the.com/rhinestone
diamond's confident understudy, sparkling shamelessly without the blood, debt, or insurance forms.
means A glittering imitation gem, originally cut glass and now often acrylic or crystal, used to fake the flash of a diamond on cheaper jewelry and costumes.
from A loan-translation of the French caillou du Rhin, 'pebble of the Rhine' — because the original rhinestones were rock crystals collected from the river Rhine, prized for their sparkle. The name survived long after glass and paste took over the job, so today 'rhinestone' clings to stones that have never been anywhere near a river at all.
- river origin
- Named for quartz crystals found in the Rhine River.
- foil trick
- Metallic backing makes glass mimic diamond fire.
- swarovski empire
- One Austrian's precise cuts built a sparkle dynasty.
- elvis armor
- His jumpsuits wore thousands, glittering like disco knights.
- lead glass
- Best ones are leaded crystal, not humble plastic.
rhinestone cowboy — glen campbell's 1975 hit song that became a cultural phenomenon
liberace's candelabra suit — pianist wore rhinestone-encrusted costumes on stage in las vegas throughout the 1950s-80s
elvis jumpsuit — elvis presley performed in elaborate rhinestone-covered jumpsuits from the 1970s onward