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Wednesday, June 7th
Pandora is likely the brand you imagine when you think of charm bracelets. Sold in 100+ countries and headquartered in Denmark, this company is ubiquitous in the jewelry market and adds numerous charms and bracelets to its inventory every year. Whether you buy directly through the Pandora store, at one of its brick-and-mortar locations, or through a third-party retailer, you'll get top-quality jewelry that lasts.
Be ready to pay more
You're going to spend a little more (or a LOT more) to get an authentic Pandora bracelet. If you're looking for 14k gold, you'll pay anywhere from $2050 to $2895 just for the bracelet itself, depending on the length you select (from 6.3 to 9.0). Fortunately, that same bracelet comes in sterling silver for a much more affordable price of $65. Charms here are similarly priced: the most expensive option is the Sparkling Leveled Hearts charm in 14k gold and CZ for $495. The lowest-priced charms are $25-$35 and run the gamut from letters of the alphabet to paw prints and more. Build a bracelet with 10 charms and you can expect to pay at least $465. Pandora offers several financing options, like interest-free payments through PayPal, Klarna and Afterpay, if you're interested.
See exactly how the jewelry looks
You'll find some really helpful options on the Pandora site. First, look for the "Try It On" tool to see how any bracelet or charm looks on a model, or choose the "on me" to scan a QR code and preview the look on your own arm. You can also select "compare" to get a feel for the item's size relative to a familiar object like an earbud or a credit card, plus the dimensions are clearly displayed in inches. No unpleasant surprises here.
Preview an entire charm bracelet
Another awesome feature Pandora offers is the "Customize" button. You can build an entire bracelet with charms and see a real-time preview of how it looks. We absolutely love not having any guesswork to do.
SmartGift tool + inexpensive gift wrapping
Finally, if you're gifting a Pandora charm bracelet, you may want to take advantage of the SmartGift tool. It lets you choose a gift to send electronically, but your recipient can change the size or color as desired - or go a completely different direction by choosing something that is equal to or lower than the price of the bracelet you selected. Once they finalize their selection, Pandora will send you a payment link and that's it. You can also add gift packaging to any order, SmartGift or not, for just $1.
BBB says no but thousands of shoppers say yes
We're a little puzzled by Pandora's listing with the Better Business Bureau. The BBB gives the jewelry store an "F" rating, for receiving over 400 complaints in the last three years, three of which got no response from Pandora and four that remained unresolved. That sounds terrible, and yet our highest-ranked charm bracelet store received three times as many complaints over the same timeframe. Plus, Pandora has plenty of shopper reviews on most of the charms and bracelets sold through its online store, not to mention those you'll find when Pandora jewelry is sold through third-party retailers. For example, one of their most popular charms is the "Love You Mom Heart" : it's got nearly 1200 customer ratings averaging 4.5/5 stars. See why we're not overly concerned about those seven unresolved complaints?
Free returns for 30 days
Pandora also offers a solid customer service experience. Should you need to return your charms or bracelet, you've got 30 days to send it back with a prepaid label (Pandora picks up the cost) or at a retail location near you. You can also reach a Pandora support rep by online chat or toll-free number if you have questions about placing an order or making a return.
Highly recommended
True, Pandora charm bracelets are more expensive than most. But, with so many charms to choose from, a variety of bracelet styles, and lots of tools to help make your shopping experience fast and fun, this store can't help but earn one of our highest recommendations.
There's no better way to commemorate an important achievement like a college graduation, celebrate a special occasion, or keep reminders of treasured memories close at hand. From cute costume jewelry with dangly trinkets to elegant adornments in 14k gold, there's a charm bracelet to suit every style and budget.
When designing this one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry, your first consideration should probably be the bracelet style. Bangles are solid, sometimes with an opening on the side, and the corresponding charms have a hole in the middle that you slide on and off by unscrewing the fixed charm in the middle or on one of the ends.
Snake chains are similar in the way the beads slide on, but the bracelet itself is more flexible. Or, if you prefer the kinds of charms that attach with a jump ring or a clasp, you'd choose a more traditional chain bracelet.
Once you've chosen the bracelet style, it's time to have some fun and create something new! What are you commemorating and who will be wearing this unique creation? It's hard to imagine a charm that isn't available somewhere: you won't just see classic graduation years, travel mementoes like miniature Eiffel Towers and palm trees, but also choices that might be considered somewhat... odd. How about a gold bandage or a beaver on skis? You do you!
Now that you have an idea of how your charm bracelet will look, where should you buy it? There are lots of online stores to choose from, so how can you tell where to start? Here are some factors that can help you narrow it down:
To help you find the perfect bracelets and charms, TopConsumerReviews.com has evaluated and ranked today's most popular stores. We're sure this information will enable you to create an amazing themed charm bracelet - or add cute new charms to one you already have!
Select any 2 Charm Bracelet Stores to compare them head to head