Please help me. I just received my bracelet and two charms yesterday in the mail. They're absolutely beautiful, but I'm very surprised at the size of the beads. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but those little beads sure are small and I'm now having a hard time justifying the cost involvement in total. My goodness.....the price of some of the gold beads is huge based on what we're getting for the price.
Help me justify please. I'm really confused. Is it because it's the Pandora brand name that add's the price to the bead or am I just not up to date on the price of silver and gold.
My bracelet is gorgeous...don't get me wrong, I'm just confused
Hi Shoptillidrop,
I understand what you are saying. The beads are expensive for the size you get. I mean it doesn't take that much raw material to make one of the beads. I do think that most of the bigger brand names (Pandora, Troll, Chamilia) have good craftmanship and detail. However, I'm not sure it totally justifies the cost. I think that much of the cost is due to the popularity and the collectibility factors.
On a practical level, the bracelets get heavy and if the beads were any bigger........I think they'd be hard to wear. I also think that the beads are "cuter" smaller, but that's just my opinion. If you were to do a traditional, dangle charm bracelet, I think you'd find similiar prices to the sterling beads. Meaning, the $20.00 range for a sterling silver bead is probably in sync with a sterling silver dangle charm. I think the addition of stones and gold (not always an option in a traditional bracelet) does raise the prices pretty dramtically.
There are many on this list who are Pandora-only fans and that's great. There are others here who mix and match brands and I'm one of those. I do it for many reasons including liking other companies products and affordability. I've purchased some products from this company:
http://www.deffego.com/SterlingSilverJewelry/SterlingSilverBeads/Productslist47.aspx
** Please note that some of these beads stand up the brand names and some don't. They are sterling silver, but look closely at the quality and detail. I have an apple bead and a pacifier bead that look great from here. I bought the light house and it's only so-so. Also, you must do a minimum 100.00 purchase since it's a wholesale company. When I shop here, I shop with future gifts in mind.
The place I've recommended the most here is Silver Shake.com. They have their own brand of beads called Nagara. They range in price from 10-30.00 with the 30.00 being covered with stones. They have many, many designs. Some of them are kind of weird........like a pig in a bikini. Some of them are adorable though, like a little whisk & pot. I feel that these beads quality totally stand up to the bigger name brands. I've even had Pandora reps comment on them.
http://www.silvershake.com/Product/search.aspx?query=nagara
Also, as the popularity of these bracelet grow, more jewelry/bead stores are carrying supplies. I have a troll base bracelet that allows a little bit of a smaller bead than the Pandora. I've been able to find some good, gold seemless beads that can go on my bracelet. The store owner is ordering the next size so Pandora wearers can buy them too. Many stores carry sterling silver core glass beads. Finally, Brighton has their own line of beads. Now Brighton is just fashion jewelry.....but I like what they have. They have lots of cute new beads in the 10-12.00 range. I'm thinking of snapping up a cute little shamrock bead and then a US flag one here for seasonal/holiday wear. (scroll down below the belts)
http://www.brightonretail.com/store...earch_category=&m=search_results&x=&y=&page=1
Finally, I have fun playing with my beads/bracelet and the ability to customize it. My husband loooooves that I like the bracelet because on gift giving occasions, he can go and get me an "upgrade", higher end bead and know that I'll love it. It'll take me longer to have an all higher end bracelet.......but I'm having a blast along the way!
. I will have to harrass my DH again today or I am going to take over the holiday planning!! 
I started looking on Ebay, and was able to pick up some good buys(especially on gold/two-tone beads) then when I payed retail for one it hurt less if I averaged it out KWIM?? I was looking for ways to make it "make sense"...anyway the more I added to it,the more significant it became. I have Yurman,& Hardy silver pieces, and just regular diamond/gemstone gold bracelets that are what you see everyday on everybody.In comparison Ive paid more for my Pandora then on some of my designer pieces combined! BUT I can honestly say that NOT one is as unique,and special as the Pandora bracelet I put together myself with help from my loved ones
)
You took time with both of them and it shows; great strong colors. Thanks so much for the post I love seeing what we've done with our bracelets. I love Pandora!!
