Rhinestones are rock crystals that are collected from the river Rhine. Hence, the name “Rhinestone”. Rhinestone jewellery is made by gluing the rock crystal to foil, which in turn is placed in a setting. The metal part of the Rhinestone jewelry is usually non-precious and is made either from gold or silver-coloured base metals.
It is a common misconception that Rhinestones are made from glass. They are, in fact, made from inexpensive rock crystals. Rock crystal is a member of the quartz family and hence, technically Rhinestones fall in the category of gemstones – though a much cheaper one. Swarovski and Preciosa are some of the most renowned names of Rhinestone manufacturer. They come in a great variety of elegant colours – from vintage pink to silky white to the subtle grey, thereby attracting every woman’s heart.
There are different methods of treating the crude Rhinestone to transform them into sparkling gemstones. You can find the flat-back Rhinestones, the hot-fix Rhinestones (applied with heat), the sew-on Rhinestones and so on. Sew-on Rhinestones are quite popular as they can be removed from one piece of jewellery and attached to another piece.
Rhinestones, also known as crystals, are often used in crafts. They are commonly used as costume jewelry for dancers and skaters. The glam and glitter that Rhinestones draw make them an ideal choice for theater costumes as well. It is also a natural choice for jewellery designers, as they can incorporate them in original pieces as well as use them to repair old treasures. You can also find some people using Rhinestones as personal beautification items. For example, by using them on cell phones, shoes, purses, etc, these daily mundane items immediately get a glamorous look. Some people also use them as fingernail embellishments or to adorn their eye lashes.
Rhinestones are used as imitations of diamonds. They are such good alternatives to diamonds that some manufacturers even manage to reproduce the glistening effect that real diamonds have when flashed in bright sunlight. Yet, they are much cheaper than real diamonds. This is precisely why they are gaining more and more popularity day by day. The sparkle, glitter, glamour, class and style that Rhinestones add to your personality are the main reasons why women are being increasingly fond of it. They are totally adaptable to all types of fashion – traditional and modern, gaudy as well as sleek, functional (like necklaces, rings and earrings) as well as ornate items (like tiaras and brooches). If diamonds are a woman’s best friend, then Rhinestones are definitely a woman’s very good friend.
