Jablonex Group was a Czech manufacturer established in 1952 in Jablonec nad Nisou, Czech Republic (before the break up of the Austrian Empire named Gablonz). They mainly manufactured glass, specialising in the production of glass beads for the jewellery industry. The brand intended to create and ship worldwide glass beads, produced since the 16th century in the Jizera mountains, near Jablonec nad Nisou. The Jablonex company had lost it's monopoly after the Velvet Revolution splitting Czechoslovakia into two countries; Czech Republic and Slovakia. After the societal changes in 1989 the privatization process began, giving rise to several large companies (such as Preciosa a.s., Železnobrodské sklo, Ornela a.s., Bižuterie a.s. and others), and gradually about 50 smaller and mid-sized companies were established. In 2005, the large businesses formed a new company: Jablonex Group a.s. However, it only survived until 2009, when the owners shut it down and sold it off in parts. This occurred during a deep recession and the strong rise of Chinese and Indian competitors. And recently Jablonex become the first brand in the world offering recycled glass beads.