pandora/troll beads charm bracelets - which is best and is there a difference?

[jemart]

These seem to be everywhere at the moment, I have come across several different brands including Pandora, Troll, Biagi, Chamelia(?) and Truth. There are probably others.....

Which is best? Is there any difference?

[iMissEdith]

I know that one sort of bracelet takes only the same brand of beads, but another/others take any type of beads.

So it's crucial to get the right bracelet to begin with - if only I knew which.....

[FluffyBunnyGoneBad]

I have a pandora. There's alot of beads and they range in price, they can get really expensive. There are some cheaper ones though, it can be hit and miss whether the beads from other types fit though, I only have pandora beads on mine as there's limited places where I live to buy charms from. It's addictive!, they range from £12 for a small one that's designed to go inbetween the larger ones, the larger ones range from £25+ for silver, alot more for 14ct gold.

[jemart]

Are the Pandora ones actually better though? or are they just all designer and expensive, paying for the name sort of thing?

[nigglewiggle]

Watching this with interest as I dropped big hints about this to DH for christmas. He found a shop that sells Pandora and bought me a pair of much cheaper earings instead!

[MerlinsBeard]

They don't make them small enough for me

I think troll bracelets are the original closely followed by pandora which took over in popularity and there are LOADS of fakes now

[FluffyBunnyGoneBad]

I'd say they are the same to be honest, they are only slightly more expensive then other ones though. You can buy the bracelets in different sizes nigglewiggle. I have thin wrists and it looks ok. The bracelets do start at £48+ though so it can work out really expensive when you tally it all up. eBay sell some 'similar' pandora beads for alot less then they cost in the jewellers though.

[jemart]

I've seen the glass beads on ebay, the quality of glass is just not as good.
Also the sterling silver bead linings are thinner and some are just silver plated so a bit rubbish really.

[JohnnyTwoHats]

Lovelinks. And you can fit Pandora beads on Lovelinks bracelets but not viceversa.

[MaggieBee]

I started this thread ages ago. there are some good links on it.

here

[jemart]

worth buying a gold one?

[FluffyBunnyGoneBad]

Probably not. They are mega expensive and IIRC, 14ct is alot softer then 9ct. Pandora do make links/charms that are silver with bits of gold on them which look pretty and are alot cheaper then the gold ones.

[jemart]

Sorry, I'm rubbish with abbreviations, what is IIRC please?

[FluffyBunnyGoneBad]

sorry, it means if I remember correctly

[jemart]

ah, I see. I'm pretty sure 14ct gold is harder than sterling silver though.

[jemart]

OMG reckon the gold ones are out of my reach right now, they're over £1000 each!

[FluffyBunnyGoneBad]

www.unforgettablemoments.co.uk/view_category.php?id=36 na, see here!]]

[motherlovebone]

my good friend has a troll bracelet, its amazing. yes its expensive, but you could start with one bead. i recently got her a bead for her 40th...i think the idea is, you build it over time.