototypes”, as this could be extremely difficult to substantiate.  Personally, I would even remain leery of crystal figurines that “slipped out the back door”, and the like.

I certainly don’t wish to put a damper on anyone’s holiday spirits….I just want to provide some food for thought so that no one ends up with buyer’s remorse about spending a nice chunck of change on what could be a fraudulent figurine (aftermarket enhancement).



Nov 022011
 

Today, we received the official Swarovski news that the Swarovski Orange Shine Panther is now SOLD OUT!  The Orange Shine Panther publicly launched August 29, 2011.  This Swarovski Panther was a limited edition figurine (Swarovski NLE) of 888 units.  The orange wild cat, in a typical cat pose, retailed for $1110.

Swarovski Soulmates Orange Shine Panther

Swarovski Orange Shine Limited Edition Panther

Despite it being ‘another limited edition’ panther, I expected a quick sell out, like the Swarovski  Black Panther.  The Swarovski Limited Edition Black Panther (Swarovski NLE) was limited to 500 units and retailed for $960 when it was briefly available at the online Swarovski shoppe in April, 2010.

The Orange Shine Panther and Black Panther are among Swarovski crystal feline friends….Swarovski also produced a clear Panther figurine, that retired in 2011 and a moroda Panther figurine which is presently available in the Swarovski shoppe.  The Kristall Buzz has featured a number of articles about Swarovski Panthers:

I’m wondering what the crystal brand is thinking….

  • Is another colored, limited edition Swarovski panther figurine in the works?
  • Does the extended time available indicate that Swarovski collectors did not like the orange-shine color?
  • Does the extended time available imply that Swarovski collectors might not be interested to purchase another limited edition panther in a different color?

Now, if feline fanatics want to purchase the Swarovski Orange Panther, they will have to turn to the secondary market or online auctions.  At Crystal Exchange America, the Black Panther and Orange Shine Panther, as well as other Swarovski NLE figurines, can be found in the ‘Limited Edition Swarovski’ category of the store.  Or collectors can use the powerful store search feature, keyword ‘panther’ to restrict the search results to Swarovski panthers.



Sep 072011
 

The Swarovski Orange Shine Online Limited Edition launched online about 10 days ago for purchase.  I quickly placed my order, not wanting to pay higher prices once it sold out.  I was quite excited for it to arrive only 5 days after I got my order placed.  I  didn’t really know what to expect in an “orange shine” colored panther.  I was thrilled once I was able to see it in person….I really like it!

Swarovski Soulmates Limited Edition Panther

Swarovski Limited Edition Soulmates Orange Panther

Now, the Swarovski Orange Panther is appearing everywhere for sale….there are at least five of them on ebay, and collectors are listing them with our service at Crystal Exchange America.  Naturally, collectors are hoping to sell them for a profit, as the advertised prices are $1800 and up everywhere outside of the Swarovski shoppe.

Honestly, I did think this Swarovski crystal panther would be sold out in just a few days.  The panther was a well-liked design.  The maximum production is low (888 units), and the price point is affordable.  I thought this would be a winning combination for Swarovski crystal collectors.  My thoughts now are that perhaps collectors are thinking three panthers are ENOUGH.  Or perhaps, collectors are still a bit nervous about an ‘orange’ panther.

In any case, we urge collectors to double-check with the Swarovski site before making a decision to purchase elsewhere.  Some ebay sellers are reporting that it is sold out, when in fact, it is not.  If there is a particular sequence number that is a ‘must have’, then the seller has the upper hand on pricing.  If not, buy it where is it priced the lowest.

The designer for the Swarovski Soulmate Panther figurines is Heinz Tabertshofer.  All the crystal figurines are fully faceted animals attached to black spot granite bases.  The limited editions are engraved in the granite base with a unique # and the words “limited online edition”.  Swarovski Panthers have been sold in the following colors: clear, black, moroda, and orange.

The Limited Edition Black Panther is trading at seller-prodfitable prices on the secondary market, in the $3000 to $3500 range.  If this is any long-term indicator of success for the Swarovski Limited Edition Orange Shine Panther, you’ll want place your order now, so that you won’t have to pay secondary market prices to add it to your Swarovski crystal collection.  Should this occur before you get the Panther added to your collection, check out the the “Limited Edition Swarovski” category of our store at www.CrystalExchange.com .



Aug 292011
 

Great news for Swarovski crystal fanatics….The Swarovski Orange Shine Online Limited Edition is available online for purchase

This Swarovski Panther is identical in design to other panthers produced by Swarovski.  That being said, this panther is Orange, and is limited to 888 units of production.  The system number for the Orange Shine Panther is 1096050.  This Swarovski Panther has a price tag of $1100.

Swarovski Limited Online Edition Orange Shine Panther

Swarovski Orange Shine Panther

Other Swarovski Panthers available for purchase from the crystal brand include:

  1. Swarovski Panther (clear) – 9600 000 074 / 874 337.  Introduced in 2007 and retired in 2011.
  2. Swarovski Black Panther – 9600 000 151 / 1060325. Introduced and sold out in 2010.
  3. Swarovski Moroda Panther  – 1096051.  New release for 2011.

