Pink necklace with Aurora Borealis.

Aurora borealis is the abbreviation for a special finish which was applied to rhinestones and beads in the early 1950’s to make them more radiant. The finish was given the celestial name Aurora Borealis, taken from the phenomena in the northern skies known as the Northern Lights. The same shimmering rainbows of color can also be seen radiating from a glass bead or rhinestone that has been treated with this now famous coating.
During the early decades of the 1900’s, in the era of Paris couture, Swarovski’s exclusive mechanical process of cutting and polishing crystal had a dramatic effect on design. The fashion world and crystal experts began a mutually creative cooperation.
In the mid 1950’s the designer Christian Dior turned to Manfred Swarovski, grandson of the founder, when he was looking for a new expression for crystal and jewelry to complement his New Look--exquisitely feminine clothes for the new woman of a new era. Where once chatons and fancy stones were popular suddenly cut beads became more popular.

http://www.ebay.com.au/gds/History-of-Aurora-Borealis-Jewelry-/10000000003914977/g.html