Swarovski Article

Try contacting: Kisha Reid Asst. Marketing Manager Swarovski Crystal Components

P: (212) 935-4200 ext.183 F: (212) 935-8800

Her email addy is snipped-for-privacy@swarovski.com

----- Original Message ----- From: "Kandice Seeber" Newsgroups: rec.crafts.beads Sent: Sunday, February 29, 2004 7:41 PM Subject: Re: Swarovski Article

I think this is the crux of the confusion between us. Yes, I said I do not use the name of any component to identify or describe my work. But in listing the materials used in my work, I identify the materials I use.

Beki, I hear you saying two things. You say "all Swarovski is asking is that the product is not advertised/identified as being Swarovski". Now, I've never made a piece of mostly crystals, so I've never been temped to call something a "silver and Swarovski necklace", eg. And if I were to make one now I'd be especially careful not call it that (though I might informally make that reference). I have no interest in calling my work "A Tink and Swarovski necklace". My work is a Tina necklace, with beads by X and crystals from Y and silver from Z, listed in the materials used make this . I have no problem when you say I can't call my work "....Swarovski....".

But I can't identify the components? That just doesn't make sense. I've heard you say I can't use Swarovsko in the name or advertising and also that I can't identify my materials. These are not the same thing. Could you show me the exact wording Swarovski uses, please?

I think the confusion doesn't not come from wanting to wanting to identify the piece as Swarovski, but from wanting to list Swarovski crystals as on of the ingredients.

Tina

But I have no interest in displaying their name, or identifying my work as Swarovski anything. So why would this apply to me -- or most of the rest of us.

Tina

vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from "Christina Peterson" :

]I think the confusion doesn't not come from wanting to wanting to identify ]the piece as Swarovski, but from wanting to list Swarovski crystals as on of ]the ingredients.

exactly. and what i'm *hearing* is that that isn't allowed either. that "Austrian" is supposed to be acceptable.

----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books)

The "specify name" for Czech beads, referred to the lampwork. And some companies produce a significantly better product.

As far as identifying Swarovski crystals by any other way, I'd probably choose to refer to them a leaded optical glass crystal, giving the qualities that distinguish them.rather than referring to the as Austrian. Same as I'd rather refer to the lampwork beads I use as "artist made lampwork" than "American lampwork".

Japan makes some excellent crystals too.

Tina

Correct - unless Swarovski has given you authorization, you cannot use the name Swarovski.

Is this the Swarovski wording? "Even if an item such as a bracelet which is sold on eBay contains crystalsmade by Swarovski, describing that item as a "Swarovski bracelet" or "a bracelet with Swarovski crystals" is misleading if the bracelet itself is not manufactured by Swarovski. Such a bracelet could properly be described as "a bracelet with Austrian crystals."

If that's the wording, I have no problem with it. I have absolutely no interest in describing any of my work as being Swarovski anything. Most I identify as being "lampwork necklaces", and somewhere down the line, I list Swarovski crystals as a component. It is not used as a description of the piece. I don't see this as violating Swarovski policy what-so-ever.

Tina

Not in any context?

I see it being interpretted as saying that. But that's not what the wording says. The wording talks about works being identified with Swarovski -- being described as being "a Swarkovski piece" or "a piece with Swarovski". I don't see that as being the same at all as selling a "Peterson's Pieces Handmade Necklace" featuring beadwork by Iris Bucholtz of Iris Beads. And listing Swarovski crystals as one of many components, including pyrite beads, Bali beads, sterling beads and findings.

That would not be selling anything as Swarovski.

Tina

Thank you!

It's this line here that prohibits the use of Swarovski as your ingredient:

"describing that item as ...."a bracelet with Swarovski crystals" is misleading if the bracelet itself is not manufactured by Swarovski..."

This to me means that you cannot say something like "this bracelet was made with sterling silver, Swarovski crystals and lampwork beads.". You have to say "this bracelet was made with sterling silver, Austrian crystals and lampwork beads."

