Swarovski has organized cruises several times for Swarovski collectors world-wide to come together buzzing about their common interest in Swarovski crystal. In 2012, Swarovski planned another commemorative cruise, celebrating 25 years of the SCS.
This Swarovski Crystal Journey began August 17. We know a couple of dedicated Swarovski fanatics, lucky enough to be on the cruise, who are providing us with cruise updates to share with our Kristall Buzz readers!
On Friday, guests were welcomed on board the TUI Melodia by Swarovski representatives Karin and Christine. Gifts for the cruise attendees include: a Medium Swan, USB Writing Pen, a small crystal on a ribbon, and the 2012 Baby Whale, signed by the designer.
Swarovski Reps Christine and Karin Greeting Guests
Saturday, some of cruise attendees selected to go on an optional side tour to Budapest. Tourists stopped at Heroes’ Square and learned more about this historic location.
Swarovski Experts at Heroes’ Square
Be sure to check the Kristall Buzz Swarovski Blog frequently for the duration of the week-long cruise for a brief digest of what is happening on the Swarovski Crystal Journey!
When collectors and crystal fanatics are considering the purchase of a crystal figurine, they most certainly want to see a Swarovski logo on that figurine to feel confident the item IS Swarovski. Collectors naturally expect to see the Block SC logo or Swan logo on the Silver Crystal figurines.
Quite often, the Swan logo is underneath the figurine and is not visible unless the figurine is turned upside down. But sometimes, the logo is strategically placed elsewhere on the figurine. The Grand Piano with Stool is an excellent example of the Swan logo being placed above the ivories.
And it is not unusual for the Swan logo to be difficult to see. When the base of the figurine is frosted, like the birds in the ‘Up in a Tree’ series, the Swarovski Swan can be very hard to find since there is such little contrast between the logo and background.
Sometimes the Swarovski Swan is very crisp and defined, and other times, it is a bit fuzzy, with the swan appearing a bit ‘thicker’. Just a handful of times, we have seen figurines with the Swarovski swan facing right, instead of left.
However, just recently, we had a client ask a question about a ‘dot’ near the swan. I knew the figurine had been inspected 2 times before it shipped, so I was confident that the ‘dot’ that I did not specifically recall seeing, was not a chip. Nonetheless, I did not have a definite answer. I did offer the possibility that something ‘occurred’ when the Swarovski Swan was applied to the figurine, but did not have an accurate answer to the client’s question…that is until I checked with some other Swarovski experts.
Dot Near Swarovski Swan Logo
So, what did the Swarovski experts have to say? Here is what I have learned about the dot near the Swarovski Swan logo. The dot indicates that the product was finished or glued in the central warehouse in Leichtenstein. The absence of a dot means that the product was finished in Wattens, Austria. Additionally, it is suggested that the location of the dot on the product is unimportant.
So the next time you clean your crystal figurines, or purchase a new one, have a look at the Swan logo and see if you have Swarovski crystal figurines finished in Leichtenstein or Wattens!
The first trilogy created exclusively for Swarovski SCS members was the ‘Caring and Sharing’ trilogy. The series of 3 figurines consisted of the Swarovski Lovebirds, Swarovski Woodpeckers, and Swarovski Turtledoves. These figurines were available for a single year only, the Lovebirds in 1987, the Woodpeckers in 1988, and the Turtledoves in 1989.
Swarovski Caring and Sharing Plaque
It was not until 4 years later, in 1993 that the crystal giant created the Swarovski Caring and Sharing Plaque. Why the 4-year delay? Let’s jump forward a bit! Following the Caring and Sharing crystal figurines, Swarovski created the ‘Mother and Child’ series. The Mother and Child trilogy consisted of the Swarovski Dolphins in 1990, Swarovski Seals in 1991, and Swarovski Whales in 1992. Upon completion of that series, the Mother and Child Plaque was created, which would have been 1993. Once SCS members purchased this trilogy and plaque, collectors insisted on a matching crystal plaque for the ‘Caring and Sharing’ trilogy. (Swarovski also used the same blank component for the Inspiration Africa series 1993 – 1995 as well as the Fabulous Creatures series 1996 – 1998.)
