Africa has more than 2,000 spoken languages and 3,000 different ethnic groups, which makes representing its cultural diversity a challenging task. For the Elegance of Africa collection, creative designer, Heinz Tabertshofer, brought together influences from each corner of the continent – from the East African grey crowned crane, to the breathtaking wildlife of the Sub-Saharan region. Together, the four exclusive SCS collection products – Zebra Amai, Baby Zebra Zuri, Crane Neema and Oxpecker Kali – capture some of the majesty and charm that the continent has on offer.    

As a fixture of the African landscape – and found across most of the southern half of the continent – the zebra was our designer’s top choice for the dazzling SCS Annual Edition 2021. Embodying the captivating contrasts of the nimble African equine, the graceful SCS Zebra Amai stands aloof, her beguiling stripes and 457 sparkling facets inviting admiration.

In the wild, the stripes of a zebra are one of its identifying features. However, beautiful though they may be, transferring these iconic markings to crystal presented one of the greatest design challenges for the Swarovski team. To ensure that the SCS Zebra Amai was captured in all her striped majesty, without losing any sparkle, a special coating was developed. As a result, the SCS Zebra Amai’s dazzling crystal is now embellished with an elegant Jet, Silver Night and Golden Shine effect – a beautiful combination that brings the equine’s boldest feature to life.  

Joining SCS Zebra Amai, whose name means “mother” in the Shona language of Zimbabwe, is the adorable SCS Zebra Baby Zuri. As herd animals, zebras are rarely seen alone. They live in stable family groups, in which the females are doting mothers who nurse their foals for up to 18 months. The enchanting zebra foal, SCS Zebra Baby Zuri, whose name means “beautiful” in Swahili, shares her mother’s striking Silver Night and Golden Shine effect stripes. When placed together, the SCS Zebra Amai and SCS Zebra Baby Zuri create a touching scene, which brings the splendor and emotion of Africa to your home. 

The grey crowned crane is the national bird of Uganda and a stunning member of the SCS Elegance of Africa collection. With a name meaning “graceful” in Swahili, the SCS Crane Neema is at once the embodiment of striking African contrasts and dazzling sophistication. In the marshes of East Africa, the meter-high bird is known to dance when trying to catch the eye of a mate. Its crystal counterpart is similarly eye-catching, with 427 facets providing the bird with sparkle. A smoked topaz gives the SCS Crane Neema its grey coloring, while a beautiful synthetic hair crown represents the unique golden crown of feathers that adorns the species’ head. 

In combination, Swarovski’s Elegance of Africa pieces promise to transport you to the enchanting continent.