Crystal rhinestone buttons from the Czech Republic.

Ever since the 1800’s when imitation stones where being pressed from molds in Gablonz, Austria into costume jewelry, so too were soft soldered rhinestone buttons being produced by small cottage industry factories.

The glass factories would produce the rods of glass from which the rhinestone pressers would melt the glass and press it into molds to create the shapes they required.

The next step in the process of creating the rhinestone is the foiling of the back of the stone. or leave them transparent.

In another factory brass filigree and/or findings would be stamped out from sheets of metal in which the rhinestones would be placed, and prongs bent to hold the rhinestones in place.

At this point the findings would be soldered into place and a shank fitted on the back to create the button.

One cottage factory we found in Smrzovka outside of Jablonec had a huge quantity of brass findings and bezels in which to place rhinestones, as well as a huge selection of crystal rhinestones, which were being used to make new rhinestone buttons as well as to repair old vintage buttons. They had a work bench in the back with soldering equipment to do the work.

During our time in Jablonec we have found two such cottage factories. The other factory was much smaller than the one described above, and he obtained all his rhinestones and findings from the first factory. His location was in his apartment in a huge communist style apartment complex.

Another, newer version of the vintage rhinestone buttons are manufactured in a large factory in Jablonec which gets their crystal rhinestones from Preciosa Ornela, and the bezels and findings from a large filigree factory located in a small village outside of Jablonec. They are assembled on site along with crystal rhondelles, rose montees and other pieces such as princess crowns.

Thank you Jme for helping with this article.