There’s a very handy tool on the official Pandora website which allows you to design a Pandora bracelet to see what it could look like once you start adding a selection of Pandora beads. You can choose from a range of beads and charms and place them in any way you want so that you can quickly visualise the style of your bracelet, with as few or as many charms as you would care to add. From a personal viewpoint here is a video which describes some of the ways you can design and put your Pandora bracelet together.

A whole new range of charms, bracelets, earrings, watches, necklaces and pendants are now available. Included in the range is the new Sterling Silver 5 clip bracelet which features settings for five clips, and the multi-strand bracelet which features one clip setting. Retail price of the 5 clip bracelet is £65 and £70 for the multi-strand bracelet. There are also a number of new clips available including the double clips which enable the wearer to wear two bracelets together.

To find out more about the new Autumn / Winter range please visit the official Pandora site

The collection has been designed and made by some of their finest designers. Included in the collection is an enchanting Silver and 18 ct. gold charm bead based upon a mother and baby playing together. Other charms and beads include a rather elegant bird design, and some entrancing colourful beads including the ‘Blue Tiger’s Eye’ bead which “resembles the flicker in a tiger’s eye” when held under a light. There are 28 new products in the new collection and you can view all of them here.

To help celebrate the launch of the Trollbeads Autumn 2011 Collection, a new short video has been released…

Pandora bracelets use a unique and patented threaded system that allows beads to be twisted on to their bracelets. This helps prevent them falling off when you take off your bracelet. Chamilia uses a different system which uses custom designed ‘locks’ which can be positioned anywhere on the bracelet. These keep the beads and charms in place and provide security for the wearer.

Some people have considered the beads to be interchangeable, but this is not adviseable due to the different ways in which the beads fit each type of bracelet.

Both companies offer silver, gold, and mixed beads as well as a variety of other options including gemstones, enamel and coloured glass, including  the popular Italian Murano glass beads.

Pandora bracelets are available in 14ct gold, high polished and oxidised silver, as well as a combination of both gold and silver. Their bracelets vary in size and range from 16cm to 23cm in length. Both companies offer bracelets with either a lobster claw clasp or a hinged signature clasp. The decorative design of the clasp means that it fits in nicely with the design.

Chamilia offers a similar range of bracelets and beads to Pandora, as well as connectors which enable you to make a double bracelet or necklace. This allows the customer to create ‘sections’ of their bracelet and place beads wherever they want. With Pandora, clips are used, which need to be clipped on to joints that exist on the bracelet.

The range of beads from both companies are quite comprehensive and of very high quality. However, Pandora is more expensive, and at present has more gold beads in the £100+ price range than Chamilia has. The Pandora beads are similar in size to beads used with a Chamilia bracelet. Designed in Denmark, Pandora beads are ‘hand finished’ by highly skilled craftsmen, and each bead is individually inspected under quality control.

As both companies continue to release new beads on a regular basis throughout the year, there is always a fresh demand, which retains their popularity.

Whichever you prefer is simply a matter of taste. Pandora jewellery has a reputation for being slightly more upmarket than it’s main rivals, which is partly due to their more aggressive marketing campaigns. These occasionaly include TV advertising, as well as magazine advertising featuring well know celebrities.

See the Pandora TV advert

Special care should be taken when cleaning your Pandora jewellery.

Use lukewarm water with a little bit of detergent and clean gently using a soft toothbrush. After brushing and cleaning it thoroughly, rinse in clean water then dry and polish it with a soft clean cloth. To bring out a shiny finish you can polish it with a special polishing cloth which will be available from your local jewellers.

DO NOT use chemical cleaning agents and DO NOT bathe or shower while wearing your Pandora jewellery.

Pandora jewellery stockists in the UK

One of the most appealing things about Pandora jewellery is the incredible diversity of beads available that enables the wearer to create a piece of custom jewellery that is unique to them.

Not only that, when someone gives you one of the beads as a gift it will provide you with a reminder of the special relationship or special times that both of you share with one another. This creates an item of great sentimental value and one of the reasons why Pandora jewellery continues to grow in popularity.

The ability to create a one-off custom bracelet or necklet is something that many people will find fascinating and enduring.

As well as becoming very popular in the UK and Europe Pandora jewellery has a big following in the USA. The article below gives more insight into why it has become so popular in America as well as in Europe.
(hence the different spelling between jewellery and jewelry)

So if you’re looking for something special to give someone as a gift then why not give a gift of Pandora jewellery today?

No matter what age you are, the appeal of wearing a custom charm bracelet that is unique to you is undeniable.
Everyone loves them!

Charm bracelets are very fashionable in Europe and in the United States and the Pandora brand of jewellery is quickly becoming the most popular to wear.
(Biagi, Chamilia and Troll beads are also very popular in the US)

The Pandora charm bracelet

Because of the personal nature of Pandora charm bracelets they make the perfect gift. Imagine being able to design an entire bracelet for somebody special. Or design your own bracelet (or necklace) with beads and charms that represent and remind you of the most important things in your life. Each and every charm you add to your bracelet can have a special meaning to you.

There is a wide range of beads and charms available from Pandora, which focus on subjects ranging from family to hobbies, and others which will remind you of special events and occasions, or that special person in your life.

With the Pandora bracelet you can choose to add just a few special charms to get started or….

[ continue reading Pandora charm bracelets article ]