Daily Wire Tip: Using a Manufacturer Logo to Sell Jewelry

By on February 14, 2011
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Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip

Question:

As a retailer of Swarovski® crystals, can you help on this question? I use Swarovski crystals exclusively in my wire-wrapped pieces and would like to use their logo in shows and sales. I have googled a download, and gotten results, but they are not the logo. I have seen it used before, and I wonder if I can use it with their products in displays. Thanks.

-Betty in Jackson, Mississippi

Answer:

Good question, Betty; unfortunately, neither you nor I are legally allowed to use the actual Swarovski logo on our work, because it is reserved specifically for the actual product, rather than a work made using the product in our finished jewelry items. This is spelled out for all of us on Swarovski Customer Service under the heading Crystallized™ – Swarovski Elements that states:

Swarovski is one of the world’s largest crystal suppliers to the jewellery manufacturing and the clothing industry as well as the lighting business. Third-party manufacturers mark these products by attaching the ingredient branding label "MADE WITH SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS" or describing them as "made with Swarovski crystals" or "Crystallized". However, these manufacturers are not allowed to refer to their products as being Swarovski products. Furthermore these products are not sold by Swarovski and do not necessarily meet our quality standards, or qualify for our warranty conditions.

I hope this clears up any confusion with using and proper labeling the lovely Swarovski product line in our finished wire jewelry creations.

Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong

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8 Comments

  1. avatar

    Amelia Renkel

    February 15, 2011 at 2:19 pm

    I had some of the same questions last year. I received a nice email reply from the company which included a form letter with examples of inappropriate and correct use of terminology for their craft products. I chose to use Made with CRYSTALLIZED(TM)- Swarovski elements. The TM is actually superscripted through my Word program so it looks exactly like one of the correct use examples on the form letter. I also keep a copy of the form letter in our art gallery to show customers and other artists who use their craft products.

  2. avatar

    Amelia Renkel

    February 15, 2011 at 2:34 pm

    After I submitted a reply to your article, I followed your link to the Swarovski Frequently Asked Question page. Thank you for that link. I can now update the correct use of Swarovski ingredients to “Made with Swarovski Elements”.

  3. avatar

    Barbara Wolf

    February 16, 2011 at 10:13 pm

    HI DALE, I WAS IN AUSTRIA IN 2007 AND WENT TO WADDENS WHERE SWAROVSKI IS LOCATED. IT WAS AN EXPERIENCE OF A VERY SPECIAL KIND. WE STAYED IN TOWN FOR SEVERAL DAYS AND GOT TO KNOW A NUMBER OF THE WORKERS THERE. THEY DON’T ALLOW ANYONE IN THE FACTORY BUT THE CRYSTAL WORLD, AND SHOW ROOM BLOWS YOUR MIND. THE ONLY PART I DIDN’T LIKE IS YOU COULDN’T, AT THAT TIME, BUY ANY CRYSTALS OR ELEMENTS IN THE STORE, ONLY FINISHED JEWELRY. JUST TO BE THERE AND SEE THE SIZE OF THE PLACE (IT IS ENDLESS) WAS AWESOME! JUST THOUGHT TO SHARE MY TRIP AND I AM GOING BACK THIS YEAR, SOME TIME IN JUNE. I HAVE SOME NICE PICTURES THAT I LIKE TO SHARE BUT DON’T KNOW HOW TO SEND THEM

  4. avatar

    Nancy

    September 4, 2012 at 5:35 am

    Hi, Dale — I am disturbed by the number of people who seem to think ALL crystals can be called Swarovski. I’m guessing (and hope!) they are simply new to jewelry-making and don’t understand that there is a difference. Either that or they don’t understand marketing and are selling items for less than the cost of the materials. The practice of selling their jewelry hurts those of us that are actually do use only Swarovski crystals. Any suggestions?

    • avatar

      Rose

      September 4, 2012 at 10:37 am

      Hi Nancy – you could have a little note to give people that explains that Swarovksi crystals are premium Austrian crystal beads and a little about the company’s history and what makes them special. You could also give this note to those who don’t quite understand the difference, to gently bring them up to speed!

      Does anyone else have a suggestion?

  5. avatar

    Joanna

    September 4, 2012 at 9:58 am

    I find this terribly disappointing, I mean, it’s one of the main reason for purchasing these relatively-expensive crystals in favour of equally pretty ones that don’t carry this famous logo. The crystals are beautiful and do seem of a higher quality but not being able to state this does completely change their value in terms of profit. Sorry if this sounds cynical, but I genuinely see this now as a choice between purchasing cheaper crystals or breaking this minor ‘law’. In other words, I can’t see myself continuing to buy them if I’m ‘gagged’ from telling potential customers that I paid the extra buck to create a higher quality piece.

    • avatar

      Rose

      September 4, 2012 at 10:35 am

      Hi Joanna, you can certainly state that the crystal beads you use are Swarovski. You just cannot sell them as if the entire piece is manufactured by Swarovski, or use their logo to sell your jewelry.

  6. avatar

    Mary Hallengren

    September 6, 2012 at 8:42 pm

    When I make anything with crystals be it Swarovski or another I say crystals. Why should I advertise for a company without compensation. The same goes for jeans I won’t wear someones logo on my back side and pay premium to do so.

    Mary