Pandora Charms

[everylastbreath]

My DH is buying me a Pandora this weekend for valentines day- I have always wanted one, but everytime I go to look at them I get totally overwhelmed and end up walking out of the store, The only thing I know for sure is I want the leather cord necklace with silver tips, I know I want sterling because I'm not a yellow gold type person, but past that, I get totally overhelmed- there are sooooo many beads/charms- I know I would like to get one that represents my GS (5) because he is the light of my life-

What was your first bead/charm when you got your pandora??

 

[Skatermom23]

I have the Chamilia charms but same concept. When I first bought mine, they had a sale going on. Buy three charms or beads and get the bracelet free. My two kids each picked out one charm and I choose another one. My DS choose the mom heart and my DD choose the music note. I picked a blue stone charm to give it color. Since then I have decided I like the beads better and tend to just get them now.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

If it's for valentine's day... why not get the puffy sterling heart? I love that one!

My DH is buying me a Pandora this weekend for valentines day- I have always wanted one, but everytime I go to look at them I get totally overwhelmed and end up walking out of the store, The only thing I know for sure is I want the leather cord necklace with silver tips, I know I want sterling because I'm not a yellow gold type person, but past that, I get totally overhelmed- there are sooooo many beads/charms- I know I would like to get one that represents my GS (5) because he is the light of my life-

What was your first bead/charm when you got your pandora??

 

[luv2mickey]

I got my Pandora Bracelet for Christmas I picked the first 3 on for each of my kids. Purse for my oldest daughter, football for my son and shirt with the heart on it for my youngest daughter. They each had a special meaning for me then my husband surprised me on Christmas with the charm he wanted me to have I love that all the charms have a special meaning for me.

I think it would be great if he picked the charm he wanted you to have especially since its for Valentines Day.

 

[JennM]

My DH gave me a Pandora bracelet last year for Mother's Day, and he added two beads to represent our kids - a little girl and a little boy. It was the perfect gift.

 

[Madame Bonfamille]

Been trying to decide which I want - a Pandora or Chamilia bracelet. I went on the Chamilia site and tried to design a bracelet. There are too many beads to choose from!! I really like the Disney beads...since I honeymooned at Disney maybe the dreams come true bead would be a good one to start with. Decisions, decisions.

 

[linnylu]

I have the leather cord necklace, and I haven't been able to figure out how it works! It is still sitting in the box it came in. I'll have to go to a store that sells Pandora and ask for help. Thanks for reminding me!

 

[Juliegirl1]

Been trying to decide which I want - a Pandora or Chamilia bracelet. I went on the Chamilia site and tried to design a bracelet. There are too many beads to choose from!! I really like the Disney beads...since I honeymooned at Disney maybe the dreams come true bead would be a good one to start with. Decisions, decisions.

I have a Pandora bracelet that has many of the Disney Chamilia charms on it - they are compatible. I get a new Chamilia for each trip, the Mickey and Minnie with the heart charm for the trip with my boyfriend, Cinderella's slipper for the trip with my girlfriends and Cinderella's coach for the trip with my son because he picked a pearl for me and I ordered a coach cage for the pearl.

 

[Jenn4615]

I am on my third bracelet, slightly addicted
But my first charms were a boy and a girl to represent my kiddos

 

[everylastbreath]

I have the leather cord necklace, and I haven't been able to figure out how it works! It is still sitting in the box it came in. I'll have to go to a store that sells Pandora and ask for help. Thanks for reminding me!

Why can't you figure how it works? it's just a clasp necklace, don't you just slide the beads/charms on it?

 

[everylastbreath]

Been trying to decide which I want - a Pandora or Chamilia bracelet. I went on the Chamilia site and tried to design a bracelet. There are too many beads to choose from!! I really like the Disney beads...since I honeymooned at Disney maybe the dreams come true bead would be a good one to start with. Decisions, decisions.

I know! Decisions/Decisions!! That's how I feel everytime I walk into a Pandora store, too much selection! I get overwhelmed..

(P.S. if I knew how to multi quote I would have answered both posts in 1 - sorry)

 

[disneyfreakk]

If you get overwhelmed with the selection in the stores, have you tried going online? That helped me.

 

[Disneyelf10]

I have both Pandora and Chamilia and the Pandora leather bracelet...lvoe them all!! There are sooo many different charms and beads but have you thought about a theme for your necklace?
One of mine is for travel and I have items that remind of that, camera, drinks, shell etc...
the leather bracelet was for v- day and that has all different heart charms, DH surprised me with one and that started that bracelet!
Last, I have my disney charms, which are interchangable w/ the Pandora.

Hope this helps, and I don't think you can go wrong with whatever you pick. Oh, my 1st charm was the present from mys sister w/ the bracelet for my b-day!

 

[amy-momofthree]

I have one and I love it. My first charms were my kids's birthstones (the dangle ones).

Go online, It is so much fun looking.