Right?

vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from "Kandice Seeber" :

]This to me means that you cannot say something like "this bracelet was made ]with sterling silver, Swarovski crystals and lampwork beads.". You have to ]say "this bracelet was made with sterling silver, Austrian crystals and ]lampwork beads." ] ]Right?

right. and that stinks. imho.

----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books)

I don't believe you can. To be on the safe side, I'd suggest contacting Swarovski. Branding is such an imoportant issue to companies and many of them have absolutely NO tolerance for their names being used without their permission.

I contacted them to ask about using the logo on a friend's site. After several emails back and forth, the final answer from Swarovski was: "Thank you for the clarification. Please complete the application and send to me along with samples of pages from your website and your packaging ( how you ship the stones to customers). Upon approval you will receive a letter of agreement for the use of the Swarovski name only. In addition, I will need to know who you purchase the Swarovski beads and/or stones from."

At first the Swarovski rep thought we were selling finished articles. Her initial response was: "As per your request the following attachment is the criteria and application for Swarovski's Component Supplier Notice (CSN) agreement. Please review the information and complete the application, send to my attention along with samples of your product incorporated with Swarovski crystals, as well as the finish packaging in which the product is placed. The approval process will take at least 2 weeks, upon approval you will receive a one (1) year contract, authorizing the use of the Swarovski registered name only."

I know that seems to stink but can YOU guarantee that the crystals really are Swarovski? Are YOU willing to put your professional reputation on the line for something that really isn't in your control?

We know that some people are so damned dishonest that they will say their crystals are Swarovski and they get the package marked "Made Elsewhere". Unless your supplier has given you proof, you don't know. Your supplier may be honest and THEIR supplier is the deceitful one. Hey, after all, all Austrian crystals are Swarovskis, right?

What if someone was making jewelry very similar to yours and sold it as "Vicki Jean Jewelry"? Let's say it was made nicely but *not quite* up to your standards. Yes, your name is out there but ...............

Vicki, I think you may have misunderstood my point with this. I was using a lampworker as an example of how it would be wrong for someone to claim to *be* that lampworker. I said, if someone made a crappy bead and then claimed it was made by Pati Walton. And how we would all flock to the defense of Pati because someone did this to her.

The same thing is happening to Swarovski. Companies are making crap crystal beads and claiming that they are Swarovski beads.

Just because Swarovski is a huge company does not mean they don't deserve the same respect that we would offer to a smaller business. They don't want people using their name. Period. For any reason. Unless they personally authorize you to do so. This is the only way they have to help insure that people stop abusing their name.

Are they going to be able to stop everyone? Probably not. Should they stop trying to defend their company? No, they shouldn't stop. If they do every Tom, Dick and Harriet will come along and try to rip them off.

Beki

Probably not Tina. I have either information that was passed on verbally or a mini-novel in the form of the contract I signed with them.

Basically, the end result is that Swarovski does not want anyone to use their name anywhere, unless they have authorized you to do so. It does not matter to them if it's in the title or in the description. Component or material.

You could contact Swarovski and ask them for the formal wording.

You can also continue to use their name if you would like. I am sure they won't be able to find each and every person on the planet and ask them personally to stop.

All I was trying to do was pass along the information that they relayed to me, which is that they do not want people using their name. Period. Unless you are authorized to do so. I will respect that of them.

Beki

If you use their name, you are violating their policy. It doesn't matter where you use.

Beki

Right! =o)

Beki

I phoned Kisha at Swarovski in New York. But she's in LA right now so I left a message.

It's not that I don't believe you but I'm hearing 2 seperate messages.

One is, all they want is for you not to identify your work as Swarovski, after all you don't want someone else to sell something as a "Tina necklace" if it's not. Well, I don't want to identify my work as having to do with Swarovski -- it's not theirs it's mine.

The other is, you are not allowed to use the Swarovski name anywhere ever.

So, since I keep hear these as conflicting statements. "All they want" vs "They want all". And if it turns out to be "They want all", I'll simply switch to identifying it as leaded crystal, and optical glass. Actually, when I explain the difference between Swarovski and other crystals and "crystals" and how to recognize it, I always refer back to its being optical glass.

Tina