Pandora jewelry

[OlennasWimple]

I've just been given a Pandora charm bead as a thank you present. Completely unexpected, and a lovely gesture. Unfortunately I don't have any other Pandora jewelry or a suitable necklace chain to put it on, so I was thinking of asking for a bracelet for Christmas so that I can wear it

However...I'm not sure if I actually like Pandora jewelry... It seems a bit cheap / costume-y to me? Or am I being a snob?

I used to work for them in early uni days 🤦‍♀️
They're basically glorified, extremely cheap silver, sold for 3x their worth. They're made in Thailand and they insist their workers are not underage and paid properly but I don't really believe it.

Re your actual question: I have a bracelet full of charms (I had a hefty discount when I worked there) which I never wear anymore (too heavy). I'm thinking of wearing it either plain or with 1 max 2 charms on it & a silver watch.

You should be able to buy a plain chain very cheaply in a jewellers that you can thread the bead onto.

I’m not a fan personally of the bracelets but know lots that are. The problem is that it needs to be half full to look decent and that costs hundreds.

Teenagers seem to love Pandora.

Dd has a silver bracelet with charms from there she got a few years ago. Now she wants a grey leather bracelet from there to add beads to.

Teenagers seem to love Pandora

I'm a middle-aged woman.... Maybe that's part of my reservation - I don't need entry level jewelry, IYSWIM

I’m far from being a teenager and I love mine! Each charm has meaning.

Maybe middle aged women do too?

I just see a lot of teen girls seem to have or want pandora jewellery.

I would put the charm on a leather thong.

I thought Pandora had had it's day

Tbh I think they are a con - the quality isn't great yet you pay £40/50 (or up to £150) for the charms. I see people who own them laden with charms and can't help thinking they could have bought a really lovely piece of jewellery for the £700 they've probably spent on that.

That said each to their own and I know some people really value the charms they had as presents or to celebrate an event etc

I'm not a fan of silver jewellery anyway so it was never going to appeal to me so am probably being a bit of a misery about the concept

I do quite like silver jewelry - but it has to be really good quality to avoid looking cheap, I think. Leather thong isn't really my style

From another thread (nothing to do with S&B):

Say it's one of those shite pandora charms everyone buys each other. Same idea. It was rude

Sort of confirms my view

Well you obviously don't like it. Just give it to someone who you think might appreciate it.

Get thin ribbon and thread it through and wear it like a bracelet.

I know several older women who wear Pandora- each to their own

I like mine. Got it when I was 14, in my twenties now and still collecting. It is far too full and could do with another bracelet to put some on to. Each charm has a different story behind it; got one in Gran Canaria on family holiday, one for 18th birthday, one from best friends for completing my exams etc.

I'd feel bad about giving away a present, ElizabethMainwaring. Though I can't quite rationalise how that is "better" than it sitting in my top drawer unworn!

I'll have a look for a bracelet or chain that it will fit on instead of a Pandora one

What does the charm look like - is it a nice enough thing in its own right? If you like it, you could get a plain silver chain from a jeweller and thread it onto that. I don't like Pandora stuff personally but just having one charm doesn't mean you have to buy into the whole shebang!

Could you add it to a keyring or bah charm instead perhaps?

On the same lines as PP said what about using it as a bag tag - with a strip of leather use it as an extended to a zip.

If you want to try pandora but don't want to spend £££ on a bracelet, try one of those second hand jewellery shops that buys gold etc. My local one has tons of Pandora stuff for a lot less than you would pay new.

It doesn't have to look cheap or costumey, though, it's all in the style of charms/beads you choose. Mine are all silver or rose gold tone, just one coloured bead (purple) and that's in a filigree silver setting. I think it looks classy and not at all juvenile, though some of the bracelets I've seen with a lot of coloured beads on them have looked a bit like kids' jewellery to me.

If you are anywhere near Bicester there is a Pandora outlet shop. You might get a necklace at a good price to thread it onto. There are also different types of bracelets. I got DD a standard bracelet and charms (really good discount) for Christmas and got a free bangle, so she will be very pleased. I don't wear much jewellery, so I wouldn't buy it for myself, but I know many who do and not all teenagers.

The charm itself is nice - a beautiful colour, and I can see why the person who gave it to me chose it.

A keyring / bag charm is an excellent idea - thank you!