If you’re looking to invest in binoculars for your outdoor adventures, Swarovski has definitely made your shortlist. What sets the brand apart? Not only do you get supreme optical performance; you’re buying into a culture of precision with the best binoculars for light transmission and clarity. I received a pair of Swarovski CL 10x25 Pocket Binoculars for Christmas the year before our tour around Swarovski Optik in Absam just outside of Innsbruck. As expected, these binoculars were the source of many points of definition: they live up to their name for sharp, outstanding views. After using other binoculars for many years of birdwatching and wildlife viewing on safari, the difference has been remarkable. I didn’t think I could appreciate this equipment more – until I found out how they were made.
It was a short bus ride from central Innsbruck to the Swarovski Optik headquarters in Absam – just outside the city. The scenery is magnificent – a flank of mountains into the distance. This is a location fitting of meteoric optical excellence: a city dwarfed by scenery. This is a land of mountains and rivers and forests – and the people who enjoy them in myriad ways. All the better to see you with: birds, wildlife, big landscapes.
Arriving at the HQ, Swarovski’s abiding presence in the area is almost palpable. There is tradition here that includes the place and its people – and all because of the singular focus of creating outstanding optics. We waited in the reception area, lined with cabinets showing the evolution of the brand – a timelapse from porro prism optics to sleek roof prism designs.
