Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How are these different from good old fashioned charm bracelets?

They are uglier and more expensive.

Yep. Fugly and expensive.

They are really just a modern version of charm bracelets.

Anonymous wrote:How are these different from good old fashioned charm bracelets?

They are uglier and more expensive.

How are these different from good old fashioned charm bracelets?

I was on the fence about them untill I received one as a present from a group of girlfriends for my 40th birthday. I love it because each bead reminds me of someone or something ( the friends who each gave me a different bead, a bead for each child, a bead from my husband, etc..). It is not something I wear everyday, but I do like it. In terms of what to buy, I would say buy a trollbead bracelet so that you have the option of pandora, trollbead, or Chamilla beads. If you buy pandora you can only put pandora beads on it.

Trollbeads are beautiful. Pandora beads are the ugly knock-offs.

So horrible! I would NEVER wear one. BUT my sister and I have thought about getting my mom one for Christmas from her "granddaughters".

Anonymous wrote:NP here- DD (14) wants a trollbeads bracelet for Christmas - are trollbeads and Pandora the same thing? What is the most cost effective way to purchase- I think for her this might be a passing fad but will accomodate if it can be done for a reasonable price.

Same type of thing, but I don't think the beads are interchangeable. Pandora beads generally fit on a Trollbead bracelet, but not vice versa.

I hate them too. I noticed that alot of ladies in 50s-60s have them. Definitely seems like an older skewed trend.

Ugh. I hate those bracelets. My grandmother wears one (she is 85) and I don't understand when I see women under 60 wearing them. It reminds me of a really expensive version of those "I'm a grandma" sweatshirts with all the kids names on the back. I know that is judgmental, but I rarely see a stylish younger (less than 55) woman wearing one. They are usually frumps.

My boss just introduced me to the trend. The charms cost anywhere from $30 and up - mostly "up," so for a bracelet with 20 charms, you are looking at a minimum of $600. It's crazy. The beads are pretty and I think it would be a nice "mom" gift, as you would know what to buy her for her birthday and mother's day for years to come.

NP here- DD (14) wants a trollbeads bracelet for Christmas - are trollbeads and Pandora the same thing? What is the most cost effective way to purchase- I think for her this might be a passing fad but will accomodate if it can be done for a reasonable price.

And there are a million types of beads out there, from birthstone beads to hobbies like traveling, to holidays with snowmen and angels and Christmas trees. There are murano glass beads, dangling beads, initial beads, etc.

They come in sterling silver, or gold, and even leather. Most people start with a silver bracelet and add charms. It depends on what you want to spend.

Most people prefer this one to the lobster clasp one, which is cheaper.

http://www.tiaragalleries.com/tiara/product.asp?s_id=0&prod_name=Pandora+Jewelry%2D+7%2E1+Silver+Pandora+Clasp+Bracelet&pf_id=PAAAAAPOGOIBOGCO&dept_id=9611

They don't come with charms. You need to buy those separately. Beads are threaded on, and there are two threading areas on the bracelet as well. My brother bought my mom a bracelet with two beads, and I bought two special "clip" beads that cover those threaded areas. Beads start around $30 and can go up to $500 or more if you buy solid gold.

One important thing: the silver jewelry is coated with something, so it is tarnish free. But that also means you really shouldn't clean it at home, at least not with typical silver or jewelry cleaners. Definitely talk to the jewelers about how to care for them.

I know nothing about them, and my mother has mentioned she would like one for Christmas. Her friend brought her back a charm/bead for a bracelet from Italy, and she suddenly decided she wants one. Are there different bracelets and different price points? Do they come with any charms or do you buy separately?