ANSWER: 1955
Does anyone know off the top of their head when The Aurora Borealis Beads / Coating was first used.. My memory is telling me 1950's, and I can not locate my notes.
Amy Baker (photo courtesy of Georjean West)
Does anyone know off the top of their head when The Aurora Borealis Beads / Coating was first used.. My memory is telling me 1950's, and I can not locate my notes.
Amy Baker (photo courtesy of Georjean West)
"I believe it was mid 1950's when this coating was developed." --Melissa Sands, 11/15/08
"I always have a chuckle when I look on ebay and see AB pieces dated from the 30's and 40's. I have quite a few Coro AB animal brooches. I love AB pieces! My Arabian stallion's bridle has 2 rows on AB rhinestones on his browband!" --Melissa Sands, 11/15/08
"The bookworm in me is cringing that I confirmed this info on the internet rather than with one of my reference books (no time; I gotta put up dinner!), but I do remember 1955 as the magical AB date. It was a Swarovski/Dior "invention":" --Carrie Pollack, 11/15/08
"Depending on who you ask, it is 1953 and 1955." --Stefanie Brawner, 11/15/08
"AB beads. Earlier than is usually thought. Think about iridescent Tiffany Art Glass from the 1800s. It was produced using the same techniques. I would need to look up the dates." --Bobye Syverson, 11/15/08
"This is from "Jewels of Fantasy" based on the Swarovski exhibition---so perhaps this is the correct information.
AURORA BOREALIS---"Known as the Northern Lights. In costume jewelry, a term for crystal stones which have a highly iridescent surface. The effect is is obtained by vapor-blasting the facets of the lower part of crystals with an invisible, micro-thin metal sheet. This stone was created by Swarovski in 1955 in collaboration with Christian Dior."" --Pat Seal, 11/15/08
Other Sizes: Original Medium