The designer for the Swarovski Soulmate Panther figurines is Heinz Tabertshofer .  All the crystal figurines are fully faceted animals attached to black spot granite bases.  The limited editions are engraved in the granite base with a unique # and the words “limited online edition”.

Get your order in quickly if you wish to secure your limited edition orange panther!  The Limited Edition Black Panther sold out in under 48 hours according to the Swarovski web site.  While this one has a higher price tag (about $110 more) and an increase in production of 78% more units, history could very well repeat itself with a quick sell out.

The Limited Edition Black Panther is performing well on the secondary market, with trading prices in the $3000 to $3500 range.  If this is any indication of success for the Limited Edition Orange Shine Panther, you’ll want place your order now, so that you won’t have to pay secondary market prices to add it to your Swarovski crystal collection.



Aug 042011
 

The Swarovski Black Panther (Numbered Limited Edition in 2010) is a stunning sculpture by Heinz Tabertshofer .  All Black Panther figurines have a unique number engraved on the base and has the Swarovski swan logo on the back leg.  The Swarovski Black Panther weighs over 4 lbs and measures over 8″ tall.

Swarovski Limited Edition Panther

This crystal Black Panther is a Swarovski NLE, limited to 500 pieces.  It was available online only, and sold out in a mere 2 days its unveiling in the online Swarovski shoppe.  While it originally sold for just under $1000, the price quickly sky-rocketed to $3000.  Now, it is becoming even more difficult to find, and boasts prices at nearly $4000.

The Swarovski Soulmate Panther design has been a well-liked design by Swarovski crystal fanatics.  Other Soulmate Panther figurines include:

  • Soulmate Swarovski Clear Panther – 9600 000 074 / 874 337.  2007 to 2011.
  • Soulmate Swarovski Moroda Panther – 1096051.  New release in June, 2011.
  • Soulmate Swarovski Limited Edition Orange Shine Panther – 1096051.  New release in August, 2011.

If you are looking to add the Swarovski Black Panther to your collection, go to CrystalExchange.com and look in the Limited Edition Swarovski Category.



Jun 272011
 

The famous crystal brand has announced that they are releasing another wild cat… the Swarovski Soulmate Orange Shine Panther Limited Online Edition.  The Orange Shine Panther is the 4th variation of the panther to be produced Swarovski crystal fanatics to add to their collection:

  1. Swarovski Soulmate Panther (clear) – 9600 000 074 / 874 337.  Introduced in 2007and retires in 2011.
  2. Swarovski Soulmate Limited Edition Panther (black) – 9600 000 151 / 1060325. Introduced and sold out in 2010.
  3. Swarovski Soulmate Panther (moroda) – 1096051.  New release for 2011.
  4. Swarovski Soulmate Limited Edition Panther (orange shine) – 1096051.  New release for 2011.
Swarovski Orange Shine Panther

The designer for the Swarovski Soulmate Panther figurines is Heinz Tabertshofer .  All the panther crystal figurines are fully faceted animals attached to black spot granite bases.  The limited editions are individually numbered and engraved in the granite base.

The Kristall Buzz has featured previous articles about the gorgeous Swarovski Panther cats:

So what are the differences between the Swarovski Online Limited Edition Panthers? As much as I know at this time, the colors are different and the production quantity is different.  Swarovski Black Panther – Limited to 500 units.  Swarovski Orange Shine Panther – Limited to 888 units.  I have not heard any news about the price.  The retail price on all the colors released to date has been just under $1000 each.

The Limited Edition Black Panther is performing well on the secondary market, with trading prices in the $3000 to $3500 range.  If this is any indication of success for the Limited Edition Orange Shine Panther, you’ll want to save the date of August 29, 2011 to try and purchase this newest one, so that you won’t have to pay secondary market prices to add it to your Swarovski crystal collection.



Apr 072011
 

Last month, I wrote an article about the Swarovski Black Panther and its latest rival the Swarovski Moroda Panther, both a part of the Swarovski Soulmate product line.  For the most part, I had two questions:

  1. What is the difference in color between the Swarovski Black Panther and the Swarovski Moroda Panther?
  2. And if the colors are nearly identical, is the value of the Swarovski Limited Edition Black Panther going to decline as a result of a nearly identical release?

Originally, when the article was written, on the Swarovski site, the panther’s color was described as it gleams intensely in Moroda crystal.   It was up to the buyer to figure out what ‘Moroda crystal’ was.

I’m happy to see that Swarovski has expanded upon their description of the color.  A portion of the Swarovski Panther product description states it gleams intensely in Moroda crystal, radiating from a metallic blue to warm bronze and brown-black tones.  I think this still leaves a bit to the imagination, but it does sound like an interesting color, if these dark rainbow tones do come out when displayed in a Swarovski collector’s cabinet.


