Samsung, in what is its biggest partnership with Swarovski yet, has announced a collection of Swarovski crystal accessories for the Galaxy S5 and Gear Fit, dubbed “Swarovski for Samsung.” As expected, the collection is headed by a specially designed back cover for the Galaxy S5, studded with “Swarovski Crystal Fine Rocks” (crystals, in layman terms). It's a lot of crystals as is evident from the images – we're not sure we're fans of how it looks, but then again, we're probably not the target audiences of these glitzy accessories. The cover comes in two different color patterns – one is a mixture of black and grey, while the other imbibes blue, grey and white crystals for a denser and more colorful look.
For the Gear Fit, Swarovski has developed what is calls Charm Sliders. These will be available in a variety of colors and styles – Brown, Golden Shadow and Crystal. Dangle styles feature Siam Heart, Light Rose Heart, Crystal Skull, Anthracite Skull, Crystal Star, Blue Star and Golden Shadow Lips – and will connect to the Gear Fit's strap. Basically, these are straps for straps, and should give you that premium feel you're looking for when the fitness tracker is on your wrist.
The Swarovski accessory collection will be available from Samsung's online store in Korea and China from tomorrow (only pre-orders in China), and in the UK shortly thereafter. Retail availability will begin on May 22, and while Samsung hasn't mentioned a list of regions where it will go on sale, it will likely be a limited rollout. Pricing info is also unavailable, but hey, if you're getting these accessories, you're probably not worried about the price tags anyway.
Press Release
“Swarovski for Samsung” Collection Launches
On Samsung Online Store
New exclusive fashion accessories collaboration allows
individuals to express their personalities and tastes
SEOUL, Korea – May 8, 2014 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, the global leader in mobile technology, today announced the launch of “Swarovski for Samsung,” an exclusive collection of Swarovski crystal accessories for the Galaxy S5 and Gear Fit.
The “Swarovski for Samsung” collaboration comes on the heels of a successful accessory partnership between the two brands during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York this past season. The collection marks the first time in more than 100 years that Swarovski has participated in a collaboration of this scale, where it fully integrates its branding into the collection.
“With technology and fashion so deeply intertwined, Samsung is more dedicated than ever to supporting self-expression through technological innovation and meaningful partnerships,” said Younghee Lee, Executive Vice President of Global Marketing, IT & Mobile Division at Samsung. “Collaborating with Swarovski on this stunning collection of device accessories reflects our commitment to providing people with user-experiences that express their distinct personalities and tastes.”
The collection of crystal-encrusted Galaxy S5 covers and Gear Fit charms is a distinctive union of Swarovski craftsmanship and Samsung technological expertise. Using a special developed application process, Swarovski Crystal Fine Rocks are perfectly integrated into the back cover of the Galaxy S5, while two crystal effects are merged into one motif as an extra design feature.
The Gear Fit Charm Sliders have been specially designed to provide users with the ultimate versatility in their wearable technology experience. The charms are available in a wide variety of colors and styles, each easily customizable with mix-and-match capabilities that enable people to embrace their personal tastes, even as they change for different occasions. Bar colors include Brown, Golden Shadow and Crystal. Dangle styles feature Siam Heart, Light Rose Heart, Crystal Skull, Anthracite Skull, Crystal Star, Blue Star and Golden Shadow Lips.
The “Swarovski for Samsung” collection will be available on the Samsung online store at http://store.Samsung.com beginning May 8 in Korea and pre-sales in China. Online availability in the United Kingdom will begin shortly thereafter. Starting May 22, availability will extend to offline Samsung stores.
“Samsung and Swarovski share a commitment to bringing high quality, highly desired products to the consumer market, and together, we have succeeded with the Swarovski for Samsung collection,” said Christoph Kargruber, Executive Vice President Global Marketing, Swarovski Professional.
For more product information, please visit www.samsungmobilepress.com.
About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in technology, opening new possibilities for people everywhere. Through relentless innovation and discovery, we are transforming the worlds of TVs, smartphones, tablets, PCs, cameras, home appliances, printers, LTE systems, medical devices, semiconductors and LED solutions. We employ 286,000 people across 80 countries with annual sales of US$216.7 billion. To discover more, please visit www.samsung.com.
About Swarovski
Swarovski delivers a diverse product portfolio of unmatched quality, craftsmanship and creativity. Founded in 1895 in Austria, Swarovski Crystal Business designs, manufactures and markets crystals, natural and created gemstones, finished products such as jewelry, accessories and lighting. The company’s film division, Swarovski Entertainment, produces artistically accomplished feature films with global box-office appeal. The Swarovski Foundation was set up to honour the philanthropic spirit of the company by supporting creativity and culture, promoting wellbeing and conserving natural resources. Now run by the fifth generation of family members, Swarovski Crystal Business has a global reach, with over 2,350 stores in about 170 countries, 25,135 employees and revenues of 2.38 billion Euros in 2012. Together with its sister companies Swarovski Optik (optical devices) and Tyrolit (abrasive), Swarovski Crystal Business forms the Swarovski Group. In 2012, the Group generated revenues of 3.08 billion Euros and employed 30,600 people.