The Swarovski Caring and Sharing Plaque is approximately 2.75″ long and 1″ high. The plaque is smooth on the front side, and the back side comes to a point to allow it to stand independently on an angle. The front side has a white Swarovski swan along with text in white. The text says:
S C S
“Caring and Sharing”
First Series
Swarovski Caring and Sharing Plaque Box
The Swarovski Caring and Sharing Plaque was available in four different languages. This list includes the language, followed by the Swarovski system # for the plaque:
The Swarovski Caring and Sharing plaque originally retailed for just $28. It was packaged in a white cylinder. Today, this plaque generally sells $140 – $250 on the secondary market. If you have the Caring and Sharing series and desire to have the plaque to display with your crystal figurines, the plaque can be found at the Crystal Exchange America web site in the SCS category, sub-category Plaques and Stands.
The final crystal figurine in the Swarovski ‘Caring and Sharing’ trilogy was the Swarovski ‘Amour’ Turtledoves. These Turtledoves were a lovely crystal figurine, for the SCS member to add to the Swarovski colletcion. In addition to the figurine, Swarovski provided collectors the opportunity to buy an optional display stand made specifically for the 1989 SCS annual edition.
Swarovski SCS Turtledoves Stand
The Swarovski Turtledoves Stand is primarily thin plastic with a cardboard base underneath. The SCS Turtledoves Stand is blue with soft flocking on the top. The underside is black cardboard. The indentations on the top are an exact complement to the frosted Turtledoves branch.
The Stand for the Swarovski Turtledoves Amour can be found using reference # DO1X891S, which is used by Crystal Exchange America. The Swarovski Turtledoves Stand is not shown in the Warner’s Blue Ribbon Books on Swarovski Price Guide.
Using information shared from our clients as well as transactions completed, it seems that the Swarovski Turtledoves Stand and Swarovski Turtledoves Plaque were sometimes sold as a pair. Crystal Exchange America has seen just a couple of them that come together, in a little Swarovski box that matches the silver / blue design of the SCS Swarovski Caring and Sharing boxes used for the Lovebirds and Woodpeckers (Remember, the Turtledoves box is a white cylinder).
The SCS Swarovski Turtledoves Stand is not effortless to find in good condition. It is not uncommon to see the outer edges fraying / cracking, so this is something to be aware of when purchasing. Crystal Exchange America has a single listing for the Turtledoves Stand at $135. However, it would appear that this price may be more than most crystal collectors are willing to pay for such a fragile stand that does not really add anything to the overall appeal of displaying the Swarovski Turtledoves.
The Swarovski Turtledoves ‘Amour’ was the third and final Swarovski SCS crystal figurine in the ‘Caring and Sharing’ trilogy. The Swarovski Turtledoves were another spectacular piece of art. A title plaque for the 1989 SCS annual edition was available to SCS members for the AE Turtledoves, but was a separate purchase.
The Swarovski Turtledoves Plaque is an oblong square, with curved corners. It measures about 1.5″ high and 3″ long. It is identical in design to the Swarovski Lovebirds Plaque and Swarovski Woodpeckers Plaque. Like the other Caring and Sharing individual title plaques, the SCS Turtledoves plaque is cobalt on the back with self-standing moveable hinge. The front is grayish and has a simulated brushed finish. The frame is dark blue just like the imprinted design and text on the Turtledoves plaque. The text below the SCS logo reads:
Annual Edition 1989
‘Amour’ – the Turtledoves
The Turtledoves Plaque is identified using reference # SCMRP89, which was originally used in the Warner’s Blue Ribbon Books on Swarovskii Catalog of recommended insurance values.
We wish to extend a thank you to Jane Warner, co-author to Warner’s Blue Ribbon Books on Swarovski for consulting on the Swarovski Turtledoves Plaque article.
The SCS Swarovski Turtledoves Plaque can be hard to locate to determine approximate replacement cost. Crystal Exchange America, presently has a single listing for Swarovski Turtledoves Plaque that is over $200 with their commission, but being a new listing, it does not yet appear in their store inventory. No completed auctions were found within the past 9 months there or in the online auctions to determine actual resale prices.
Here at Crystal Exchange America, we occasionally see figurines produced by Swarovski that have not been previously documented in publications written about Swarovski crystal figurines. Not long ago, one such undocumented figurine, a Trimlite Bear, appeared in a collection that arrived here on consignment.
This recent Swarovski figurine is a crystal bear that very much resembles the Trimlite Bears that were sold in the Zales and Dillards stores in the 1980’s and 1990’s.
