Pandora vs. Chamilia vs. Troll beads

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#31
ArmCandyLuvr said:
From what I understand, Troll Beads are the original. I think Pandora came into the market second, and Chamilia came in third.

You've probably already noticed that Chamilia and Pandora beads and bracelets are fairly interchangeable. It is my understanding that Troll Beads don't fit on the Pandora or Chamilia bracelets. However, Pandora and Chamilia charms will fit on the Troll bracelets.

I only just started a Pandora bracelet, and I am happy with it. Chamilia has some cute stuff, so I guess it's a matter of preference. I, too, have noticed that Chamilia has a larger variety of flashy/blingy beads.
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correct!

I have 2 pandora bracelets, on wich I dont want any colour, just silver, and will add a third bracelet in the future, for only gold and silver beads (a two toned bracelet), no colorful stones or glass on any of them.

But I recently bought a trollbeads bracelet, to be my "colorful bracelet", and i like many of trollbeads glass beads (muranos), not many of their silver beads, so I will add mostly glas beads to it, and wear it whenever I want a bracelet with color on it.


I dont want to have anything from chamilia, as I am a purist when it comes to my collections, and dont like to mix and match brands in charm bracelets. if it is a pandora bracelet, it will have pandora beads on it.

if it is a trollbeads bracelets, it will only have troll beads on it.

I also have a thomas sabo charm watch (for the traditional dangling charms), and 2 charms, and will whenever possible buy a thomas sabo charm bracelet and put the charms on it, leaving the watch without charms, for a more clean look. But will only buy otiginal thomas sabo charms for it.

So, me having things from 3 brands, and wanting to keep the respective bracelets with charms/beads only from those brands, I wouldnt have spare money (or spare wrists) to get a chamilia bracelet and start a new addiction! so i will stick with those 3.

It is a matter of wich brand has charms that you like more or if you dont have any problem to mix and match brands, if you dont have any problem with it, i would go with a trollbeads bracelet, as it fits beads from other brands.

My thomas sabo watch and the 2 charms i have so far:

4bh5.jpg
 
#32
ReRe said:
I have all three and just choose what I like. I do the bracelets by theme, but trollbead does not work with the other bracelets. I have an empowerment trollbead (all shades of pink and flowers), a blue/purple beach theme in trollbead, an alice in wonderland (mix of pandora and chamilia) and various 3 or 4 bead bangles in Chamilia. I have had a major problem with Chamilia all swarovski beads (they come in various colors, I have the yellow, white opal combo), I have lost stones in at least 6 of those beads. They have replaced them, my store has a 6 month replacement plan(which is now up), but even those that haven't lost stones are no where near as bright as they were originally. That is very disappointing given those beads are $65 each.
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thats why i dont like beads with small stones on it, i might make an exception for pandoras car bead, that has CZ, but I am still considering it. if i do get it, it really will be an exception.


And as an extra note to the last post: the only bracelet i would ever consider to mix and match from other brands is my travel bracelet, but i will do this as a last option, if with time pandora doesnt release beads that can be used to represent places i was at, than i will consider adding anther brands bead to it. the reason i looked into trollbeads in the first place was because of their world tour beads, that i wondered if would fit my travel themed pandora bracelet (it wont!).
 
#33
@Frannie, thanks for letting me know about Jovana. Wasn't aware of that brand. I'm just getting started with this bead thing. I'm so obsessed now! Might need an intervention! LOL!!:help:
 
#37
Pinky679 said:
Has anyone had any more experience with Jovana Collections? Is there quality on par with Pandora? Do their beads/charms fit Pandora braclets and vice versa?
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Funny you should ask because I was going to post the same question. I just ordered a sterling Jovana bead. The quality is really nice, and I love it, but it seems a bit dainty in size compared to my Pandora beads. But it's kinda hard for me to say because I have only two Pandora sterling beads so far.

I think in general they do fit on the Pandora threaded bracelets, but in the reviews online I've read that it can be hit or miss, and sometimes they don't.

On Jovana's web site, in the Sale section, there are some really good buys among the murano beads with many under $10:
http://www.jovanacollections.com/sale/

But I don't know how they compare size-wise to the Pandora glass beads.
 
