comparable alternatives to Swarovski?

for my CPs i want to have hanging swarovski crystals...but obviously they are expensive...

ive research ordering the crystals wholesale and stringing them myself, and it will be almost a $700 investment, not to mention the labor...which i believe is worth it for the beauty of the crystals...

HOWEVER, my Godmother and a few others believe that there very well may be a comparable alternative that are cheaper than swarovski crystal beads but just as (or very close to as) luminous and pretty, so my question is...

is there??? are there acrylic beads, or glass beads, or something like that out there that are not cheap looking and pick up the light similar to how the swarovski crystals will be but for a smaller price?

Re: comparable alternatives to Swarovski?

hmmm what about natural crystals? I know they may not sparkle as much but they do sparkle when they are hit with the right light....or.....crystal glass. i am sure if you look them up you can find it online. i have gotten a few crystal glass pieces and they are really pretty. oh and possibly if you contact fenton glass? they are in west virginia but i know they do really great glass blowing on site and they also have crystal glass i believe

Re: comparable alternatives to Swarovski?

thank you! i will look into that!

Re: comparable alternatives to Swarovski?

my florist had made cp's for ones whodidnt want to spend as much on flowers and he bought a curtain (like for doorways of acrilyic beads and cut it up used those for her cp's

Re: comparable alternatives to Swarovski?

anything with lead in it will give you that shine you want.

Austrian crystal will work. look for old chandeliers or anything to that extent