Pandora or Chamilia Bracelet?

[jrmasm]

I realize the beads are compatiable but is there a benefit to one brand over the other for the bracelet?

Thanks

 

[JessicaR]

I've been looking lately too. I think I like Pandora better. I found this info when researching. Some of the posts contradicted each other. They sure are pretty!

http://community.discovery.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/7521920016/m/3131921749


Chamilia and Troll do not fit on Pandora bracelets....they will actually ruin the bracelet.
Pandora beads will fit on a Chamilia bracelet and a Troll bracelet.
You can interchange Chamilia and Troll.

Let me know what you end up choosing!

 

[RadioNate]

Pandora tends to be less expensive than Troll. Don't know about Chamilia as I have never heard of it.

My mom has both Pandora and Troll and she prefers the Pandora. That is the only one I have.

 

[jrmasm]

Chamilia and Troll do not fit on Pandora bracelets....they will actually ruin the bracelet

Are you sure about that?

I'm confused now.

 

[RadioNate]

Are you sure about that?

I'm confused now.

I think she is right. The beads are not completely interchangeable. But I actually think it is the other way. I think my mom's Troll beads fit on her Pandora but the Pandora beads don't fit on the Troll. It is too early to ask her but I will this afternoon.

 

[JessicaR]

Are you sure about that?

I'm confused now.

Actually I read that, so I dont have first hand experience. I did provide the link so you can read the thread. It was a Pandora retailer that made the claim.

Just lots of research that seems to verify some charms are not interchangeable.

For what its worth after looking for a while I like the detail that Pandora offers better than Chamilia. The charms appear more like finer jewelry to me.

 

[jrmasm]

Actually I read that, so I dont have first hand experience. I did provide the link so you can read the thread. It was a Pandora retailer that made the claim.

Just lots of research that seems to verify some charms are not interchangeable.

For what its worth after looking for a while I like the detail that Pandora offers better than Chamilia. The charms appear more like finer jewelry to me.

I read the thread and further down someone contradicts that statement. Blah! This is very confusing.

I guess I'll go check out all three brands in person and stick with the one I like best.

Thanks!

 

[RadioNate]

Ok I googled Chamilia and I see they are the Disney license and I do have 2 of their beads (bought at WDW, didn't know who made them) and they do fit on the Pandora bracelet.

I do think that the Pandora beads look "higher end" and the Disney ones I have do look cheaper than my Pandora beads. It is something about the silver. The Disney ones are very shiny and look more 'fake.' Does that make sense?

I think, from the limited I saw, is that they have 2 very different "looks." I find Chamilia to be more casual and Pandora to look fancier.

 

[Kit'smommy]

Well nearly a year, two bracelets and ton of research later, I have to disagree with some of aspecialdaymail's reply.

Troll will not fit on a Pandora bracelet as it is too small to go on at all with the exception of a few particular beads. Pandora, Chamilia and Troll will all fit Troll bracelets (no threading system).

However, Chamilia does fit on a Pandora bracelet. A lot of retailers will tell people they will not fit, because putting other beads on a Pandora bracelet voids Pandora's warrantee. Funny enough, I did have to take advantage of that warrantee a few months ago when one of my best Pandora beads got crossthreaded and completely stuck on a brand new bracelet while in the store! They gave me a different bracelet and replaced a nearly $200 bead. They actually had to cut the bracelet apart to get to the three other Pandora beads we had strung on it in the store.

My original Pandora bracelet still has three Chamilia charms and they have been removed and restrung numerous times without incident. I also notice that many of the ladies in my favorite Pandora retailer have a mix of Chamilia and Pandora.

I did have issues with gold loss on two of the beads I purchased from Chamilia. The others have been perfect. Many of the other brands do not fit Pandora and can damage the bracelet and a lot of the independent lampwork beads will not be a great fit. I still purchase mostly Pandora, but I have been pleased with Chamilia beads I kept.

Hey, that's my post from the other board! I have 2 bracelets now. I received a Chamilia from DH for Valentines in 2008 along with 6 beads. I ended up returning 3 of the beads to the retailer due to quality issues and I sold the base bracelet. I now have 2 Pandora bracelets that I wear daily with a total of 31 beads. Three of my beads are Chamilia and they have been fine. However, I think the quality of the Pandora is far superior.

I am a regular on that other board and was a bit ticked at the retailer as they registered just to leave the one post with a bunch of incorrect info. I notice that a lot of Pandora retailers do not like Chamilia, but they are compatable and some of their charms are very cute.

Do be aware that Pandora has great customer service and a great warrantee, but they may not honor it if they see Chamilia beads have been strung on your bracelet.

 

[JessicaR]

This was an interesting read that supports the beads for both are interchangeable. It also stated that the Chamila beads are more often sent back for quality issues.

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_difference_between_Chamilia_and_pandora_bracelets

RadioNate,
I agree about the look of the beads and found the same thing. But I am happy that you can pick and choose a few from both lines and wear them together. Do you find the pandora beads to be a bit larger?

 

[JessicaR]

Hey, that's my post from the other board! I have 2 bracelets now. I received a Chamilia from DH for Valentines in 2008 along with 6 beads. I ended up returning 3 of the beads to the retailer due to quality issues and I sold the base bracelet. I now have 2 Pandora bracelets that I wear daily with a total of 31 beads. Three of my beads are Chamilia and they have been fine. However, I think the quality of the Pandora is far superior.

I am a regular on that other board and was a bit ticked at the retailer as they registered just to leave the one post with a bunch of incorrect info. I notice that a lot of Pandora retailers do not like Chamilia, but they are compatable and some of their charms are very cute.