#38
BigPurseSue said:
Funny you should ask because I was going to post the same question. I just ordered a sterling Jovana bead. The quality is really nice, and I love it, but it seems a bit dainty in size compared to my Pandora beads. But it's kinda hard for me to say because I have only two Pandora sterling beads so far.

I think in general they do fit on the Pandora threaded bracelets, but in the reviews online I've read that it can be hit or miss, and sometimes they don't.

On Jovana's web site, in the Sale section, there are some really good buys among the murano beads with many under $10:
http://www.jovanacollections.com/sale/

But I don't know how they compare size-wise to the Pandora glass beads.
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Thanks for the information, what do you mean by "dainty"? Has anyone used Brighton? I am trying to get similar quality of beads (i.e. staying away from "fake" Pandora or Kohl's individuality which I have heard are poor quality) to Pandora but would like a larger selection (and these other collections also seem a bit cheaper or the same price as Pandora)
 
#39
Yes, Pandora beads will fit on a troll bracelet, but not necessarily vice versa. Troll beads do not have the threading inside so they may get stuck on the threaded sections of the Pandora bracelet. Troll does have about 23 beads that could work on Pandora.

This is why I bought a Troll....almost every bead out there from different manufacturers will fit.if you want to buy more Pandora beads,view:http://www.bracelet-bead.com ;)
 
#41
I have one bracelet that is entirely Pandora (pictured in the Pandora bracelet thread).

That said, I am starting a Chamilia bracelet full of whimsical beads that Pandora doesn't offer, like trains and crayons and things representing childhood. :smile1:

I do like some of the Trollbeads (namely: MATERNITY!) but not enough to build an entire bracelet.
 
#42
I have a pandora bracelet that I'm building and I'm not really interested in muranos, which is why I don't really like trollbeads. I am interested in chamilla but I don't know anyplace in Canada that sells them :/ I also want to try OHM beads but the malls near me only sell pandora and persona (which I'm not interested in because I think they lack some details).
I don't really want to mix charms on my pandora bracelet yet because I like the free cleaning device LOL. I think once I get a leather bracelet or after a couple months, I'll start mixing but at the moment I'm all pandora :D
 
#43
Pinky679 said:
Thanks for the information, what do you mean by "dainty"? Has anyone used Brighton? I am trying to get similar quality of beads (i.e. staying away from "fake" Pandora or Kohl's individuality which I have heard are poor quality) to Pandora but would like a larger selection (and these other collections also seem a bit cheaper or the same price as Pandora)
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I have a Troll bracelet with a Troll clasp and a mixture of Pandora, Troll, and Brighton charms on it. The Brightons are lighter in weight and not as detailed. The ones I have are quite shiny with rhinestones as well. I would say that a charm afficianado can tell that the quality is not as high as Pandora or Troll. However, casual observers would probably never be able to tell the difference. And the price is about half, last time I checked.
 
#44
bagshopr said:
I have a Troll bracelet with a Troll clasp and a mixture of Pandora, Troll, and Brighton charms on it. The Brightons are lighter in weight and not as detailed. The ones I have are quite shiny with rhinestones as well. I would say that a charm afficianado can tell that the quality is not as high as Pandora or Troll. However, casual observers would probably never be able to tell the difference. And the price is about half, last time I checked.
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Yes, I agree. The Brighton beads, although they will fit on a Pandora Trollbeads or Chamilia bracelet, will be much larger and the quality difference will be apparent. Brighton is not sterling silver, their stones are not as good, and the enamel is cheaper. Funny when a Brighton bracelet is put together with all Brighton beads it doesn't look bad. It's just when Brighton (or any other non sterling) is mixed with sterling it looks bad.

I also love red bali frog for their great detail and hefty sterling. Great value for only like $33.00 per bead Most people don't know them yet:
https://www.facebook.com/RedBaliFrogUSA
 
#45
I started with Pandora, but it got a little cutsey to me. Also there was not much glass to pick from. I also hate fighting with those stations and having to use the clips which I wasn't that wild about. Also they look best shiny and new and I was always having to polish and getting silver junk on my hands.

I found Trollbeads and haven't looked back. Sold most of my Pandora to buy Troll. I still have a few Pandora beads that I really like and still wear. I find the quality to Trollbeads to be superior to any of the other brands. The glass beads are stunning. The silver is different and "artsy" the oxidation is wonderful and the polishing cloth has only come out about once a year!
 
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