Pandora Bracelets and charms

[MouseEarsJenny]

I like the Chamilia bracelet I got at Disney, but as others have said, there seem to be more dealers in Pandora bracelets in my area, so it's slightly harder for my dh to buy me charms. Looking at the selection of beads, though, I tend to prefer the Chamilia designs.

 

[cboudre1]

If you get your Pandora bracelet cleaned the Mickey head will blend in fine. I have mine cleaned every around every 4 weeks so Mickey doesn't stick out.

 

[DaisyH]

I bought a Mickey head dangle on my last trip and it blends in nicely with my other Pandora charms. I cant tell much difference. It screwed on like my other Pandora charms. It is outlined in black so maybe that is why it blends so well. I can't wait to get another one on my trip in March!

 

[Bearvet]

We just returned from our trip (2/13-2/20) and it was slim pickings for the Disney Chamilia charms. You'll be fine if you want the carriage - that's all I could find and I looked in 5 different stores! Of course, I bought the carriage, but I was disappointed that there wasn't much to choose from.

The stores I looked in were WoD in DTD, MouseGears in Epcot, Grand Floridian, Polynesian, DHS (forgot the name) and 1 other.

 

[Tinker Bella 17]

i got 3 charms when i was there in dec.
i got it in the jewlery section of the big disney store in DTD.
when i bought them the lady told me that they dont always have all the charms, or even any so i guess it depends on the time you go.

 

[lilyjade]

I wish I would have seen the charms when I was in Disney two weeks ago. I would love to add a Mickey Mouse charm to my Bellabeads bracelet.

 

[luvthemouse71]

Just curious for your opinions on which company you tend to prefer? I'm about to start a bracelet and I don't mind "mixing" them up and I know it has to do with personal choice. They seem very comparable in price and I understand the Chamilia charms are more "shiny" compared to the duller look of Pandora. Is there anything else anyone can add as a positive or negative for either company? I'm completely torn at this point! A friend just started a Pandora which I love, however I know I'll want to add a few Disney charms from Chamilia so should I go with Chamilia for this reason?

I need to let DH know soon - hint hint!

Thanks in advance,
Heather

I have a Pandora bracelet, two Chamilia bracelets and a Trollbead bracelet. Each brand has beads that are "shiny" and those that have a more "antique" look to them. My mom and my sister have bracelets too and we all mix and match various brands of beads. The Pandora's have built in stops on the bracelet-the Chamilias do not. Other than that, they are comparable.

I think Chamilia has a better variety of "themed" beads, those for special occasions, interests etc. Many of the Pandoras are pretty enough, but don't have any special meaning, per se.

 

[Glencora]

The shop in Disney Studios is on the left. You'll pass by the first section of stores and I believe it's in the second. They are in a case by the cash register.

You can also check out ebay or etsy if you're on a budget.

I got some really nice Murano style glass beads on amazon for about $1.25 each. They've held up quite well. I also got a great silver Sphinx charm on ebay for about $6 or $7. Now I can afford the Disney Chamila beads!

 

[luvthemouse71]

I got some really nice Murano style glass beads on amazon for about $1.25 each. They've held up quite well. I also got a great silver Sphinx charm on ebay for about $6 or $7. Now I can afford the Disney Chamila beads!

Hey, I got some of those $1.25 glass beads from Amazon too! All of my glass beads are the "knock-offs" and they look fine and hold up well. There is a new company called Gemware-they just had a trunk show near me..they have sterling silver beads(also glass and wood beads) and they even have a couple of Disney ones. I ended up with Dopey-he is very similar to the Chamilia version and he was only $9.99.

 

[LisaBi]

I haven't bought any Chamilia for my Pandora bracelet .... yet. I found one just last week that has the Disney Starburst and is inscribed "Dreams Do Come True." Pandora doesn't have any Disney, but Chamilla has several. I'm lusting after the gold Mickey head. Yeah, right.... (I don't remember how many hundreds of dollars it is!).

Do be warned about the ones sold at WDW. Some are Chamilla, and just fine. But others are no-name. At the time, the Chamilla ones were behind the counter and the no-name were out on the floor on the rotating stands, lalong with the inexpensive earrings and such. I bought one of each. The no name is so cute - it's a barrel stamp with the Mickey head cut out. But you get what you pay for - it is tarnished beyond belief. I'm not sure you can really even call it "tarnish" since it doesn't appear to be any part real silver.

 

[luvthemouse71]

I haven't bought any Chamilia for my Pandora bracelet .... yet. I found one just last week that has the Disney Starburst and is inscribed "Dreams Do Come True." Pandora doesn't have any Disney, but Chamilla has several. I'm lusting after the gold Mickey head. Yeah, right.... (I don't remember how many hundreds of dollars it is!).

Do be warned about the ones sold at WDW. Some are Chamilla, and just fine. But others are no-name. At the time, the Chamilla ones were behind the counter and the no-name were out on the floor on the rotating stands, lalong with the inexpensive earrings and such. I bought one of each. The no name is so cute - it's a barrel stamp with the Mickey head cut out. But you get what you pay for - it is tarnished beyond belief. I'm not sure you can really even call it "tarnish" since it doesn't appear to be any part real silver.

