Pandora bracelets are the heart of the lovely Pandora charm bracelet that we all know and love. It is the bracelet that sets the tone for the entire “look” of your charm bracelet. Let’s take a look at some of the options available so that you can have a little better idea of what you want before you shop.
Pandora Bracelets: Gold or Silver, Gorgeous Either Way
Pandora bracelets come in several different types of materials. You can choose sterling silver, 14k gold, or leather. There are also cotton cords with metal ends that tie, but by far the most popular are the silver, gold and leather bracelets. If you love gold and silver together, you can choose a bracelet that is two-tone; you can have the bracelet in sterling silver, and the clasp in14k gold. There are also oxidized silver styles that have a gun-metal gray tone, and some of these also come with 14k gold clasps. Leather bracelets come in many different colors, and have either gold or silver clasps.
Look for the “ALE 925″ (on silver), or “ALE 585″ (on gold) stamp on your bracelet to make sure it is authentic Pandora jewelry! Bracelets that come with a snap closure (read more about those below) have “Pandora” stamped on the clasp, and bracelets with lobster claw closures (you can read more about those below, also) have a small charm attached that has the Pandora logo stamped on it. Keep in mind that eventually, you will have most of the bracelet covered with Pandora beads and Pandora charms, so the actual bracelet won’t show much.
Size Matters for Pandora Bracelets
There are many sizes of Pandora bracelets to choose from, ranging from 6.3” to 9.1”. The thing to remember is that you will need some extra room for the volume of the beads as you add them to the bracelet. Always make sure you can comfortably put your pointer finger between the bracelet and your wrist. If you are unsure, let your nearest Pandora dealer measure you for the perfect fit. My own bracelet has “stretched” a tiny bit since it has been filled with beads, so keep that in mind, also. The metal links in the snake chain bracelet spread apart ever so slightly under the weight of the charms. All leather tends to stretch over time as well, so a leather Pandora bracelet will definitely have some give to it after it is filled up with beads.
Clasp This
One of the most important parts of any bracelet is the clasp. Pandora bracelets come in two basic styles; a snap type, and a lobster-claw type. The lobster-claw type is for those who prefer a more traditional look and is very sturdy and easy to use clasp. They are available in either 14k gold or sterling silver. The more popular choice for Pandora bracelets seems to be their snap closure, which looks like a bead. They also come in either 14k gold or sterling silver. One side of the clasp “snaps” into the other side to close the bracelet. These snap clasps are very secure, and blend in with the other bead charms on the bracelet nicely.
Pandora Charms: Keep Them Organized with Pandora’s Patented System
Gold and silver Pandora bracelets are “sectioned” into three sections with small threaded spacers that keep the individual bead charms from sliding around on the bracelet. The leather bracelets don’t have these sections. The advantage to having the sections is that when you don’t have your bracelet filled up with bead charms yet, the ones you do have will stay in their individual sections and won’t all bunch up in one area. The charms twist over the spacers easily, so you can arrange them however you like, as much as you like.
Some people have reported that the beads will still twist themselves back over the threaded spacers, so Pandora came up with an easy fix for that. There are exclusive Pandora clips that snap over the threaded spacers, and they definitely keep the beads from sliding into other sections of the bracelet. The clips come in a variety of shapes, some with stones, and some just gold or silver. After they are snapped on the bracelet, they look just like Pandora charms. I recommend getting at least one clip that is placed on the end of the bracelet opposite the lobster claw or bead clasp. That way, none of your beautiful charms can slip off when you put on or take off the bracelet. It doesn’t fit over the threads on the end, but it can be clipped onto the bracelet chain, and it will keep the charms in the end section from twisting themselves off of the bracelet accidentally. I learned this the hard way; while removing my bracelet one evening in the bathroom as I was getting ready for bed, the charm on the end had twisted itself all the way to the end spacer and it flew off and into the commode before I could catch it!
Can You Afford a Pandora Bracelet?
One of the great things about a Pandora charm bracelet is that you can purchase the starter bracelet and maybe one charm at first, and then add to it as you can. Half the fun of these bracelets is the hunt for more bead charms, after all! Pandora beads make wonderful gifts, so you can find the ones you want and put them on your wish list. I’d be willing to bet you won’t be able to wait that long though!
Some of you may be tempted to shop around for some of the plated, lower cost Pandora type bracelets available. These might not be as durable and high-quality as genuine Pandora bracelets are, so just be aware of that before you shop. No matter what anyone says, a plated finish on any piece of jewelry can be worn down eventually. You will be fairly safe with gold plating over sterling silver, but any precious metal over a base metal is likely to show wear and tear quickly. If you are searching for cheap Pandora bracelets online, you will find exactly that – cheap Pandora bracelets that aren’t genuine. You know the old saying, “You get what you pay for”. That certainly applies here.
About the Elusive Pandora Bracelets Sale
Yes, about that Pandora bracelets sale you have been waiting for… The truth is, you will be waiting a long time for a sale because Pandora does not run sales on their jewelry. They feel that their jewelry is heirloom quality, and that the prices for authentic Pandora bracelets are already very reasonable. If you find a sale somewhere on an authentic Pandora bracelet, or someone advertising discount Pandora bracelets, it is probably being done without the sanction of the Pandora company. Be very careful of purchasing these items; while you may have happened onto a great deal that is for real, you may also have happened onto a deal that is too good to be true.
You may find sales on Pandora type bracelets in stores and on the internet, so if it doesn’t matter to you whether you have the high quality and durability of genuine Pandora, then you should check out those sales for sure. Charm bracelets like Pandora such as Chamilia and Biagi Beads are still high quality charm bracelets; they would both be a good option to look at.
Remember you will be wearing your bracelet with your other jewelry, like your emerald earrings and your aquamarine rings, so you want to be sure to get one that will coordinate with those nicely. Just take a little time to decide what type of bracelet and clasp you want before you head out to shop. Of course, you can always change your mind when you see all those gorgeous Pandora braclets with your own eyes!
Happy Shopping!
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