by 
The Curious Bag
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Austrian crystal is actually a trade name for a kind of high-quality crystal that is cut at specific angles by a particular glass-cutting machine invented in 1895 by Daniel Swarovski and manufactured at the Swarovski factory in Austria.
Composition
The level of lead content is what distinguishes crystal from ordinary glass; crystal must have a minimum of 10 percent lead oxide. Austrian crystal is composed of 32 percent lead oxide.
Characteristics
The prominent characteristics of Austrian crystal are brilliance (a measurable characteristic used in grading diamonds that indicates the amount of sparkle given off through reflection and refraction of light) and clarity (a term used to indicate the level of perfection in the crystalline structure measured by a 10x magnifier).
Appearance
In addition to the clear diamond look-alike, Austrian crystal rhinestones are made in many dramatic colors and can come with a variety of coatings that produce a rainbow spectrum.
Uses
Austrian crystals are used in the making of jewelry, optical products (such as binoculars and telescopes) and decorative items (such as sculptures and chandeliers).
Fun Fact
The largest Austrian crystal chandelier is three stories tall with more than 600,000 crystals.
Source:
Resource:
The Swarovski Company
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