Designer Nathalie Colin. Photo provided to China Daily

Diamonds are a girl's best friend, but what about cheaper crystals? Nathalie Colin, creative director of consumer-goods business department at Swarovski, says rhinestones and fine cut glass offer a lot of freedom for designers.

"With crystals, you can imagine any color or any size you want," the 44-year-old says.

"With diamonds you are limited. When you want to create a piece like this," she adds, pointing at a one giant Vera Necklace piece sparkling with a variety of crystals from her latest collection, "you must have a giant diamond. With crystals, we can invent shapes. We have freedom to mix really junky jewelry."

In her opinion, this cheaper yet shiny material also gives freedom to people to be creative, and also to people who wear jewelry.

For example, when you wear crystals in the street, you don't need to worry about being robbed for the jewelry you are wearing. The Vera Necklace is priced at 7,800 yuan ($1,300), much cheaper than a diamond necklace of similar size.  

But that does not mean a piece of crystal jewelry is not a treasure. According to Colin, two-thirds of Swarovski's creations are "timeless and classic pieces which can be kept for a longer cycle".

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