Swarovski Star Unveiled for Christmas Tree
The 2012 Swarovski Star that will sit atop the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree was revealed Tuesday. This is the ninth year a Swarovski Star shines on the world famous tree. Swarovski is the leading designer and producer of fashion jewelry and crystal decor objects.
The 2012 Swarovski Star is comprised of 25,000 crystals, with 1,000,000 facets, and it measures 9 ½ feet in diameter and 1 ½ feet deep. The Star weighs 550 pounds, including 300 pounds of crystal panels, and is composed of six outer rays and six smaller inner rays.
The main surfaces of the rays are made of point-mounted safety glass which is the same shatter-proof glass that adorns the facades of New York City buildings. The crystals are affixed to the inner sides of the glass in a tight, scale-like pattern to ensure maximum brilliance.
[ Also Read: Victoria’s Secret to Stay with Swarovski ]A team of nine artisans spent 1,200 hours installing, programming and testing the Star to ensure the effects would withstand the challenging winter weather conditions 80-feet above Rockefeller Plaza. A replica of the Swarovski Star will also be on display in Rockefeller Center to allow visitors the opportunity to get a closer view of the detailing and craftsmanship.
“We are proud to once again celebrate the holiday season at Rockefeller Center,” said Wayne Page, senior vice president of Swarovski North America Limited’s Consumer Goods Business. “The star exemplifies the Swarovski tradition of innovation and creativity.”
[ Also Read: America’s Tallest Fresh-Cut Christmas Tree Arrives ]After the reveal, the Star was raised atop the 80-foot-high, 50-foot wide, 10-ton Norway Spruce in Rockefeller Center, where it will sit for the remainder of the 2012 holiday season.
The 80th Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting Ceremony will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 28, from 7 p.m.-9 p.m. The two-hour ceremony will be televised live, locally on WNBC-TV from 7 p.m.-8 p.m. and nationally on NBC from 8 p.m.-9 p.m.
Spectators can view the lit tree each day from 5:30 a.m. – 11:30 p.m.; all day (24 hours) on Christmas; and from 5:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. The last day to view the tree is January 7, 2013.
