IT HAS BECOME ALMOST ROUTINE in the booming luxury business for curious minds to draw back the industry's proverbial Oz-like curtains to learn the tricks of the trade—how a $10,000 French handbag is stitched or where Brazilian gemstones are mined. But at Swarovski crystals in Wattens, Austria, a town of 8,000 about 20 minutes northeast of Innsbruck by car, the factory—and all the technical knowhow stashed inside—is strictly off limits.
In the 111 years since its founding, Swarovski has established itself as the largest supplier of high-end crystals to the fashion and design industries, adding sparkle to jewelry and evening bags...
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