Swarovski Celebrates 10th Anniversary Of Illustrious Star Topping The World Famous Rockefeller Center® Christmas Tree

NEW YORK, Nov. 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Swarovski, the world's leading producer of precision-cut crystal for fashion, jewelry, lighting, architecture and interiors, announced today that, for the 10^th year, it will reveal the 2013 Swarovski Star for the world-famous Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree on Thursday, November 14. After the reveal, the Star will be raised atop the 76-foot high, 47-foot wide, 12-ton Norway Spruce in Rockefeller Center, where it will sit for the remainder of the 2013 holiday season.

The Swarovski Star is comprised of 25,000 crystals, with 1,000,000 facets, and it measures 9 ½ feet in diameter and 1 ½ feet deep. The Star weighs 550 pounds, including 300 pounds of crystal panels, and is composed of six outer rays and six smaller inner rays.

The main surfaces of the rays are made of point-mounted safety glass which is the same shatter-proof glass that adorns the facades of New York City buildings.  The crystals are affixed to the inner sides of the glass in a tight, scale-like pattern to ensure maximum brilliance. The Star is illuminated by 720 energy-efficient LED bulbs on 3,000 feet of wire.

A team of nine artisans spent 1,200 hours installing, programming and testing the Star to ensure the effects would withstand the challenging winter weather conditions sitting 76-feet above Rockefeller Plaza. A replica of the Swarovski Star will also be on display in Rockefeller Center to allow visitors the opportunity to get a closer view of the detailing and craftsmanship.

"For the past 10 years the craftsmanship of the Swarovski Star has exemplified our traditions of design, innovation and inspiration," said Wayne Page, senior vice president of Swarovski North America Limited's Consumer Goods Business. "It is an honor to celebrate a decade of being a part of the holiday season at Rockefeller Center."

Originally created for the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree in 2004, the Star was updated in 2009 to feature its dynamic light movement. Over the past ten years the Star has been unveiled by celebrities including Olivia Wilde, Blake Lively, Fergie, Christie Brinkley, Maria Menounos and Nadja Swarovski.      

Swarovski will offer a selection of holiday jewelry and ornaments for purchase at the Swarovski holiday kiosk at Rockefeller Center, at Swarovski boutiques nationwide and online at Swarovski.com. The collection includes stylish star-themed crystal jewelry and an Annual Edition Ornament inspired by the design of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree Star.

The 81^st Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting Ceremony will be held on Wednesday, December 4, from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. The two-hour ceremony will be televised live, locally on WNBC-TV from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. and nationally on NBC from 8:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Rockefeller Center officially began the Tree Lighting Ceremony in 1933, when a Christmas tree was erected in front of the then-RCA Building and covered with 700 lights.  Christmas trees in Rockefeller Center have ranged from 50-foot Pines to 100-foot Norway Spruces and are viewed by millions of spectators during the holiday season.

Spectators can view the lit tree each day from 5:30 a.m. - 11:30 p.m.; all day (24 hours) on Christmas; and from 5:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. on New Year's Eve. The last day to view the tree is January 7, 2014.

ABOUT SWAROVSKI

Swarovski delivers a diverse portfolio of unmatched quality, craftsmanship, and creativity that goes beyond the manufacturing of crystal. Founded in 1895 in Austria, Swarovski designs, manufactures, and markets high-quality crystals, genuine gemstones and created stones, and finished products such as jewelry, accessories, and lighting. In addition, Swarovski Crystal Worlds was established as a unique venue dedicated to showcasing artistic interpretations of crystal. Swarovski Entertainment collaborates with established industry partners and exceptional talent to produce international feature films, while the Swarovski Foundation supports creativity and culture, promotes wellbeing, and conserves natural resources. Now run by the fifth generation of family members, Swarovski Crystal Business has a global reach with over 2,350 stores in around 170 countries, more than 25,000 employees, and revenue of about 2.4 billion euros in 2012. Together with its sister companies Swarovski Optik (optical devices) and Tyrolit (abrasives), Swarovski Crystal Business forms the Swarovski Group. In 2012, the Group generated revenue of about 3.1 billion euros and employed more than 30,000 people.

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SOURCE Swarovski North America