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?

[bristolcities]

Unimaginative and well well over priced!

[beijingaling]

Not chavvy just very, very popular which I don't like.

A bit like uggs tbh.

[withagoat]

obvious

[barbieisaskinnybitch]

Wonder if they're popular because they're well made & pretty...?

I want the princess & the pea charm as that's my alltime fave tale from when I was a little girl (I'm still a wannabe princess )

I like the idea of having charms from my kids that they choose for me...I'm a soppy tart. My bangles I wear daily are simple hammered silver with the names of my boys on them & a message on the other one from my DH that relates to when we got engaged in Kenya.

I like that Pandora you cn build your own meanings in the bracelets...that is becomes actually very personal, not common at all.

shrugs

[AllTheGoodOnesAreTaken]

In my own personal opinion they're the jewelry equivalent of painting by numbers but each to their own, if you like them, why not enjoy them?

[teafortwo]

For people that are saying chavvy is it ALL charm bracelets or specifically the Pandora ones?

[bogle]

Hiya, reminds me of the Links of London bracelet, don't know its proper name, but the lovely one with hoops tightly packed on. I loved that when I saw my BF wearing one years ago, and then suddenly WHOOSH! Every-bloody-where. It's prob cutting my nose off to spite my face, but I can't stand the thought of identikit jewellery.

[expatinscotland]

I didn't even know what these were until fairly recently (last November) when I stumbled upon a Pandora shop in Glasgow.

Not for me - I find it over-priced for what you get - but hey ho, if others like it . . .

[bristolcities]

No proper charm bracelets that involve a bit of originality aren't chavy. You can pick up really pretty, amazing intricate, vintage, gold charms for about £20.
My X bought me the most amazing gold stalk charm complete with little baby in beak that was kind of hinged for about £25.
I have found the most fantastic little charms in antique jewelers for a fraction of the price. Little cars that open up reveling people, tiny frogs etc. I really can't understand this expensive Pandora stuff.

[missmartha]

I'm going to say this again because I've got a break and am having a cupcake and tea.

They remind me of my SiLs, who both have them and wear frumpy tweedy stuff and flat shoes.

They're ok women but gave up years ago.

Makeup? You have to kidding you tart.

[TidyBush]

I'm having one as a leaving present from my job at the end of the month and tbh it will be a relief to everyone who knows me.

I'm the worst person in the world to buy for and always end up with chocs & flowers for every occassion.

I'm looking forward to building up memories with the charms. The queen bee one will be a definate as DH is a beekeeper.

I haven't followed a trend since about 1985 but I can see the benefits of following this one.

[barbieisaskinnybitch]

Hoorah Tidybush!

I'm not liking them as a trend, I just like that I can fill it with personal memories

[Driftwood999]

Just wait until the hard word is put on these, you will never wear them again. The moral of the story is do not be lead by fashion, or your friends/aqaintances. Ubiquitous trash.

[CointreauVersial]

Bristolcities - my mum and I both have some amazing gold charms too! A wooden horse that opens to reveal lots of little Trojans, a sewing machine with a wheel that spins, a mortarboard that opens up to reveal a little blackboard....all gorgeous and unique.

[barbieisaskinnybitch]

Whats the hard word?

[phooey]

What on earth is the hard word?

In other news, I just bought this beautiful Pandora watch half price

Any Pandora fans - this website have reduced all Pandora stock, mostly by about 20% but watches by 50% so there are some major bargains to be had.

It looks chavvy lovely with my champagne leather 2-tone bracelet.

[MisSalLaneous]

I've just looked these up, and am a bit baffled. You do know that you could get something identical similar to this at a bead shop for less than £2, right?

[carlywurly]

I'm a bit on the fence here. I think they can look good on some people but there's way too much potential for them to look cheap and naff if you mix the wrong charms.

I've only ever seen one I really liked - it was an ad in Marie Claire a while back and had some stunning gold charms on. I hate both charm bracelets and gold usually, so this was a bit of a revelation to me. I totted up the value and reckon it must have been close to £2500.. I decided against it..

I stick to my Links bracelet, which has one charm on at any time. I love the chunkiness and pull on factor!

[bristolcities]

Cointreau sounds like you have a great collection and one to rival mine, I'm a little jealous.

[stylenotfashion]

I just don't get the theory that something has to old to be pretty & special. I'm sure olde worlde charm bracelets are lovely & I'm glad they give you pleasure but that doesn't mean a modern version is cheap & 'chavvy'.

IME they are very very well made & delicate items. Sure, some combinations are OTT but then I think some combos of antique gold bracelst are OTT (in the style of the Trotters for example) so I don't think you can tar all Pandora with one brush.

I have a simple silver bracelet with 3 charms (giraffe as I got engaged in kenya on safair, a ring of hearts to represent endless love & the princess & the pea charm as it was my favourite fairy tale as a child).

They are delicate, hand made & beautiful to look at.

[stylenotfashion]

*safari

[bristolcities]

I think the point was that these gold old solid gold or silver charms are a fraction of the price and made more intricately.

[stylenotfashion]

Ah I see bristol, thanks.

Where do you buy them from? ebay (!) was pricey.

I like all jewellery, I think it's a matter of personal taste (hence my MN name lol) so I'd be keen to find some of these antique ones too, for a different bracelet/necklace.

Can you point me in the right direction?

[selby]

Pandora and Links sweetie bracelets are extremely overpriced for what they are (agree with the costume jewellery definition) so kudos to the marketing people - I'm a slight jewellery snob though but each to their own.

[muminthemiddle]

I think thay can look good on some people, like any fashion item really. But they are very common in my neck of the woods and therefore a no-no for me, as if I want to look like everyone else I certainly don't want to spend a fortune on it.