Home > Rhinestone
 | | | |
Learn more about "Rhinestone"
|
|
|
Rhinestone
A '''rhinestone''' or '''paste''' or '''diamante''' is a diamond simulant made from rock crystal, glass or Polymethyl methacrylate|acrylic.
Originally, rhinestones were rock crystals gathered from the river Rhine. The availability was greatly increased when around 1775 the Alsace|Alsatian jeweller Georg Friedrich Strass had the idea to imitate diamonds by coating the lower side of glass with metal powder. Hence, rhinestones are called ''Strass'' in many European languages.
Rhinestones may be used as imitations of diamonds, and some manufacturers even manage to capture the glistening effect real diamonds have in the sun.
In 1955, the "Aurora Borealis" or "Aqua aura", a thin, vacuum-sputtered metallic coating applied to crystal stones to produce an iridescence|iridescent effect, was introduced. Aurora Borealis tends to reflect whatever color is worn near it, and it is named after the Aurora (astronomy)|Aurora Borealis atmospheric phenomenon, also known as the Northern Lights.
Typically, crystal rhinestones have been primarily used on costumes, apparel and jewelry. Crystal rhinestones are produced mainly in Austria by Swarovski and in Czech Republic by Preciosa and few other Bohemian Glassworks in Northern Bohemia. In USA, these are sometimes called Austrian Crystal.
The rhinestone-studded Nudie suit was invented by Nudie Cohn in the 1940s, an Americanization of the matador's "suit of lights". Liberal use of rhinestones used to be associated with country music singers, as well as with Elvis Presley and Liberace. Glen Campbell had a top 1975 hit with the song "Rhinestone Cowboy (song)|Rhinestone Cowboy", and became known as the Rhinestone Cowboy. One may also find customized crystal rhinestone-inlaid items on Internet auction websites, such as cell phones, mp3 players, earbuds, and flip flops.
See also
- Bedazzler
Category:Glass art
Category:Glass history
Category:Glass applications
Category:Jewellery
Category:Diamond simulants
Related Images
Sources: StartLearningNow, Wikipedia | Usage license: GNU FDL
 |
Welcome to Start Learning Now.
Explore to your heart's content, and we hope you enjoy reading the material we
have assembled for you here! |
 |
| | | | |
Related News
|
|
Further Resources
|
|
Related Resources
search
|
|
