My bracelet is a combination of Pandora and Chamilia, so obviously I have no problems mixing them up. My only concern would be non sterling silver or gold beads. Those I don't think I could mix with my real beads.
Would you put non-Pandora beads on your Pandora bracelet?
- Thread starter divadivine682
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I was buying the ladybug bead and the store had 2 of those in stock. The first ladybug he gave me wouldn't screw on, he gave me the second one, and that one was fine. The Purple Disco Ball Bead was fine. There are some new Chamilia beads that I really want, so I will get those and put them on my mixed bracelet.
I have had customers into my retailer where I work and when they buy a new Pandora from me, I always put it on their bracelet where they want it. Sometimes this means taking off all their beads and re-arranging them. I have had problems from time to time with non-Pandora beads getting stuck on the threads and the customers have told me the same thing.
If you belong to Pandora's Chamilia's page, someone was very upset because she put a Chamilia bead on her Pandora and now it won't come off. Chamilia offered her tips and she says it still won't screw off. I took the beads off my leather and put them on a SS Pandora bracelet. I am okay if something happens to it because this will be my Chamilia/ Pandora bracelet.
Thanks for all the responses! I have since bought a few more beads for my bracelet but they are all pandora. I am definitely not opposed to adding non-pandora to it and have kept my original non-pandora's on there!! I just really love them! I do agree with the above poster that commented she wouldn't put fake silver or gold on there though...I won't either 
. I'm gonna take some new pics of my bracelet and try to post it today..nothing crazy but I just loooove it!
. I'm gonna take some new pics of my bracelet and try to post it today..nothing crazy but I just loooove it!
Sorry, I meant to say if you belong to Chamilia's Facebook page, someone was very upset because the Chamilia bead they bought was stuck on her Pandora bracelet. She tried different things and it still wouldn't come off.
I have 3 Pandora bracelets also. I have more Camilia and Biagi beads on them than Pandora beads. When I carried the Pandora line in my shop- the rep told me that as long as the beads were SS they were ok to use. I now carry the Camilia only as I really like their beads better. I also have had many Pandora beads that I sent back to have the centers re-borred because they would get stuck on the bracelet. Camilia stands behind their product more and don't give you the lame excuses if you have a problem with anything. IMO..Biagi has alot of nice beads too-- alot are the same as Pandora as the guy who started the whole bead/bracelet idea was Carlos Biagi when he worked at Pandora. They have good quality beads and they look great too.
My very first bracelet was totally a fake. It was about a year ago and I had never heard of Pandora beads at that point. (I know - you are wondering what planet I live on, right?) I was in a market in Shanghai where I often go when I am there on business. I generally go there to get necklaces made for me (think Shirley Schmidt on "Boston Legal"). While I was waiting for her to make this necklace, I looked over and saw a tray of beads - silver and glass. I asked what they were, and a young girl showed me how to make a bracelet. Well, I spent a couple of hours there and made myself a bracelet for an obscenely cheap price. When I returned home someone in the airport lounge commented on my Pandora bracelet, so I googled it. Wow! Was I surprised.
Since then, I bought two Pandora bracelets and have one full and the other pretty much full - of the real Pandoras. But what I find is that the Pandora beads are pretty limited in themes and some of the beads are not a very good depiction of the item they represent - take the giraffe, for instance.
As a result, I started looking around and found Chamilia beads. I like the variety of Murano glass better in the Chamilia beads and I like some of the silver beads better. I have no qualms about mixing Pandora and Chamilia or even adding some artisan beads. But I want quality.
Turns out that most of my knock offs are Chamilia fakes, not Pandora fakes. That first fake bracelet got me started on an interesting hobby, but the quality was definitely not there. After just a short while of wearing the bracelet, the silver was wearing off. They might be fun for kids to make up at a birthday party, but not really a piece of jewellry that you would want to wear very much.
I keep that first bracelet just for sentiment's sake, as it got me into this collection. But I won't wear it now.
Since then, I bought two Pandora bracelets and have one full and the other pretty much full - of the real Pandoras. But what I find is that the Pandora beads are pretty limited in themes and some of the beads are not a very good depiction of the item they represent - take the giraffe, for instance.
As a result, I started looking around and found Chamilia beads. I like the variety of Murano glass better in the Chamilia beads and I like some of the silver beads better. I have no qualms about mixing Pandora and Chamilia or even adding some artisan beads. But I want quality.
Turns out that most of my knock offs are Chamilia fakes, not Pandora fakes. That first fake bracelet got me started on an interesting hobby, but the quality was definitely not there. After just a short while of wearing the bracelet, the silver was wearing off. They might be fun for kids to make up at a birthday party, but not really a piece of jewellry that you would want to wear very much.
I keep that first bracelet just for sentiment's sake, as it got me into this collection. But I won't wear it now.
I have both Pandora and Chamilia beads, but mostly Pandora. This is really because we don't have a local Chamilia vendor here, so I can't see the beads before I buy them. I discovered that the pics of the Chamilia muranos sometimes are really off, so I'm afraid to risk it. Luckily, there are some honest eBayers out there who use a stock photo but warn you that the color is different.
There are just so many bead makers out there, that it's hard to just stay with Pandora! I just discovered Reflections. They have some really cute beads (I just purchased the 2-tone baby bottle), and it's hard to resist!
There are just so many bead makers out there, that it's hard to just stay with Pandora! I just discovered Reflections. They have some really cute beads (I just purchased the 2-tone baby bottle), and it's hard to resist!
I did find that some of my Chamilia beads were harder to get on/off the threads. I was able to massage it and now it's easier, but I can definitely see how it could get stuck.
I really love my Pandora beads! I think they have the best. I wanted to buy a few of the Chamilia beads but there were too many people waiting to look at beads when I happened to be in the store! Good to know that sometimes they get stuck. I have a trollbeads bracelet too so if something is too tight I might use them there too. Or I'll just get a chamilia bracelet!
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I would like to look at Troll but I don't think we have anyone carrying them in Edmonton. I like their glass beads.
I bought the stiletto dangle from Pandora, but now that I see it on the bracelet, I don't care for it. The bead is way over-sized for the dainty little shoe. It would better on a bead the width of a space and with finer detail than the dangle has. If I could find a decent shoe dangle that would fit the Pandora, I would put it on in heartbeat.
I think it should be about liking every single bead that is on the bracelet, no matter whether they are Pandora or not.
Then again, I have been known to wear a designer jacket with no name jeans. I guess I switch up just about anything.
I bought the stiletto dangle from Pandora, but now that I see it on the bracelet, I don't care for it. The bead is way over-sized for the dainty little shoe. It would better on a bead the width of a space and with finer detail than the dangle has. If I could find a decent shoe dangle that would fit the Pandora, I would put it on in heartbeat.
I think it should be about liking every single bead that is on the bracelet, no matter whether they are Pandora or not.
Then again, I have been known to wear a designer jacket with no name jeans. I guess I switch up just about anything.