This newly discovered bear is approximately 1.5″ tall. This bear, like many other Zales / Dillards bears, has a crystal head, crystal body, and gold-colored accents for the hat, scarf, and paws.
Trimlite Logo on Bear BottomTrimlite Bear, wearing Baseball Cap Holding Red Tulips
This Trimlite bear is wearing a baseball cap covering his left ear and slightly tipped on his head. The bear is holding 3 red tulips in his right hand / paw. Around his neck, he is wearing a gold bow. This bear features the Trimlite ‘T’ logo confirming its authenticity in the gold trim underneath the body.
This Trimlite bear will be a new addition to the 2013 Warner’s Blue Ribbon Books on Swarovski: Beyond Silver Crystal Book. Jane Warner indicates that it will be referenced using BSC2012010 in the next edition, to be released in about 8 more months. There are presently about 15 Zales / Dillards figurines in the book.
Other Dillards / Zales bears may be found hold flowers, a candy cane, or nothing. Some bears wear bows, bonnets, or santa-type hats. Some wear bows, scarves, or bow-ties on their neck.
The new baseball-tulip Trimlite Bear will be available for purchase from Crystal Exchange America in the coming weeks. The company will be checking with other Swarovski expert dealers and stores in an attempt to establish a fair selling price which is attractive to the buyer and gainful to the seller for the unusual bear figurine.
Crystal Exchange presently has a listing for the Swarovski Trimlite Dillard Zales Bear Twinkles the Sparkling Bear on eBay, with a Buy It Now price of $59 with FREE shipping. Other Trimite bear figurines previously seen in the online auctions include ‘Joey Jingles’ and ‘Holly’. Both Holly and Joey Jingles are presently available at Crystal Exchange America near $125 each.
Swarovski crystal fanatics should check the site after the next inventory update near the end of August for availability. Collectors can use the search feature to quickly find the figurine using search term ‘BSC2012010’.
Last week I posted about the 2012 Releases in the Swarovski Hello Kitty product line. In the post, I included size information taken directly from the crystal brand’s own web site, but included my own questions about the accuracy of the Hello Kitty dimensions as the price seemed incredibly low for such big crystal figurines.
It is a great compliment to know that Swarovski does read our blog! A few days after the blog article posted, I received an email from Swarovski with the correct size dimensions for each of the 2012 Swarovski Hello Kitty releases:
2012 Swarovski Hello Kitty Figurines
Swarovski Hello Kitty Limited Edition 2012 (in Pointiage) – 7 inches high x 4.8 wide x 4.4 deep. This one is the Hello Kitty figurine with the highest price tag!
Swarovski Hello Kitty Hearts, Limited Edition 2012 – 4 1/4 inches high and 2 15/16 wide. This one is the largest Hello Kitty crystal figurine.
Swarovski Hello Kitty Gold Bow – 2 3/16 inches high and 1 9/16 wide. This Hello Kitty figurine is the one not made from mostly clear crystal
Swarovski Hello Kitty Santa – 2 inches high and 1 13/16 wide. This one is the smallest Hello Kitty crystal figurine, not likely available until closer to Christmas. (I think the hat and candy cane are so cute!)
The email did not state when the web site would be updated with correct dimensions, so make a mental note of these sizes before placing your final order at the Swarovski Shoppe to avoid size-disappointment.
All Hello Kitty Swarovski fanatics can head on over to the Swarovski site for more information about the figurines and place their orders!
As Swarovski SCS membership was growing globally, the need for the multi-lingual Swarovski certificate for the Swarovski Turtledoves was now a serious requirement. The Swarovski Turtledoves certificate was most like the accordion-style Woodpeckers, but with 2 additional languages.
Swarovski Turtledoves Certificate for the 1989 Amour Turtledoves
The genuine Swarovski Turtledoves Certificate is a multi-folding pamphlet with the certificate wording in the languages of: English, Spanish, French, Italian, German, Flemish and Dutch.
The Swarovski-assigned reference number is positioned on the very back of the certificate in a tiny print.. The Swarovski Turtledoves certificate is DO4M882. The Turtledoves ‘Amour’ Certificate can also be found using the reference # DO1X891C, which was initially employed in the Warner’s Blue Ribbon Books on Swarovski catalog.
The Swarovski Turtledoves COA was originally in a square white envelope when it was packaged with the crystal figurine. This original envelope is tissue-lined, and has the familiar Swarovski Swan logo on it and below that the letters SCS on the front side.