Swarovski Moroda PantherSwarovski Black PantherSwarovski Soulmate Panther
(Pictured above, left to right are the Swarovski Soulmate Panthers:  Moroda Panther, Black Panther, and Clear Panther)

Here’s a quick comparison between the Swarovski Black Panther and Swarovski Moroda Panther if you’re considering a purchase:

  • Availability…
    Swarovski Black Panther – Swarovski Numbered Limited Edition (more difficult to locate)
    Swarovski Moroda Panther – Brand New 2011, not numbered, not limited
  • Color…
    Swarovski Black Panther – Jet Black
    Swarovski Moroda Panther – Moroda crystal, radiating from a metallic blue to warm bronze and brown-black tones
  • Where to Purchase…
    Swarovski Black Panther – Retired.  Must be purchased on the Secondary Market or Online Auction
    Swarovski Moroda Panther –  Brand New.  Can be purchased from the Swarovski web site or any authorized retailer (still not available to purchase in the USA online)
  • Price…
    Swarovski Black Panther – Purchase price likely to be $3000 – $4000
    Swarovski Moroda Panther – Purchase price $960 (or maybe less if you have a good relationship with your Swarovski store)

If you still prefer clear figurines over colored figurines, the crystal brand is retiring the clear Swarovski Soulmate Panther this year (2011).  The clear cat has a system number of 874 337.  The Swarovski designer credited for the elegant design is Heinz Tabertshofer.  All the Swarovski Soulmate Panther figurines come in a firm case, a cleaning cloth, and gloves.  All retail(ed) for $960.

If you are a feline fanatic, there are other Swarovski crystal wild cat figurines:  Swarovski Tiger, Swarovski Golden Shadow Lion, Swarovski Lion, and Swarovski Leopard.  Most of these feline figurines can be found at the Crystal Exchange America web site:  http://www.crystalexchange.com/ .



Mar 162011
 

The Black Panther, Swarovski NLE 2010, sold out very quickly when it was released for online purchasing in April last year. With a retail price tag of $960, the Swarovski Black Panther (jet was the official color) was one of the most affordable NLE issues that was produced by the crystal giant.  And a maximum production quantity of only 500 figurines, this was another nice feature that made this black cat quite desirable.  Shortly after the sell-out date, the Swarovski Black Panther sky-rocketed to its current secondary market price of $2500-$3000 USD.

Swarovski Black Panther, NLE 2010

All this being said, the Swarovski Black Panther may have some competition in the very near future.  The crystal brand is releasing another colored panther…the Swarovski Moroda Panther.  The Swarovski system number is 1096051.  Looking at the product picture at the Swarovski web site, you may very well think that this newest panther is brown, which would indeed make it a bit different from the original Black Panther.

Swarovski Moroda Panther, 2011

However, if you look at another new release, the Swarovski French Angelfish, this release has a lot of ‘moroda’ colored crystal accents, and the official Swarovski product description for the fish states that Moroda is black.  BLACK?  BLACK!

Well, of course any color differentiation cannot be done until a collector has both Swarovski Panther figurines side by side.  But at the moment, I am feeling uneasy about this new release.  My NLE Swarovski Black Panther has gone up in value…something that cannot be said very often these days.  If this new cat, the Moroda Panther, is a shade of black, history indicates that the (jet) Black Panther values will drop as many collectors will likely settle for purchasing the Moroda Panther for a fraction of the price.

I have seen this new-similar-design approach in the past, and it nearly always brings down the value of the original design as buyers will simply not pay higher prices for retired figurines when Swarovski has other cheaper, suitable alternatives.  Examples of this phenomenon include: Swarovski SCS Dragon (DO1X971) and Dragon (7550 000 005), Swarovski SCS Turtledoves (DO1X891) and Turtledoves (7621 000 011), Swarovski SCS Dolphins (DO1X901) and Dolphin (7644 000 001).  (and there are other look-alike figurines, these are only a few).  All the Swarovski SCS crystal figurines dropped hundreds of dollars, 30% – 50%, depending on the figurine.  While the economy certainly contributes to the decline in value of the secondary market in general, I do believe that for these figurines, it was precipitated by the release of the similar-looking figurines which, by the way, are all still current on the Swarovski web site.  I foresee history repeating itself…good for the company with more sales of a newly-released panther, no-so-good for collectors who have valuable retired Swarovski figurines, in this case, the beautiful (jet) Black Panther.

If you like the Swarovski Panther design, but prefer clear crystal figurines, the crystal brand does offer the figurine in clear crystal, but it is retiring very soon (2011).  The clear cat has a system number of 874 337.  The Swarovski designer credited for the elegant design is Heinz Tabertshofer.  All the Swarovski Panther figurines come in a firm blue box, a cleaning cloth, and gloves.  All retail(ed) for $960.

If you are a feline fanatic, you may be interested to know that there are other Swarovski crystal wild cat figurines:  Swarovski Leopard, Swarovski Lion, Swarovski Golden Shadow Lion, and Swarovski Tiger.  Most of these can be found at the Crystal Exchange America web site:  http://www.crystalexchange.com/ .