On this website you will only find genuine Swarovski products, made by Swarovski or commissioned by and made exclusively for Swarovski (as in the case of some promotional items). We do not carry any products that are "made with" Swarovski crystals, Swarovski crystal components, or CRYSTALLIZED™ Swarovski Elements.
Our products come from many different sources. Some are previously loved and have been consigned to us to sell, generally from long-time collectors who are downsizing. Many of our items are brand new from dealer overstock or store display; and some have only been removed from their original packaging for inspection and photos.
All pieces are cleaned and thoroughly inspected prior to being listed for sale. All of our retired Swarovski crystal is in mint condition and comes complete with its original labelled box and COA unless specifically stated otherwise in the product listing.
All photos on product detail pages on PurpleUnicornCollectibles.com are of the actual item for sale. As collectors ourselves, we know it is important that you can see exactly what you are purchasing. Generally we have only one of each item available, but in the event we have multiples in stock we obviously cannot post photos of each individual item. There may also be slight variations in packaging or labelling.
We do our best to provide accurate photos of colored pieces, including photos from different angles, but due to lighting conditions, reflections, and variations in computer displays, we cannot guarantee that the color displayed on your screen will exactly match the color of the piece.
As a rule we do not use stock photos or photos that are not our own. On the rare occasion where we do use a stock photo it is only as a placeholder so that we can get an item listed for sale without delay.
We are not a brokerage, meaning we do not post long lists of products with various prices that may or may not be available from private third party sellers. Every product on our website is in stock, available, and has been thoroughly inspected. The photos on our website are of the actual items for sale.
We have deliberately chosen not to maintain a large catalog of items that are not readily available for shipping to you. There are many websites out there where you can find photos and information about every piece Swarovski ever made, but none are ever in stock or available for purchase. As shoppers and collectors ourselves, we find it frustrating - not to mention disappointing - to finally find that elusive piece you've been looking for, only to discover it is not in stock. We want your shopping experience to be a safe and positive one, not a frustrating one!
We are not an authorised Swarovski dealer, nor do we deal in grey market product. We are Canadian secondary market specialists, providing a professional service to collectors worldwide. We can help you sell your collection, or help you find that elusive piece you’ve been searching for!
Inspections and Item Condition
All pieces are cleaned and thoroughly inspected prior to being listed for sale. All items are carefully inspected under lighted magnification and any imperfections that we find, including fleabites and factory flaws, are noted.
Unless otherwise specified in the item description, all of our pieces are in mint condition and come complete with their original labelled box(es) and Certificate of Authenticity (COA).
If an item is missing its box and/or label and/or COA, this will be disclosed in the description. For example, some boxes may be missing the label as they were sometimes removed by the purchaser if the item was a gift, or it was removed by the retailer at point of purchase. Many of our vintage pieces do not have their original labelled boxes and/or COA, as many collectors simply did not keep them. At PurpleUnicornCollectibles.com we believe that the label is an integral part of the packaging, and if it is not present, this will be clearly disclosed in the product listing.
While we do maintain a smoke-free environment, many of our items are previously loved and it is impossible for us to guarantee that they were never exposed to smoke.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding any of our items, please feel free to contact us for more information or photos prior to purchasing.
What is "Mint Condition"?
How do we define "mint condition"? The generally accepted rule of thumb is that if Swarovski shipped the product to a store, it obviously met their standards and would have to be considered "mint".
However, many pieces do have small imperfections ~ that is simply part of the manufacturing process and is what makes these pieces unique and special.
That being said, as collectors ourselves we realize that many collectors prefer flawless pieces. Therefore, any significant flaws, and those that would be visible under normal display conditions, will be disclosed in the item description, along with photos where possible.
What is a "fleabite"?
"Fleabite" is the term used to describe a microscopic imperfection in the crystal. It is a flaw in the crystal itself, not damage, generally considered a factory flaw.
Because fleabites are imperfections and are not damage (as chips would be), they are considered to be mint condition.
Other imperfections that we note in our product descriptions include rough edges and glue bubbles.
Any significant flaws, and those that would be visible under normal display conditions, will be disclosed in the item description, along with photos where possible.
