Pandora - fab or chav?

[phooey]

I bought myself a cream leather Pandora bracelet, to go with the lovely Monica Vinader cream and silver Fiji bracelet DH bought me for Xmas.

I've become a tad obsessed, it's cleverly designed for magpies like me! I've bought 3 beads for it already at a cost of £40-£50 each

I'm going to buy a black Pandora string too so I can wear beads around my neck too.

I feel like a convert to a cult, but also that a lot of jewellery has copied the Pandora style recently, especially M and S costume stuff, so it's nice to have the real deal. It's also very versatile - adding different colours of glass beads depending on outfit.

Fab or chav?

[cathers]

As you asked, Chav.
Don't like them because it seems everyone wears one, and dislike the 'branding' of the wearer! Reminds me of clunky friendship bracelet sort of thing my dd would make, and for the money they cost, I would rather get an elegant timeless piece.

[orangina]

I have no idea what you are all talking about....

(wanders off muttering...)

[phooey]

I'm curious to know if people who dislike Pandora because it's obviously identifiable and perhaps see it as common even though it's expensive have a similar view on designer bags? For example, Mulberry bags are super common where I live, but I don't think it's a sheep mentality, just that they are increasing on popularity. Uggs however seem sheep-like to me iyswim

I actually prefer anonymity with handbags and have a lovely Celine Nautil in tan

[Lulumaam]

not read the thread.. I have a pandora and a links sweetie bracelet.

not really bothered that anyone would think it chavvy, all the charms I have mean something and yes, DH can buy them for me, i'd rather have a charm than flowers/chocs/spa voucher etc...

am also going ot get the string to wear, as I think they look great

horses for courses

[KenDoddsDadsDog]

I don't like them but wouldn't say they are chavvy. Just not my thing.

[jaffacake79]

Each to their own. One of my friends has one with a few significant beads on and it looks good and suits her.
I wear a charm bracelet (that has yet to have the charms put on as never a day goes by without me wearing it! The charms are in my jewellery box).
It annoys me though when something I liked as it was quite quirky and original to begin with gets all popular and there are knock off copies about all over the place. It devalues the original brand and turns people's opinions into some of what is on here.

If you like it, wear it! If it makes you happy then other's opinions be damned.

[HalfTermHero]

I have a Pandora leather braclet and necklace. I love mixing the beads around, there is something very relaxing and therapeutic about it. I also enjoy buying myself a new bead every now and then. I have a lot of diamond jewelry and costume jewelry and I like that the Pandora is a bit different from everything else that I have.

I certainly don't buy Pandora thinking that it will hold it's value long term. That said, it is worth stating that on the whole, jewelry in general is not a great investment purchase. Diamond
rings, necklaces, earrings, bracelets etc are normally sold at circa twice the value that the shop buys them in at. The mark up is huge! Generally and for the majority of people, if you look to sell diamond jewelry secondhand you will lose a lot of money.


It is interesting that so many people are so against Pandora, I am really not sure why the stong opinions!

[Alibabaandthe40nappies]

I don't like them.

Mainly because they are overpriced for what they are, and there are cheap knock-offs everywhere.

phooey - I do indeed have the same view of most designer bags, of the LV/Gucci etc variety. Yuck.

[HalfTermHero]

I can see that some people might view them as overpriced but the same can be said for many consumer products (dh would group all the goods at Net a Porter and My Wardrobe into this category too ). That in itself is surely not a reason to think them chav like etc? (that comment was not directed at you, Ali - I know you did not mention the chav word, )

[CeliaFate]

I'd never heard of them until a yummy mummy boasted on FB that she'd had one for her birthday. Still don't know what they look like!

[CointreauVersial]

Echoing what many of you have said - I don't like them because they are so widespread, and you can't tell the difference between the cheap knock-offs and the real thing (which incidentally is obscenely pricy imho). Some of the charms are really naff designs too.

But like you, I have magpie tendancies, so that aspect appeals. I have a solid gold charm bracelet with charms dating back 60 years+ which is unique and beautiful. A few years ago they were being copied everywhere, and I am quite glad they are not so prevalent now.

[DaffadownDilly]

I love mine.

[NancyDrewHadaClue]

Phooey principally I dislike Pandora as a "brand" because I dislike the charm/bead design. Above and beyond that I also dislike the ubiquity.

My view on designer bags depends very much on the bag itself - I am not massively keen on LV, for example, perhaps because they are everywhere or maybe because I don't actually like the style of many of the bags - although I would luuuuurve a trunk. I don't for example like the bayswater, but I have an Alexa clutch that is beautiful

[amothersplaceisinthewrong]

I have one with about 5 charms on it. I had never heard of Pandora until my SIL who lives in America gave me a silver braceletI think they are a rip off - the beads are very expensive for what they are.

[tryingtoleave]

I don't like them because they seem ostentatious - like wearing a string of $100 bills around your wrist. It's interesting that people are saying that they are becoming popular among teenagers - I always thought they seemed very middle aged.

[njhc]

very chavvy... have you got the star tattoo on your wrist or the tattoo a la cheryl cole on your hand to match/cover up

[DaffadownDilly]

Nah njhc, it distracts from the big star I have on my forehead

[Gertiegoolash]

I've got a septagram (which is basically a 7 pointed star) tattoo on my wrist so I must officially be a "chav". Woo hoo! .

[DaffadownDilly]

Congrats Gertie

[missmartha]

My SiLs have Pandora's, I did say upthread.

They're not chavvy women, more sensible shoes and tweed skirts.

[FrameyMcFrame]

I've never heard of them before but I just googled and the charms look like something you'd get out of a cracker.

[valiumredhead]

Loved them originally but they are everywhere now, so a 'chavvy' vote from me. (dull rather than chavvy)

[barbieisaskinnybitch]

I've changed my mind!

It's my prerogative.

I want one now

[wellwisher]

I had poncetastically never heard of Pandora until I saw this thread just now, but am bored so looked at their website. I don't get it. It appears that if you call a single lonely bead a "charm", you can get away with charging a three-figure sum for it. Is that right? So for the cost of even one bead charm, you could have a lovely piece of jewellery from somewhere else.

I don't like the style either but each to their own. However, OP, for the love of God do not spend £25 on a piece of black string. That really is madness!