A resurgence in the popularity of marcasite, the traditional opaque jewellery stone that is cut from genuine pyrite, had prompted Signity India to organise a seminar on the stone. The alluring power of marcasite has made it a favourite for centuries for the manufacture of exquisite sparkling jewellery. The seminar was held in Mumbai recently. Some exclusive jewellery studded by Marcasite were also showcased during the seminar.

"With the recent rise in popularity of marcasite not just in India but all over the world, we feel there is a need to inform the Indian trade about the multifaceted use of this traditional stone. The best way to do this is by hosting a seminar, said Mr. Rajendra Jain, General Manager of Signity India. "Swarovski is the leader in cutting marcasites of unrivalled quality and has been a major supplier of the stone for decades. We want to guide the vast pool of Indian artisans to develop exciting new designs with marcasite," he added.

The first step in this process, the company official said, was the MarcasitEment Design Conetest last year held in cooperation with NIFT, underlining that the use of the stone was especially appropriate in the current economic climate. "With limited possibilities of using new materials in jewellery, it is advisable to develop new designs with marcasite. Its unique soft-steely sparkle lends a particular elegance to any jewellery," the Signity general manager underlined. The seminar addressed all aspects of the materials and the stone, its historic development, the use of marcasite in various designs directors, information about processing, the world silver jewellery market and the current marcasite jewellery market.

The occasion was further enriched by the presence of company's speakers Mr. Rajendra Jain, General Manager - Signity , as well as Mr. Christoph Lechmann, Product Manager Marcasite, D. Swarovski & Co. Austria.

Enlightened ™- Swarovski Elements Swarovskis Product Brand For Precision- Cut Genuine Gemstones And Created Stones

Since the launch last year at Baselworld, ENLIGHTENED ™- Swarovaski Elements joins Swarovski's stable of individual world - renowned brands.

Since 1965, Swarovski has catered to the fine jewellery industry, applying its state-of -the-art precision cutting technology to a range of both genuine gemstone and created stones. Formerly marketed under the trade name Signity, this gemstone brand, known worldwide for its unrivalled consistency of cut, colour and brilliance is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Swarovski. In line with the company's long term strategy, Swarovski has renamed the brand.

ENLIGHTENED™ - Swarovski Elements, innovative and inspirational, will provide the perfect gem palette of opulence and emotion, light and colour to the world of fine jewellery.

The Power of Perfection ENLIGHTENED™ - Swarovski Elements sets the world of jewels and gems alight, bringing life and energy to jewellery concepts around the globe. All stone are cut and polished in of Swarovski own factories using the most sophisticated technology, and advanced research and development, to maintain the strictest standards. Each gem is crafted to meet the most stringent criteria of colour, quality, size and shape, resulting in a uniformity of calibration and quality unrivalled in the industry, Bearing all the Swarovski hallmarks of perfection, brilliance, ingenuity and innovation, and sharing the company's creative dynamism ENLIGHTENED ™ - Swarovski Elements brings artistic freedom to the jewellery industry, inviting designers to express themselves through a dazzling selection of gemstones, capable of bringing creative vision to life.

The Art of Choice At a time when individual self-expression is key, ENLIGHTENED™ Swarovski Elements offers a spectacular choice of materials, cuts and colours a sublime subtlety of tones, textures and translucencies. The range of genuine gemstones includes sapphires, rubies, rhodolites, peridots, amethyst citrines, topazes, in a seductive spectrum of colours, and many more, all wondrous miracles of nature, underpinned with emotion and spirituality, delivering today's style message of opulence and abundance. Top quality created stones, replicating nature's finest; include corundum, ruby and sapphire, peridot and spinel, in numerous shades. ENLIGHTENED™- Swarovski Elements also presents the most dramatic, sophisticated shades of top quality cubic zirconia, with its exceptional brilliance and unfolding depths of light and luster, equally wondrous yet manmade, and very much the material of the movement. Throughout the collection, only high quality raw material ("rough") is used, especially sourced by Swarovski and sorted according to the most exacting standard ENLIGHTENED™ - Swarovski Elements are valued both for their beauty and brilliance and for the ease and speed with which they can be set gemstones elements, including the luxuriously sensual Jewel Mesh and Jewel Chain, the first gemfabrics, opens up new routes for today's bejeweled luxury. In this way, ENLIGHTENED™ - Swarovski Elements offers choice too, by broadening the appeal of gems to different fields of decorative design, creating tempting gemproducts not only for jewellery and watcher, but also for fashion and accessories, eyewear, writing instruments, home wares and interiors.

Dedication to Innovation Each year, ENLIGHTENED ™ - Swarovski Elements launches a collection of fashionforward, trend-oriented gem cuts and colours, and tempting product innovations, to stimulate creativity and push boundaries in jewellery design, across the globe, at all levels of the market. In addition ENLIGHTENED™ - Swarovski Elements offers directional trend and designs services setting gemstone in a broad context of fashion, designs and style. ENLIGHTENED™ - Swarovski Elements provides a much needed creative link within the structure and supply chain of the jewellery world.

The Art of Service Swarovski signature, dedication to perfection and to continual innovation, is reflected in the impeccable quality of ENLIGHTENED™ - Swarovski Elements and also in its brand promise and offer of exceptional service to its customers. Swarovski gemstones product brand is backed by a promise guaranteeing unmatched precision and craftsmanship, innovation in product design and a superior customer support service, strengthened by creative collaborations in the industries it serves. With sales offices and representative across the world, an international distribution network that ensures an unsurpassed efficiency ENLIGHTENED™ - Swarovski Elements is catering to every sector of the jewellery industry, from wholesalers and manufactures to individual designers and retailers. Equally important, ENLIGHTENED™ - Swarovski Elements creates trend-related, stimulating communications tools, and offers design consultancy services, technical support and application training. All focusing on forging long-term creative collaborations relationship, aimed at strengthening brand identity in the market place. Ingredient branding partners will be able to use immediately recognisable ENLIGHTENED™ product tags and point of sale materials, and will have access to communications and promotional materials, designed especially for their activities.