Culture / Events

½-Foot Swarovski Star To Adorn Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

Swarovski, recently unveiled the newly refurbished crystal star that will crown the 2009 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. The star is high-tech: it has enhancements such as a new cutting-edge computerized lighting system and energy-efficient LED bulbs. This is the first year that the Swarovski star, which debuted at the top of the Rockefeller Center Christmas […]

Nov 24, 2009 | By Anakin

Swarovski Star Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

Swarovski, recently unveiled the newly refurbished crystal star that will crown the 2009 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree.

The star is high-tech: it has enhancements such as a new cutting-edge computerized lighting system and energy-efficient LED bulbs.

This is the first year that the Swarovski star, which debuted at the top of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree in 2004, will feature dynamic light movement.

A team of nine artisans and engineers spent three months employing a unique combination of art, science and technology to complete the new design.

Advertisements

The Swarovski star is comprised of 25,000 crystals, with 1,000,000 facets, measures 9 1/2 feet in diameter and is 1 1/2 feet deep.

Weighing 550 pounds — including 300 pounds of crystal panels — it is composed of six outer rays and six smaller inner rays.

The main surfaces of the rays are made of point-mounted safety glass, 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.

The Swarovski Star now sits atop the 76-foot-high, 40-foot wide, over 10-ton Norway Spruce from the home of Maria Corti.

An exact 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.

The tree will be decorated with thousands of colored lights and lit in a televised ceremony on Dec. 3.

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting


 
Back to top