NEW YORK, Nov. 20, 2012 / — It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! For the 9th year in a row, a Swarovski Star will shine at the world famous Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree.

And for 2012, the Swarovski Star will pack 25,000 crystals, with 1,000,000 facets, and it measures 9 ½ feet in diameter and 1 ½ feet deep. The Star weighs 550 pounds, including 300 pounds of crystal panels, and is composed of six outer rays and six smaller inner rays.

The main surfaces of the rays are made of point-mounted safety glass which is the same shatter-proof glass that adorns the facades of New York City buildings. The crystals are affixed to the inner sides of the glass in a tight, scale-like pattern to ensure maximum brilliance.

A team of nine artisans spent 1,200 hours installing, programming and testing the Star to ensure the effects would withstand the challenging winter weather conditions 80-feet above Rockefeller Plaza. A replica of the Swarovski Star will also be on display in Rockefeller Center to allow visitors the opportunity to get a closer view of the detailing and craftsmanship.

The 2012 Swarovski Star was revealed today and immediately raised atop the 80-foot-high, 50-foot wide, 10-ton Norway Spruce in Rockefeller Center, where it will sit for the remainder of the 2012 holiday season.

Swarovski will offer a selection of holiday jewelry and ornaments on sale at the Swarovski holiday kiosk at Rockefeller Center; at Swarovski boutiques nationwide and online at www.Swarovski.com. The collection includes stylish star-themed crystal jewelry and an Annual Edition Ornament inspired by the design of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Star.

The 80th Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting Ceremony will be held on Wednesday, November 28th, from 7 p.m.-9 p.m. The two-hour ceremony will be televised live, locally on WNBC-TV from 7 p.m.-8 p.m. and nationally on NBC from 8 p.m.-9 p.m.

Rockefeller Center officially began the Tree Lighting Ceremony in 1933, when a Christmas tree was erected in front of the then-RCA Building and covered with 700 lights. Christmas trees in Rockefeller Center have ranged from 50-foot Pines to 100-foot Norway Spruces and are viewed by millions of spectators during the holiday season.

Spectators can view the lit tree each day from 5:30 a.m. – 11:30 p.m.; all day (24 hours) on Christmas; and from 5:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. The last day to view the tree is January 7, 2013.

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