A rhinestone or paste is a diamond simulant made from rock crystal, glass or acrylic. Originally, rhinestones were rock crystals gathered from the river Rhine. The availability was greatly increased when around 1775 the Alsatian jeweller Georg Friedrich Strass (, from Straßburg) had the idea to imitate diamonds by coating the lower side of glass with metal powder. Hence, rhinestones are called Strass in many European languages. Rhinestones make excellent imitations of diamonds, and good manufacturers even capture the glistening effect that real diamonds have in the sun. In 1955, the "Aurora Borealis" or "Aqua aura", a thin, vacuum-sputtered metallic coating applied to crystal stones to produce an iridescent effect, was introduced. Aurora Borealis tends to reflect whatever color is worn near it, and it is named after the Aurora Borealis atmospheric phenomenon, also known as the Northern Lights. In the past, crystal rhinestones have been primarily used on costumes, apparel and jewelry. Now days you can find beautiful custom crystallized items on eBay, such as cell phones, iPods and other mp3 players, earbuds, and flip flops. Crystal rhinestones are produced mainly in Austria by Swarovski and in Czech Republic by Preciosa. The rhinestone-studded Nudie suit was invented by Nudie Cohn in the 1940s, an Americanization of the matador's "suit of lights". Heavy use of rhinestones used to be associated with country music singers, as well as with Elvis Presley and Liberace. Glen Campbell had a top 1975 hit with the song "Rhinestone Cowboy", and became known as the Rhinestone Cowboy. Today, custom Swarovski items are in high demand with both celebrities and fashion forward women. The rhinestones and other crystal items by Czech company Preciosa are being used in luxury costume jewellery from leading fashion brands.At the end of the song "Diamonds are a girls best Friend" Marilyn Monroe sings "I don't mean rhinestones but Diamonds are a girls best friend".