Regarding availability and replacement value, the SCS Swarovski Turtledoves Certificate is not readily available. At Crystal Exchange America, the last completed sales were in the neighborhood of $50 – $125, but that was in 2008 through 2011. It is almost always wisest to purchase the Swarovski SCS AE figurine complete with box and certificate, as locating replacement packaging or COA documentation may be easier concept than accomplished idea.
The final Swarovski SCS crystal figurine in the ‘Caring and Sharing’ series was the Swarovski ‘Amour’ Turtledoves. The Turtledoves figurine was a lovely cherished collectible illustrating the companionship between the two birds. The Swarovski Turtledoves Box, or in this case, the Swarovski cylinder, is key to securely house the crystal figurine while it is not being displayed.
1989 Swarovski SCS Turtledoves Box
The Amour Turtledoves container measures about 7 5/8″ in height and 7 ¼” in diameter. The Swarovski Turtledoves cylinder is mostly white in color, with silver-gray end caps. On the Turtledoves cylinder box, collectors can see Annual Edition 1989 ‘Amour’ – the Turtledoves in English and in 5 other languages in the grayish stripe on the cylinder. The Swarovski-assigned reference number can be found near the bottom edge in very small letters. The Swarovski Turtledoves Box reference number is DO3MM882. The Turtledoves Box can also be found using another reference # DO1X891B, which was firstly found in the Warner’s Blue Ribbon Books on Swarovski Catalogue.
The foam was specially formed to securely transport and store the treasured SCS crystal figurine with its certificate. The Turtledoves foam contains a special slit for holding certificate.
A special thanks to Swarovski expert Jane Warner, co-author to Warner’s Blue Ribbon Books on Swarovski for consulting on the Swarovski Dolphins Box article.
Regarding availability and replacement value, the Swarovski Turtledoves Box is not easily found at this point in time. The last one that sold was over 5 years ago, and those prices are too out of date to even mention. However, Crystal Exchange America does have listing for the box and certificate set that can be purchased for $375 if there is a true need for original packaging and documentation.
In 1989, Swarovski was near the end of the first SCS trilogy, ‘Caring and Sharing’. The final SCS figurine in this series was the Swarovski Turtledoves, by Adi Stocker.
The Swarovski Amour Turtledoves is approximately 3.5″ long. From a quick description of this crystal figurine, they might sound like the Swarovski Lovebirds: 2 amorous clear birds with frosted beaks, perched on a frosted branch.
The ‘backstamp / bottomstamp’ is found on the side of the Turtledoves branch, where the branch is clear, (as it is quite difficult to see on frosted crystal, like on the Swarovski Woodpeckers). The backstamp, consisting of the Swarovski Swan, the letters SCS, the designer’s initials “ASt” and the year “89”, is easily visible.
The Turtledoves are identified using the Swarovski part number DO1x891 or the system number 117 895 was revealed.
It is interesting to note that the SCS Turtledoves crystal component for the birds’ wings is the same component used for the wings on the Swarovski Woodpeckers and the ears on the 1990 Swarovski Dumbo figurine!
The crystal giant has also produced one other Turtledoves design, by a different designer Gabriele Stamey. This more recent Swarovski Turtledoves figurine was introduced in 2004 and can presently be purchased in the Swarovski shoppe. The most striking differences between the Amour Turtledoves and Silver Crystal Turtledoves are the frosted beaks (SCS AE)vs topaz beaks (Silver Crystal) and resting birds (SCS AE) vs a bird with its wings spread (Silver Crystal). Also, the SCS AE Turtledoves are a bit smaller 3.5″ long vs 4.25″ for the newer Silver Crystal design.
A special thanks to Jane Warner for consultations made during the writing of this Swarovski Turtledoves article. Jane is the Swarovski expert author of Warner’s Blue Ribbon Books on Swarovski.
In 1989, the MSRP of the SCS Swarovski Turtledoves was for $195 USD . Just like the other ‘Caring and Sharing’ figurines, the purchase price included the crystal figure, a custom box for the Turtledoves, and a Swarovski COA (certificate of authenticity). Collectors who want to purchase the Swarovski Turtledoves from a Swarovski expert dealer, like Crystal Exchange America, should expect to pay $550 – $650 for the SCS Turtledoves in mint condition with original box and certificate.
The 
