How are swarovski chrystals made?

Question: How are swarovski chrystals made!?
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

The making of Swarovski crystal is a tightly guarded trade secret!. However, their crystals are not that much different from many other crystal makers in the world!.

Swarovski crystal is man made crystal!. They are essentically lead glass (glass with the addition of lead oxide!.) The lead portion gives the crystal sparkle because it reflects light instead of letting light get passed it!.

In simple steps, here's how Swarovski crystal are made:
1!. melt the ingredients together in high temperature (1500F to 2300F)!. Main ingredients are silica (sand) and lead (lead oxide!.) Colouring is also added if required!.
2!. Mold the crystal into shape!.
3!. Cut (polish) the surface of the crystal!. This is done by diamond wheels!.
4!. Join the parts by "heat", especially in the case of figurines!.
5!. Loose components are rinsed and shine!.

These are all done by machine!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

According to this website: http://www!.starry-eyed!.com/prisms/trip/h!.!.!. its a 100 year old secret!. Swarovski doesnt want the competitors to recreate its product!.

Wiki also has some info:http://en!.wikipedia!.org/wiki/Swarovski!. It doesnt say "how" its made but it note that the Swarovski coats some of its crystals with special metallic chemical coatings like Aurora Borealis, Crystal Transmission, Volcano, Aurum, and Dorado!.Www@QuestionHome@Com