Do be aware that Pandora has great customer service and a great warrantee, but they may not honor it if they see Chamilia beads have been strung on your bracelet.[/QUOTE]

How funny, that was your post! Great info about their customer service, thanks.

 

[Kit'smommy]

I do think that the Pandora beads look "higher end" and the Disney ones I have do look cheaper than my Pandora beads. It is something about the silver. The Disney ones are very shiny and look more 'fake.' Does that make sense?

I also think their is a lot of variation even among Disney beads in Chamilia. I have an Eyeore that is top notch quality and looks every bit as good as my Pandoras. I did have a Mickey head that went back because it looked odd - too shiny and the silver was a funny color. Couldn't part with Eyeore.

 

[jrmasm]

I am a regular on that other board and was a bit ticked at the retailer as they registered just to leave the one post with a bunch of incorrect info. I notice that a lot of Pandora retailers do not like Chamilia, but they are compatable and some of their charms are very cute.

When I read the retailer's comment it reminded me of what Corian salesmen say about granite.

Here's the deal, I'm interested in starting a bracelet for my DD's 14th birthday. I think she was more drawn to the Chamilia beads. They seemed to have more glass and I think they are her favorites. If the silver beads are more casual in feel and look, I think that's fine since she's young. Good information to have.

But all my research at this point has be on the internet. Sounds like I need to see them in person to make a final decision.

Back to the bracelets, Pandora has those divider thingees and Chamilia doesn't. Am I right? Is there an advantage to one over the other?

 

[Kit'smommy]

I like the Pandora base bracelet. You use two clips over the dividers and this keeps everything in the sections in which you want them. This is really great when you are just starting out on a bracelet as you can put a few beads in the middle and the bracelet is really wearable from the beginning. When you get a few more you can put a couple in each section so the bracelet is more balanced.

I wore the Chamilia for a few months and the beads sliding back and forth really annoyed me. Also, I found the Pandora clasp to work a little better. Chamilia does have some little stopper thingies that can be put anywhere on the bracelet, but I was not inpressed with them when I tried them in a store.

The beads are truly compatable, so I would recommend getting the Pandora base bracelet and clips and then buying whatever beads appeal to you from either line. I have the frog prince, eyeore and a swirly bead from Chamilia that have special meaning to me and are not like anything Pandora offered.

I would highly suggest looking at both in person as the glass beads look very different in the two lines. Personally I think the Pandora are much prettier in person in the glass even though Chamilia's selection is much better. I don't have any glass in either, so I am not sure which would wear better.

If she is truly interested in the glass, please look at Troll. It was started by the brother of the Pandora's founder and their glass is in a whole other league from the other two companies. The bracelet is smaller around, so you will be able to use Chamilia or Pandora silver beads as well as Troll. I am not crazy about Troll's silver and gold beads, but their glass is remarkable. Troll beads won't fit Pandora or Chamilia, so you will have to use one of their base bracelets, if you want any Troll beads.

There is a site called Denmark beads where you can build a virtual Pandora bracelet. She also has a ton of pretty finished bracelets for inspiration. You might have fun trying out a bracelet there.

 

[RadioNate]

My mom says that her Pandora beads fit on the Troll bracelet but only some of the Troll beads fit on Pandora.

She thinks Troll is more expensive.

She thinks the Troll bracelet is easier because you don't have to screw the beads on and off if you are someone who changes beads a lot BUT if you only have a few beads than she like the 'dividers' of the Pandora bracelet.

She also said the Troll bracelet doesn't come with a clasp and those can be pricey to buy.

I can see why a teenager would like the Chamilia beads better. They seem "younger" to me. But Pandora seems more heirloom to me.

Tough choice.

I think I'd go with the better quality "base" and then add charms from any collection.

 

[jrmasm]

Thanks for all your insights. I am more confused then ever.

 

[Kit'smommy]

If all else fails, flip a coin. All of them have beautiful pieces.

I would strongly suggest going to denmark-beads.com and looking under the sample ideas for the Pandoras. If you flip through them, you will see that you can assemble a very sophisticated bracelet or something that is just bright and fun. Pandora wins on quality and versitility, imho. If she goes with them, she might be able to get something that is fun now and that can morph into a more grown up look as the next few years go by. And she can still pick any Chamilias that she really loves.

 

[RALIKA]

I can't find any pandora disney charms what sites sell them.

 

[RadioNate]

I can't find any pandora disney charms what sites sell them.

Pandora does not make a Disney charm. Chamilia holds the Disney license. Their Disney charms do fit on a Pandora bracelet. I got mine at WDW but I'd expect them to be at places that sell Chamilia charms.

 

[luvthemouse71]

I was looking at both, and went with the Chamilia bracelet. I love it..the Pandora line was nice but seemed a little "blah" to me. I also don't like the fact that they say using other beads will void the warranty... seems a little silly to me. I'm not someone who worries about labels and the Pandora company just comes off a little snooty IMO, for some reason. Pretty charms though. I just like the Chamilia's better.

I have mostly Chamilia beads but a jewelry company was selling beads at my hospital today. They sell to the stores so they don't mark-up like the stores do. Silver charms were $4, charms with stones were $5, and the glass ones were $6. I got 6 charms for $30!! They did such great business today that they said they were coming back in a month. Apparently, we nurses love jewelry. I'm working on a "beach" theme for summer, so it was nice to add some beautiful charms to my bracelet, without paying a fortune.