 

[3boymthr]

Been trying to decide which I want - a Pandora or Chamilia bracelet. I went on the Chamilia site and tried to design a bracelet. There are too many beads to choose from!! I really like the Disney beads...since I honeymooned at Disney maybe the dreams come true bead would be a good one to start with. Decisions, decisions.

I just did a lot of research into them because I was buying not only for myself but as a gift for middle DS' den leader. I just bought the Chamilia - really, the bracelets are basically the same, the beads are interchangeable and bead prices ar very similar. But....

This being the budget board here's one thing that might help you out - The chamilia bracelet is slightly cheaper (the deciding factor in the gift as it had to be budget). The chamilia sterling bracelet with the lobster claw is $40, with the snap clasp $55 and the Bangle $65 vs. Pandora - $50 and $65. Pandora doesn't offer a bangle.

The only other big difference I noted is that the Chamilia doesn't have two stoppers mid-way which make the Pandora bracelet less flexible. These stoppers also make the Pandora a little bit more of a PITA because you have to place the beads just so to get the stoppers covered or buy locks to cover them (the Pandora saleslady was the one who pointed this out to me). Another difference I noted - if this kind of thing matters to you - Pandora will void the warranty (limited 1 year) if you use non-Pandora beads - Chamilia will not - in fact the Chamilia saleslady encouraged me to look at Pandora and other brands of beads to find what I need for cub scouts (a true navy and true yellow and a fluer de lis).

 

[DebMcDonald]

My first charms are the ones that the kids have picked out for me, but my very first charms were my kids birthstones, since then, I've been given their initials, and then a soccer ball, heart and car at another time, this x-mas some holiday ones. I love the fact that whenever a holiday/birthday/anniversary rolls around it's easy to get me a gift.

 

[luvmy3]

I got my Pandora for my birthday and my first charm was the cupcake. My most recent ones are from Christmas and they are the sterling heart with the cubic zirconia, and the sterling with white mother of pearl hearts on it. They are from my kids and know I have a thing for hearts.

We just started my dd a necklace and got her a really pretty glass beag, turquise with bright green flowers. Today, I went to get her the blue one with hearts for V-day but they weren't any in stock and they are back-ordered.

If you go to www.pandora.net you can design a bracelet. I'm not sure if you can do a necklace but at least you can get an idea of how the charms look.

 

[lucigo]

I'm glad everyone likes their bracelets so much. I have a chamilia leather bracelet and have purchased 3 charms, but honestly it doesn't really wear all that well to me, I don't know if I need more charms or no charms, it seems heavy and unbalanced. I just haven't fallen in love with it the way I thought I would. I'm considering just getting a necklace to interchange the charms on.

Just wanted to add a different opinion, sorry

On a happier note, checking in to Pop Century tomorrow!

 

[jrmasm]

I just did a lot of research into them because I was buying not only for myself but as a gift for middle DS' den leader. I just bought the Chamilia - really, the bracelets are basically the same, the beads are interchangeable and bead prices ar very similar. But....

This being the budget board here's one thing that might help you out - The chamilia bracelet is slightly cheaper (the deciding factor in the gift as it had to be budget). The chamilia sterling bracelet with the lobster claw is $40, with the snap clasp $55 and the Bangle $65 vs. Pandora - $50 and $65. Pandora doesn't offer a bangle.

The only other big difference I noted is that the Chamilia doesn't have two stoppers mid-way which make the Pandora bracelet less flexible. These stoppers also make the Pandora a little bit more of a PITA because you have to place the beads just so to get the stoppers covered or buy locks to cover them (the Pandora saleslady was the one who pointed this out to me). Another difference I noted - if this kind of thing matters to you - Pandora will void the warranty (limited 1 year) if you use non-Pandora beads - Chamilia will not - in fact the Chamilia saleslady encouraged me to look at Pandora and other brands of beads to find what I need for cub scouts (a true navy and true yellow and a fluer de lis).

Interesting, the stoppers and locks are the reason I prefer my Pandora to Chamilia. If you are starting out with just a few beads, it's nice to anchor them in the center of the bracelet with the locks. Otherwise, they slide all over the place. We just got a Miss Chamilia bracelet for DD's birthday and it's driving crazy because I don't think locks are going to work.

My first Pandora broke in the first year. I took it back and got a new one. I have Chamilia on my bracelet also.

However, I do think that Pandora beads are more expensive than Chamilia especially since they raised their prices on Feb 1.

OP, my first bead was the two tone Queen Bee bead.

 

[cey]

I received my pandora bracelet from my DS for christmas and instantly filled it with travel charms. I have a variety of kinds, as I tend to choose ones that I like. My Koala and Kangaroo were purchased in Alice Springs, my pink gem stone plumeria came from Maui, but my favourite is the bride and groom which represent my DS and DDiL. I too prefer the pandora bracelet which prevents the charms from moving around. TIP! My bracelet is now very heavy so I find the safety chain charm (pandora ) is really worth purchasing to prevent losing the bracelet. Next charm purchase will be tinkerbell, the new Mickey charm and maybe the coach!