Celebrating 75 Years of Sparkle

Preciosa stands on the threshold of a major milestone – 75 years of sparkle, a journey that has witnessed decades of commitment, innovation and resilience. Our legacy is sculpted by the hands and hearts of our hundreds of dedicated people.

1948

Preciosa is established.

1960s - 80s

Preciosa makes significant advances in cutting technology, transitioning from the original cylindrical method to flat grinding, which enhances the optical-aesthetic properties of the crystals and sets Preciosa apart from competing manufacturers.

Twenty-one of the region’s most established glassworks join to create one supreme manufacturer of Bohemian crystal. By the end of the year Preciosa has 1,961 employees.

Preciosa historic pictures, rhinestone and crystal making

Furthermore, Chaton roses are created as a result of advancements in flattening technology. Originally done by hand, this process can now be automated.

crystals and rhinestones production and testing

Preciosa shifts to private ownership, invests in research and technologies and revolutionizes crystal production with automation and specialized tools.

The 1990's

At 1991 Preciosa transitions from a national enterprise to a privately-owned company, paving the way for improvements in company operations and greater investment into technology and human resources. Through the nineties, establishes its own research and development department, which boasts 180 employees by the end of the decade. Not long after outfits its sites to produce machinery as well as production of tools specifically for grinding and polishing crystals. All this led to technological advancements in the automation of cutting and polishing revolutionize the production process.

New Millennium

Thanks to technological progress fueld by own R&D and technologies, Preciosa enters the millenium with new products and cuts. From its own cubic zirconia, through lead-free patented glass composition abd arsenic-free gold-based colors to revolutionaly signature lead-free crystal quality MAXIMA.

2010
Preciosa begins the transition to lead-free crystal with its patented glass composition, UNI 14.
Furthermore, gold-based colors, such as Rose, Light Rose, Ruby and Fuchsia, are reintroduced without the inclusion of arsenic, a common coloring agent in glass production.

Preciosa cubic zirconia for fine jewelry

2002
Preciosa introduces its own cubic zirconia for fine jewelry production, reliably crafted in a small village in Northern Bohemia as the exquisite culmination of Bohemia's breathtaking beauty and abundant natural resources.

chaton rose maxima and chaton maxima crystals

In 2013, Preciosa introduced its signature round crystal, the Chaton MAXIMA, setting a global lead-free brilliance standard. 2017 saw the debut of the Chaton Rose MAXIMA, reflecting 264 unique rays and becoming the shiniest faceted flatback crystal on the worldwide market.

In 2019 , Preciosa launched "The Alpha," a new round brilliant cut for cubic zirconia with an ideal ratio of brilliance, scintillation and fire. The same year, we also introduced Red Velvet, the world's first cadmium-free "true" red color.

Cubic zirconia round brilliant cut and cadmium free-crystals

Today

2022 In a shining example of Bohemian ingenuity and resourcefulness, Preciosa partners with the Department of Environmental Engineering at the prestigious Czech Academy of Sciences to bring about Mesmera, color changing crystal that as if by magic, flickers from purple to green and back again, containing a rare-earth metal extracted from recycled electromagentic waste that causes the crystals to appear differently under different light wavelengths.

2020 Preciosa establishes an on-site Application Center that offers a range of customization and application services.

Preciosa eagerly anticipates the future with a vision of continued innovation and growth. Committed to pushing boundaries in crystal production, the company aims to advance technological capabilities, explore sustainable practices, and foster creative collaborations. With a rich legacy as a driving force, Preciosa is poised to shape the future of luxury and precision in the world of crystals.