Swarovski Optik Explained

Swarovski Optik
Type:	Private
Industry:	Optical engineering
Products:	binoculars, spotting scopes, rifle scopes
Revenue:	€158.7 million euro (2019)^[1]
Num Employees:	> 980
Foundation:	1949
Location:	Absam (Innsbruck-Land District), Austria

Swarovski Optik is a division of the Swarovski group of companies, manufacturing optical instruments. Its headquarters are located in Absam, Tyrol, Austria.

History

Wilhelm Swarovski, son of the original founder, was born in 1918. In 1935, with the help of his father, he developed a prism fabrication and grinding process that he used in the design of his first 6×30 binocular.^[2] In 1949 he founded SWAROVSKI OPTIK KG in Absam, Tyro, to produce the Habicht 7×42 that it continues produce today.

• 1935 First Swarovski binoculars, which was a 6×30
• 1949 Formation of Swarovski Optik
• 1959 First Swarovski Optik rifle scope (4×32)
• 1967 First Swarovski Optik extendable spotting scope (30×75)
• 1974 Kahles was purchased by Swarovski Optik^[3]
• 1977 Kahles became a branch of Swarovski Optik^[3]
• 1989 Kahles Limited again became an independent company within the Swarovski group^[3]
• 1991 First AT 80 telescope
• 1993 First hunting rifle scope with reticle illumination
• 1995 First rifle scope with integrated laser range finder
• 1999 First binoculars with wrap-around grip, named EL
• 2007 First Swarovski rifle scope with 6× zoom
• 2016 First Swarovski rifle scope with 8× zoom^[4]
• 2017 Kahles was again brought into the Swarovski advertising and sales programs^[3]

Overview

SWAROVSKI OPTIK, headquartered in Absam, Tyrol, Austria is part of the Swarovski group of companies. Founded in 1949, the Austrian company specialises in the development and manufacturing of long-range optical instruments in the premium segment of the market, including binoculars, telescopes (spotting scopes), rifle scopes, range finders and night sight devices. The binoculars, spotting scopes, rifle scopes, and optronic instruments are products of choice for demanding users. The company’s success is based on its innovative strength, the quality and intrinsic value of its products, and their functional and esthetic design. The appreciation of nature is an essential part of its company philosophy and is reflected commendably in its environment-friendly production and its long-term commitment to selected nature conservation projects. The turnover in 2020 was 163.5 million euros (2019: 158.7 million euros), with an export ratio of 91%. The company has around 1,000 employees.^[5]

Product Range

Swarovski Optik produces the following series of products.

Binoculars

• Habicht ^[6]
• CL,^[7] includes CL Nomad^[8]
• SLC ^[9]
• EL ^[10]
• EL Range (green and orange) ^[11]
• NL Pure ^[12]
• AX Visio ^[13]

Spotting scopes

• CTC, CTS
• ATS, STS
• STR ^[14]
• ATX, STX
• ATX Interior ^[15]
• BTX ^[16]
• ST Vista ^{[17] [18]}

Rifle scopes

• Z3 (American market only)
• Z5 (American market only)
• Z5i ^[19]
• X5i
• Z6i ^[20]
• Z8i ^[21]
• Ds ^[22]

References

Swarovski BTX 95mm review

Notes and References

1. Web site: Figures, Data, Facts . Swarovski Optik KG . 2021-02-18.
2. Web site: Swarovski Optik History . 2021-10-28 . Swarovski Optik . en.
3. Web site: SHOT Show 40th Anniversary Blast from the Past: Swarovski . 2019-07-06 . 2019-07-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190706093820/https://shotshow.org/shot-40th-anniversary-blast-from-the-past-swarovski/ . dead .
4. https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/03/21/new-swarovski-z8i-riflescopes/ New Swarovski Z8i riflescopes -The Firearm Blog
5. Web site: Facts and Figures. 2021-10-28. Swarovski Optik. en.
6. https://www.allbinos.com/112-binoculars_review-Swarovski_Habicht_10x40_W.html Swarovski habicht binoculars review with some history
7. https://optics-info.com/swarovskis-brand-new-cl-companion-binoculars/ Swarovski CL binoculars overview
8. https://optics-info.com/the-new-swarovski-cl-companion-nomad-binoculars/ Swarovski CL Nomad binoculars
9. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcPebmKW5tE Swarovski SLC binoculars video overview
10. News: Birding in the Digital Age: A Primer. Wall Street Journal. 26 August 2015. Palmer. Roxanne.
11. https://optics-info.com/swarovski-el-o-range/ Swarovski EL O-range presentation
12. https://optics-info.com/swarovski-nl-pure-binoculars/ Swarovski NL Pure announcement
13. https://www.swarovskioptik.com/us/en/hunting/products/binoculars/ax-visio/ Swarovski AX Visio announcement
14. https://optics-info.com/swarovski-str-80-spotting-scope/ Swarovski STR presented and explained
15. https://optics-info.com/the-new-swarovski-atx-interior/ Swarovski ATX Interior presentation
16. https://optics-info.com/swarovski-btx-eyepiece/ Swarovski BTX article
17. https://optics-info.com/swarovski-st-vista/ Swarovski ST vista article
18. https://www.swarovskioptik.com/hunting/st-vista-c200209 Swarovski ST official webpage
19. https://www.swarovskioptik.com/hunting/z5-c200503 Swarovski Z5i overview
20. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3nlxq8g3HU Swarovski Z6i 2.5-15×56 video review
21. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbO2O72cK48 Swarovski Z8i press conference
22. https://optics-info.com/swarovski-ds/ Swarovski Ds overview