Shimmer is a surface treatment, not a color. It sits between a plain stone and a full aurora borealis coating: softer than AB, with a pearlized sheen rather than a hard rainbow flash. The base color stays visible underneath, which is the point.

Nearly everything in this range is MAXIMA Crystals by Preciosa^®, and every stone here carries both treatments: the name Shimmer AB means a shimmer surface over an aurora borealis coating. The result is a stone that shifts color as it moves without losing the shade it started as.

The range covers most of the color families. On the cool end there is Blue Zircon Shimmer AB, Capri Blue Shimmer AB, Aqua Bohemica Shimmer AB, Blue Violet Shimmer AB, and Emerald Shimmer AB. On the warm end, Citrine Shimmer AB, Acid Yellow Shimmer AB, and Dusty Rose Shimmer AB. Black Diamond Shimmer AB covers the smoky neutrals.

Designers use shimmer where a plain stone reads flat and a full AB reads too busy. It works particularly well on lyrical and contemporary costumes, where the goal is movement in the light rather than maximum flash, and on designs that already have a lot going on visually.

Frequently asked questions

What is a shimmer rhinestone?

A shimmer rhinestone is a crystal with a soft pearlized surface treatment. It is subtler than a full aurora borealis coating: the stone catches light with a gentle sheen rather than throwing a strong rainbow flash. Shimmer is a finish, so it is available across many colors rather than being a color itself.

What is the difference between shimmer and AB?

AB is a strong iridescent coating that shifts through several colors as the stone moves. Shimmer is a softer pearlized sheen that lets the base color stay dominant. Every stone in this range is labeled Shimmer AB, meaning it carries both: the AB coating for movement and the shimmer surface to soften it.

Which brand makes shimmer rhinestones?

Shimmer is a Preciosa finish, so nearly every stone in this range is MAXIMA Crystals by Preciosa^®. If you are matching an existing design that uses shimmer stones, it will almost certainly be a MAXIMA product.

When should I use shimmer instead of a plain stone?

Use shimmer when a plain stone looks flat under stage lighting but a full AB would compete with the costume. It adds movement without adding a second color story. It also helps on busy fabric, where a plain stone can disappear into the pattern and a bright AB can make the whole surface read as noise.

How do I choose a shimmer shade?
Order a rhinestone color chart and tilt the stones under the lighting the piece will be worn in. Shimmer is the finish a photograph captures worst, because the effect only exists in the movement between angles and a still image freezes one of them.