What is the differance between Swarovski Crystals and Hotfix Swarovski Crystals?

Swarovski crystals are made in Austria. There are some of the best and most exact cut crystals available. They are held to a higher standard than most crystals on the market, and guidelines have been issued to determine real from fake.
Swarovski crystals themselves, found in craft stores, are available in three varieties.
1. Beads
2. flat back crystals
3. hotfix crystals

There are more shapes and such available on the market, just not typically in big box craft stores.

Now the difference between simple flat back rhinestones, and swarovski crystals, is that generally rhinestones are either acrylic (plastic) or cheap glass. They don’t have the same radiance as Swarovski. Also, the key component of hotfix crystals, is the “hotfix” part. There is a separate tool, that looks sort of like a soldering iron, that heats up the adhesive on the back of the crystal (regular rhinestones don’t have this, only Swarovski hotfix) and makes application easy and quick.

You can purchase flat back Swarovski crystals wholesale from a company called

firemountain gems….(www.firemountaingems.com) they even have $5 shipping via FEDEX.

Hope this helps!!