Inside the Beast

The Swarovski EL Cutaway”

A Rare Peek Behind the Glass, The Swarovski EL Cutaway Binoculars That Doesn't Exist in the Wild

If you’ve ever gazed through a pair of Swarovski binoculars and wondered what’s going on inside that sleek green armour, you’re not alone. For most owners, the magic is part of the mystery, those razor-sharp images, the buttery-smooth focus wheel, the precision alignment of prisms and lenses, all sealed away like a magician’s trick.

But every now and then, one of those secrets slips out into the wild. And if you’re lucky enough to find one, you’re holding a piece of optical history: the Swarovski EL Cutaway Binocular.

What is a Cutaway?

A “cutaway” is the mechanical world’s equivalent of lifting the bonnet and finding a perfectly polished, fully exposed engine ticking away in plain sight. Except here, instead of steel and pistons, you’re treated to gleaming prism housings, focusing cams, springs, and precision-ground glass, all protected by a crystal-clear polycarbonate housing.

One barrel remains fully armoured and field-ready, the other is an open window into the soul of the instrument. You can literally watch the focusing system travel, see the internal reflections bouncing through the BAK-4 prisms, and admire the meticulous Austrian engineering that Swarovski is famous for.

Function vs. Display

Can you use them? Technically, yes, the EL Cutaway is a functioning optical instrument. The prisms and lenses are all there, and the focusing works as intended. But there’s a catch: that clear barrel isn’t sealed like the standard armour, which means dust, moisture, and any airborne item could find its way inside.

Use them in the field, and you risk turning the clear barrel into a biology experiment. Keep them indoors, though, and they’ll likely outlast you.

Priceless Perfection

A standard used Swarovski EL will set you back £1,000–£1,400 depending on model and condition. But a cutaway is priceless.....