Swarovski Owners - Question about toasting flutes

[CharmyPoo]

I just received a pair of swarovski toasting flutes and noticed a spec / white dot in the crystal that won't come out. It is almost like an inclusion in the crystal. Is this normal? I am super annoyed by it and surprised that such expensive crystals will have a defect like this. Any suggestions? I don't have a receipt to go back to the store with.

The white spec is impossible to photograph but here are the same flutes.

 

[davi_el_mejor]

They melt down the material (whether glass or crystal) and then mold it. There is always a chance of bubbles forming inside of it. If you take it back to the store, you can ask for an exchange, I'm sure they'd be happy too, receipt or no, especially if it's a recent sale.

Good luck.

 

[Autumnovember]

Charmy!

I just want to say that I LOOOOOOOOVE those flutes and I've been wanting them for my wedding....FOREVER.

I have Swarovski experience and I have never gotten anything that has had something like that in the crystal. Can you possibly go back and exchange them?

 

[CharmyPoo]

I guess I can try to go to a Swarovski store but I don't think these were a recent purchase. It has just recently made it into my hands.

I do love these flutes and have wanted them forever .. now we do .. but with a white speck

They are also sold out in most stores around me.

 

[kenny]

Which lab graded them?

 

[CharmyPoo]

Kenny - Comes with a certificate of authentication from Swarovski. This inclusion is not EYE CLEAN from 6" away. I can clearly see it without a loupe!!

 

[Dancing Fire]

i get water spots on my crystals after cleaning and don't know how to remove em...

 

[Circe]

Huh ... I have Swarovski, and I've never encountered anything like that. It sounds like it slipped past QC. If most of the stores around you are sold out, perhaps e-mail the company and ask if they can do an exchange directly?

BTW, those flutes are lovely. Have admired the design for ages ....

 

[davi_el_mejor]

i get water spots on my crystals after cleaning and don't know how to remove em...

Use distilled water.

 

[kenny]

Kenny - Comes with a certificate of authentication from Swarovski. This inclusion is not EYE CLEAN from 6" away. I can clearly see it without a loupe!!

Well Dearie, if you weren't such a size queen you could have gotten flawless sherry glasses for the same price.

 

[Dancing Fire]

i get water spots on my crystals after cleaning and don't know how to remove em...

Use distilled water.

too late now...

 

[davi_el_mejor]

Kenny - Comes with a certificate of authentication from Swarovski. This inclusion is not EYE CLEAN from 6" away. I can clearly see it without a loupe!!

Well Dearie, if you weren't such a size queen you could have gotten flawless sherry glasses for the same price.

 

[davi_el_mejor]

DF, you mean after cleaning, the water stains won't come off? Try using white vinegar, it's great at breaking down mineral buildup especially calcium. Wipe off the vinegar with distilled water and a chamois type clothe.

 

[stone-cold11]

davi, DF is pulling your leg...

 

[LGK]

OK I haven't read the replies I admit, so you may have gotten your answer already. What you've got there is what glass collectors refer to as a "seed"- that is, unmelted silica/sand. Personally I don't like bubbles, seeds, or straw marks in my high end crystal- they're not as undesirable as, say, a chip or a repair, but nevertheless I avoid them and most other collectors do to.

You do occasionally see them in what was premium crystal from the thirties, like Heisey, Fostoria etc. Not commonly in the high end wares like that but you do see them. Collectors typically prefer their antique crystal to have no defects like that, even though they're original to the manufacture; there are exceptions but mostly collectors are a nitpicky lot and I sure am. And such pieces that have seeds or whatnot, unless they're an extraordinary rarity, either move a bit slower than their perfect counterparts or are slightly discounted.

I suspect modern crystal like Swarovski allows the occasional piece with a small seed or straw mark to escape quality control just like the antique high end makers did in the past. It isn't a *huge* deal, like a chip, but it does make the stem less desirable on the secondary market. As such I'd be annoyed to find a brand new stem with a seed and I'd return it if at all possible, because, as I believe I mentioned I'm nitpicky and annoying with collectables like that If it doesn't bug you, it's no HUGE deal, but it sounds like it does and you wouldn't be alone in that!

HTH!

 

[CharmyPoo]

Here is an update. I called Swarovski and they said it does happen especially with the glasses for some reason. Anyways, they said bring it back and they will exchange it even without a receipt.

 

[Dancing Fire]

davi, DF is pulling your leg...

no i'm not!!...i can see little tiny white water spots on my crystals after i clean em with ammonia & water mix.

 

[that_someone_special]

Hey DF.. do you know where I could get a replacement nose for a swarovski mouse? .. it fell off. (nose and whiskers)

 

[Dancing Fire]

Hey DF.. do you know where I could get a replacement nose for a swarovski mouse? .. it fell off. (nose and whiskers)

don't think you can get replacement parts,but i'll sell you my whiskers for $100 ea....

 

[monarch64]

I have two serving pieces (Swarovski crystaled cake knife and server) and if I take pics and they turn out like this,...I suppose I'll sell them.

 

[purselover]

Glad to hear it's all getting sorted out, I have the same flutes and mine definitely don't have any markings- that would drive me nuts.

 

[CharmyPoo]

Here is another question. Would you engrave the Swarovski flutes with your names and wedding date? If they were less expensive, I probably would do it but I am sorta afraid to engrave these.

 

[rosetta]

firstly, i love your choice of flutes.

but i'm not a fan of engraving anything with names, so would vote no to engraving these as well. i feel they would interrupt the flow of the glass.

glad swarovski made the exchange for you!

 

[orbaya]

I have the wine glasses and I have no imperfections in mine. I'd take them back to the store and see if they will exchange for you.

 

[LGK]

No, I wouldn't engrave them. You can always have some less expensive flutes engraved if you want, just for display... I'd probably get some slightly less expensive antique saucer chapagnes for that, like Tiffin or a lower end line of Fostoria or something. (Flutes didn't really get popular until the '80s so I view them as fairly recent, before that all champagne glasses were saucer style for most of the 20th century... in fact they were sold as "sherbets" during prohibition.) I wouldn't personally alter high end glassware, but that's mostly the collector in me speaking.

 

[orbaya]

As far as engraving them, I wouldn't do it. I think it might disrupt the "flow" of crystal if that makes sense. Plus, I personally couldn't imagine do that to my beautiful Swarovski wine glasses.

 

[CharmyPoo]

Thanks all. You have confirmed my thinking

Does anyone know if there are matching Cake Knife and Server?

 

[CharmyPoo]

Just wanted to give everyone an update. Swarovski actually exchanged both flutes without a receipt. Great service.

 

[daysie]

I know this is a bit late, but if you have the little authentification certificate booklet AND if the date stamp is within 2 years, Swarovski will repair the nose and whiskers FOC. However outside of 2 years, you can pay a fee and they will fix it.