A Swarovski flat back crystal is a type of rhinestone that is typically more popular than the average common types of rhinestones. In addition, they are typically a bit more highly priced and come in more styles and options that average rhinestones. However, there are certain rules in buying such crystals to ensure your purchase doesn’t go to waste.

If you aren’t sure whether you’re holding a Swarovski flat back crystal or not, the most simple way to find out is to simply count the amount of “faces” that the crystal has. Rhinestones will have eight facets, while a Swarovski flat back crystal will have a total of fourteen. Because of the extra facets, a Swarovski crystal will give off more glimmer or shine when in the sunlight, and flash brighter in the dark when light strikes it.

Generally, there are two methods in applying a Swarovski flat back crystal to a surface. The first method is to obtain a hot fix crystal, which has glue already applied to the back of the crystal. In order to make it bond to another object, the artist will have to heat the crystal to a considerable level for a certain amount of time. The other method, silver foil back crystals, require that special glue be applied to the object first, and then the placement of the crystal is done.

Hot fix crystals are generally applied to objects that have a high capacity for heat. A bad example for this would be electronics- especially mobile phones. The high heat may damage the surface or inner electronic components and make an expensive paper weight. Instead, use hot fix crystals on objects such as jeans, which have high tolerance of heat and will benefit from the extra durability.

Generally, it isnt safe to wash most clothes that have Swarovski crystals applied for up to a week after. Crystals applied to things such as mobile phones should be left alone for at least a 24 hour period, to ensure the glue sets correctly. Dry cleaning is usually a bad idea even after the glue has dried, and usually results in crystals falling off and making unsightly glue stains left behind.

In most cases, there will be an informative packet of information that tells a consumer what they should do with the crystal in regards to applying it to an object. There should also be important safety information that should be followed in the process of the art project. If you aren’t sure on what to do, consult Internet help forums, reading resources, or even others that have experience doing such things.

Closing Comments

Crystals are always fun to make part of an artistic project. Swarovski flat back crystals are the cream of the crop when it comes to rhinestones, and they are inexpensive to boot- so have fun with them!