If you look very closely at the Chamilia ones, they have the stering silver stamp as well as one that says Disney. The Dopey bead that I got from Gemware is real sterling silver, but has no Disney stamp.

That's a good idea to point out that the "real" charms are kept behind the counter, BTW.

 

[bonzie1]

I love my Chamilia bracelet. Every time we go to WDW I try to see if there is anything new. The charms are very popular because they are always sold out when I get there (except the gold one's I've seen). Someone mentioned the silver really stands out on the Cinderella's coach. I do have one of those, perhaps it is older, because it does have a natural patina right now (about 2 years old).

Just a word of caution on the bracelets. Double check your clasp each time you wear the bracelet. I bought one at WDW along with 2 charms. It had the snap clasp. The CM even fastened it for me. I went to a concert in EPCOT, looked at my wrist and the bracelet was gone! UGH! I looked down at my feet and saw it... along with the charms. I should have taken it back right then and there, but instead, I placed it back on my wrist... clicked it shut... bad idea. By the time I got out of the park it had come undone again. There was no recourse for me. No one turned it into lost and found.

I've begun a second bracelet. The spacer charm is wonderful as it keeps the non-screw charms from falling off when I remove the bracelet.

 

[eeyoreland]

I have a Chamilia bracelet and LOVE it. My local jeweler said the Chamilia charms are more reasonable than the Pandora. I don't know if that's true or not. I have one Brighton charm on my bracelet. It works because I have the locker charms on my bracelet. Some of my charms screw on and some don't. As far as the "shinyness" of the charms, for some reason my Disney Cinderella's Pumpkin Coach is very shiny compared to my other charms, even the Disney ones. But it doesn't bother me. Side note, believe it or not, the Disney charms were a dollar or two cheaper at Disney than what my local jewelry store sells them for!

 

[luvthemouse71]

I love my Chamilia bracelet. Every time we go to WDW I try to see if there is anything new. The charms are very popular because they are always sold out when I get there (except the gold one's I've seen). Someone mentioned the silver really stands out on the Cinderella's coach. I do have one of those, perhaps it is older, because it does have a natural patina right now (about 2 years old).

Just a word of caution on the bracelets. Double check your clasp each time you wear the bracelet. I bought one at WDW along with 2 charms. It had the snap clasp. The CM even fastened it for me. I went to a concert in EPCOT, looked at my wrist and the bracelet was gone! UGH! I looked down at my feet and saw it... along with the charms. I should have taken it back right then and there, but instead, I placed it back on my wrist... clicked it shut... bad idea. By the time I got out of the park it had come undone again. There was no recourse for me. No one turned it into lost and found.

I've begun a second bracelet. The spacer charm is wonderful as it keeps the non-screw charms from falling off when I remove the bracelet.

That's awful! They do make safety chains for the bracelets, which I'm going to buy..I'm planning on wearing my Disney themed bracelet to WDW in September.

 

[acmmommymouse]

Does anyone that has severe metal allergy have any of these bracelets? I would so love to have one, but if there is any nickel at all, can't wear them?

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

Does anyone that has severe metal allergy have any of these bracelets? I would so love to have one, but if there is any nickel at all, can't wear them?

Me!!!! I have severe metal allergy, can't even wear earrings that are purified metal for 10 minutes without the lobes itching, then hurting. I have worn my Pandora/Chamillian bracelet since DH gave it to me, 2 years ago, every day!!!

 

[acmmommymouse]

Me!!!! I have severe metal allergy, can't even wear earrings that are purified metal for 10 minutes without the lobes itching, then hurting. I have worn my Pandora/Chamillian bracelet since DH gave it to me, 2 years ago, every day!!!

Well, that's encouraging!!!! I can I I only wear jewelry from a nickel free site online, or I will get charms or pendants and put them on my chains. As long as there is fabric between I am OK. I adore jewelry and I wish I could wear ALL of it! It's a pain isn't it? I have drooled over these in the parks and just in general, but they are so pricey if it ended up I could not wear them. I am so sensitive!!! tempting

 

[KMS'sGlassSlipper]

My sister in law gave me a Troll bracelet 3 years ago. I think their bracelets are nice, because you can fit any of the different company's beads on them. Troll has some nice beads, but they are more whimsical than the other two companies. I was at World of Disney last weekend and they seemed to have a pretty good selection right now. I bought the glass slipper bead... I was so excited!!! I have the coach, Mrs. Potts and Chip, and Nemo... they are all Chamilia. I have never had the "blending" issue... all my beads look the same as far as tarnishing and wear (I just need to get them cleaned!).

 

[Diznygrl]

So I guess these Pandora/Chamilia beads are all the rage now, huh? I guess I"m out of the loop, LOL. Does anyone still wear Italian charm bracelets anymore or am I the only one?

 

[eeyoreland]

So I guess these Pandora/Chamilia beads are all the rage now, huh? I guess I"m out of the loop, LOL. Does anyone still wear Italian charm bracelets anymore or am I the only one?

I have an almost full Italian charm bracelet and I still wear it quite a bit, but I haven't bought any charms for it in a long time. Too busy filling up my Chamilia!