A Swarovski Crystal is one of the most recognized brand of crystals in the world today. Sold under the Swarovski luxury brand name, these crystals have been famous worldwide for their precision cuts, clarity, and sparkle. Swarovski crystals have made appearances in all pieces of jewelry imaginable, including necklaces and pendants, earrings, rings, stick-on tattoos, and tiaras. They are now even used as appliques in clothing fashions and home decor, among myriad other things.

The Swarovski company was first established in 1895 as a crystal cutting factory in the town of Wattens, Austria. Its founder, Czech-born Daniel Swarovski, invented the first automatic cutting machine in 1892. Three years after having patented crystal-glass abrasion methods using his machine, Swarovski moved to Wattens, where he could take fully optimize usage of the local hydroelectric power there. Hydroelectric power lent his factory the intensive energy needed for his patented processes. The Swarovski company first adopted the edelweiss flower as the logo until 1988, when it was replaced by the currently recognized swan. The logo appears on all sculptures manufactured by the company.

Cubic zirconia (or CZ) is the cubic crystalline form of zirconium dioxide (ZrO₂). The synthesized material is hard, optically flawless and usually colorless, but may be made in a variety of different colors. It should not be confused with zircon, which is a zirconium silicate (ZrSiO₄). It is sometimes erroneously called "cubic zirconium".Because of its low cost, durability, and close visual likeness to a diamond, synthetic cubic zirconia has remained the most gemologically and economically important competitor for diamonds since 1976. It is sometimes marketed under the brand name "Diamonique". Its main competition as a synthetic gemstone is the more recently cultivated material, synthetic moissanite. This is a great choice for brides because it is a affordable option to diamonds.

Freshwater pearls are a kind of pearl that comes from freshwater mussels. They are produced in Japan and the United States on a limited scale, but are now almost exclusive to China. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission requires that freshwater pearls be referred to as "freshwater cultured pearls" in commerce.