Feature: Pandora Bracelets for Beginners

In this post, I’ll be going through the basics of Pandora’s iconic charm bracelet. Getting into Pandora can be a little confusing: i.e., what’s the difference between clips, spacers and charms? I’ll be covering the ins and outs of it all right here – just hit ‘Read more’ to get all the info. :)

The Basics

The traditional Pandora bracelet comes in a variety of forms, the most popular being the all sterling silver bracelet.

However, it also comes in 14 carat gold. This is obviously a very expensive option – not for the fainthearted ;)

If you wish to compromise, a two tone version is also offered. The bracelet chain itself is silver, but the clasp is gold.

Pandora also offer oxidised silver bracelet and leather charm bracelets. However, I’ll do a separate post to cover the do’s and don’t’s of these kinds of bracelets – they work somewhat differently to the traditional bracelets.

The clasp

Pandora offer two different kinds of clasps for their traditional charm bracelets – the lobster clasp, or the iconic barrel clasp.

Threads and clips

One of the first things you’ll be told when you get a Pandora bracelet is, ‘Get clips.’ It can’t really be stressed enough! Clips are very important. But, let’s start from the beginning. Clips are exactly what they sound like – hinged charms that snap straight on to your bracelet. If you look at a Pandora bracelet, you will see that it is sectioned off into three sections. The two threads in the middle of the bracelet, dividing it up, are where you should attach your clips.

Clips are important for a number of reasons. They help you to keep your charms in separate sections. When building a bracelet, you should aim for an even distribution of charms in each section. If you let all your charms hang in one section alone, it places increased strain on that part of the bracelet. This can cause the links to stretch, and the bracelet to kink or even break. Using clips allows you to keep charms evenly distributed, and helps you to prevent them from bunching up.

Clips also prevent charms from rolling over the threads when you’re wearing the bracelet. The threads are the weakest part of the bracelet – if a charm gets stuck on a thread, or sits across it awkwardly, it can again cause your bracelet to snap.

Plus, they’re really pretty. Just get clips.

Safety chains

Safety chains are attached either side of the clasp. The idea is that, in the unlikely event of your bracelet clasp failing, the safety chain will prevent the bracelet from just falling right off your wrist. However, I have to say that you read about far more instances of the bracelet chain itself snapping than the clasp falling open – and the safety chain won’t help in the instance of the chain breaking. Still, lots of people opt to have them, just for peace of mind. Besides, many Pandora fans love the way they look anyway.