Jewelled Butterfly - Vintage Signed 'Weekenders' Gold Plated Austrian Swarovski Crystal Rhinestone Brooch (VBR317)

Jewelled Butterfly - Vintage Signed 'Weekenders' Gold Plated Austrian Swarovski Crystal Rhinestone Brooch. This beautiful brooch is crafted from a gold plate over metal signed, 'Weekenders'.  Featuring numerous Austrian Swarovski crystals, vintage era styling, and quality craftsmanship. This captivating brooch is made in the form of a butterfly, displaying exquisite detail, and sparkling crystals in jewel tones. The brooch features a pin and secure rotary locking system, in perfect working order. This vintage highly collectible signed brooch looks wonderful when worn. So pretty and feminine!

Rhinestones which are also known as diamantes or paste date back as far as the thirteenth century where they were first made from Czechoslovakian or Bohemian hand blown glass. The term rhinestone came along later, when rock crystals were discovered in and around the shores of the river Rhine in Austria.

Since 1895, founder Daniel Swarovski's mastery of crystal cutting has defined the company. His enduring passion for innovation and design has made it the world's premier jewelry and accessory brand. Today, the family carries on the tradition of delivering extraordinary everyday style to women around the world.

Joseph Strasser could be credited with the precursor to our present-day Rhinestone, but it was really when Georg Freidrich Strass in 1760 invented the first ever rhinestone (artificial gemstone) from a special type of crystal found in the Rhine River that the stones we know today were born.

The process was invented in 1805 by Italian chemist Luigi Brugnatelli who plated a very thin gold layer on top of silver. Since then, it has become commonplace in the jewelry world, with many base metals covered in gold, silver, or rhodium.

Measurements: Brooch 48.50 mm x 23.00 mm 

Stone Size: Austrian Swarovski Crystal Rhinestones:  Variation of shapes, colours and sizes.  

Weight: 14.40 grams 

Condition: Excellent   

Origin: Canada

Date: Circa 1970