Swarovski Aurora Borealis Crystals

The "AB" (Aurora Borealis) is a bead treatment inspired by the Northern Lights. Invented in 1956 by Swarovski in partnership with Christian Dior, this treatment is applied to glass beads and creates a rainbow—or iridescent—effect.

The creation of the AB finish was one of the first times that Swarovski partnered with a renowned designer on a product development. Swarovski began experimenting with the manufacturing processes by coating crystals with extremely thin layers of metal and vaporizing it in a vacuum.

As a result, Swarovski was able to increase the sparkling power of the crystal! This finish makes any color come alive, but it’s absolutely stunning when applied to clear Swarovski crystal beads.

Following the AB finish, Swarovski stepped things up a notch and introduced the AB2x (double coated) finish. This brilliant touch gives beads a bold sparkle that reflects beautiful rainbow coloring when it catches the light just right.

So, the next time you’re shopping for that special piece of jewelry to enhance your wardrobe, you’ll know that beads with an AB finish are sure to make an eye-catching accent in your Bling.