Star Reveals Rockefeller Christmas Tree Star

Actress Olivia Wilde joined Swarovski yesterday to unveil the 2011 Swarovski star crowning the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree.

The 2011 Swarovski Star is made up of 25,000 crystals.  The star measures 9 1/2 feet in diameter and is 1 1/2 feet deep. The star weighs 550 pounds, including 300 pounds of crystal panels.

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 74-feet above Rockefeller Center.

An exact 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. After the reveal, the Star was raised atop the 74-foot-high, 46-foot wide, 10-ton Norway Spruce in Rockefeller Center, where it will sit for the remainder of the 2011 holiday season.

This is the eighth year a Swarovski Star tops the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. The 79th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony will be held on November 30th. The two-hour ceremony will be live on NBC.