Charm bracelets are typically seen on the small wrists of children that are made of beads and string that represent the symbolic “friendship bracelet”. Either way, charm bracelets have never been thought of as fashionable or stylish. However, within just the last 15 years charms and bracelets have grown in popularity for women of all ages. Companies like Pandora and Alex and Ani have made millions of dollars from this timeless and simple idea. So, the question is which company creates the best charm bracelet? I will put style, quality, price, and overall brand appeal into consideration.
Pandora:
Style: The bracelets can come in silver, gold, leather, or fabric. The charms are smaller and can come in a variety of themes-- such as but not limited to-- Christmas, Nautical, Disney, and more. The more charms the better for these bracelets. They look skimpy with only one or two.
Quality: Pandora began in Denmark around the 1980's, and the charm bracelets began around 2000. The company has rapidly grown and is present in malls all over the world. Their jewelry is not cheap and not easily breakable. The material that is used is authentic, whether it be 14k gold or real leather.
Price: The price can be up to you. Bracelets range from $35 to over $100 depending if you want sterling silver or fabric. The most costly part of the bracelet are the charms. These can also range from $50 to well over $100. If I saw a girl walking down the street with a gold Pandora bracelet with 5 plus charms, I would assume around $350 invested in that piece of jewelry.
Brand Appeal: Pandora is a household name and is respected all over the world. It is a Danish business that started from nothing and is an example of the American Dream. It offers women the ability to customize their look. Pandora takes pride in its distinctive look and handcrafted jewelry.
Alex and Ani:
Style: This Company is up and coming with a very distinctive style of its own as well. Alex and Ani is most well-known for its brass colored charm bracelets. These typically have a larger charm bangle with smaller charms on if desired. Since only being founded in 2004, Alex and Ani have introduced leather braided, Trove wrap, and beaded bangle bracelets.
Quality: These bracelets are typically of thinner metal than Pandora and do not have a clasp. Instead, these circular bracelets have no opening. These pieces of jewelry have a sliding mechanism that makes each bracelet entirely adjustable, making it "one-size-fits-all". These are not made to be from fitting, they are meant to be looser, so the charms can dangle.
Price: The average price can be from $38 to about $100. If you want to add other charms to the bracelet it can cost about $24. Typically, Alex and Ani bracelets are “stackable” opposed to buying multiple charms for one, girls wear many bracelets on one wrist.
Brand Appeal: Alex and Ani have become very popular in just short amount of time. I have seen girls wearing half a dozen Alex and Ani bracelets on one wrist. Perhaps it’s the message of empowerment this company wants to send, or the fact that it was founded and continues its production in America. Either way, more teenagers and women in their twenties are taking part in the fashion trend of the charm bracelet.
The winner is...
Alex and Ani, simply because they are the future of the charm bracelet. Their no clasp technology, cheaper price, and variety of choices make it a better option for people of all ages. This company continues to be innovative, and has not slowed down since its birth in 2004. Pandora is more of a commercial look, while Alex and Ani has that high fashion appeal with a reasonable price, which is something that is hard to pull off. Kudos to Alex and Ani. I cannot wait to see what the future holds for this made in American brand.
-Kate
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