Pandora charms are one of the more popular charm bracelets on the market today. Part of their appeal is the ability to mix and match the Pandora beads and spacers, to have a different look for different occasions. They are also touted as being the perfect gift for any woman or girl in your life, as with the variety of charms available, there is something for everyone no matter what the occasion, or their taste in jewelry.

Giving a Pandora charm bracelet is a wonderful gift for a young girl or teenager. Generally you can buy the bracelet itself with three or four beads already on the bracelet (they are nicely separated, even if you only have a few charms on them.) Then, people can add to the bracelet by giving charms for birthdays, Christmas or other special occasions such as a memorable vacation, graduating from high-school, and later the birth of her first child, etc.

The cost of the bracelets and the charms varies greatly, and depends a lot on the type of material the bracelet or charm is made from. The main materials used are Sterling Silver, Oxidised Sterling Silver or 14ct Gold. Beads are made from sterling silver; Murano glass beads, or a mix of Sterling silver with gold. Some beads also include precious gems. Whatever the choice, there is something suitable for everyone's pocket--again, something that makes them a very popular gift.

Each season new beads are released for sale, while older beads are 'retired' and are no longer made. The design of the beads is unlimited, there is just about everything you can think of ranging from designs taken from nature, to household appliances, electronics, baby buggies, happy faces, cell-phones. You name it, there is most likely a bead, or at least something close to what you are thinking of.

The spring 2009 release of Pandora charms, due to be released soon, include silver purses, animals and decorative beads. There is also a new release of colorful Murano glass along with four new styles of gold beads.

Tips on How to Keep your Pandora Charms Clean

Use a polishing cloth that's made for polishing silver. It's best to clean your bracelet before you put it on, and when you take it off. Liquid jewelry cleaner has been known to damage some of the Pandora beads, so it's best not to use it. The best place to store your Pandora bracelets are in a plastic bag.
How can you tell if your Pandora charms are real?

Most Pandora Charms are marked with the letters ALE and either 925ss for silver, or 585 for gold items. This jeweler's hallmark is usually placed on the charm itself, or marked on a small attachment to the bracelet. To be sure you're buying a genuine Pandora charm, its best to buy from authorised dealers.

By: Susan Westingham

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Fantasy figures have always been a popular theme from fairies, elves, and dragons through to unicorns, the mythical Pegasus and even mermaids. Fantasy figures and symbols are very popular in jewelry items both for young adults as well for those that are, shall we say, more mature. Fantasy jewelry has also gone more mainstream with the recent Troll Bead line that incorporates the softer elements of fantasy jewelry into different types of beads, rings and pendants that are a bit less edgy than some of the more traditional pieces.

One of the amazing things about fantasy jewelry is that it is well appreciated by both men and women. The handcrafted designs of the traditional silver and gem pieces such as dragons, druids, ruins and circlets have been traditionally popular with men, while the lighter more stylized symbols have been equally popular with women. The jewelry ranges from heavy to light, chunky to fine and highly gemmed and jeweled to plain silver or gold. Since there is such as wide selection of fantasy jewelry it is sometimes hard to categorize it into one big group.

Dragons, which form a great deal of the inspiration for many of the fantasy jewelry pieces are often shown in collections with semi-precious stones. Typical gems seen in these pieces will be amethysts, carnelian and amber. Carnelian is a relatively new gem in commercial jewelry and has a metal ore looking red to rust coloration with variations throughout the stone. Dragons can be curled around the gem, embracing the gem or perched on the stone in rings, pendants and necklaces.

Fairies are very popular with women and tend to be very delicate, feminine and stylized. They may be displayed in the setting with a gem such as lapis lazuli, amethyst, or sapphires. Often the fairy is in flight with delicate filigree wings and accents of roses, birds or vines. Again, like with dragons the fantasy jewelry for women can be in silver or gold and is often custom designed or one of a kind.

Troll beads, unlike traditional fantasy jewelry can have obvious fantasy styling but they can also be incredibly beautiful just as a bead to add to any type of chain. Each style of Troll bead has its own particular story as to how it originated. The beads can be put together with other Troll beads as a type of story bracelet, or they can be mixed with gold and silver beads, which are also available as Troll beads, to add a touch of fantasy to any piece of jewelry. Each year new designs of beads are added, each with their own history and mythical or fantasy background story.

If you have always wanted something different, something that is really unique but you didn't want to go all the way to fantasy jewelry, Troll beads, rings, pendants or starter sets may be just what you have been looking for. Not all stores sell Troll beads, although the company's website allows you to search for retail stores in your area. If you plan to visit the site, make sure you have a couple of hours to browse through the beads and read each history, it is really amazing.

By: Amy Carrington

About the Author:

Troll beads have been around for the last thirty years; these colourful beads each have their own story which is based around fairy tales, animals, flowers, mythology and astrology. The beads are made from a number of materials including sterling silver, gold, glass and precious stones. If you have not yet heard about trollbeads then I suggest you take a look around the internet and get involved in this world wide craze.

They started in Denmark in 1976 when Soren Nielson created a small silver pearl (The Mask) from a wax model, which he drilled a hole through and the concept of putting these charms onto jewellery began. In the 1980s Lise Aagaard began an apprenticeship making troll beads, she began experimenting with materials and developed the first glass bead which became widely available in 2002.

Now more technology means more beads of different shapes, colours and sizes can be made and there are now beads for all occasions and personalities with new designs coming out all of the time. The beads can be made into bracelets and necklaces and designed by you to suit any outfit or mood, or you can buy complete bracelets and necklaces to start your collection.

If you are new to trollbead collecting then to familiarise yourself with the different types you can view the following categories of bead:

Glass Trollbeads

Glass beads were designed by Lise Aagaard in the late 1980's but because of the complexity of making detailed designs on small pieces of glass, these beads were not available fully until the early Nineties. Now there are hundreds of glass beads of all colours and designs available, some with colours running through the glass and others with glass bubbles on the outer surface.

Gold Trollbeads

Gold troll beads come in all different shapes and sizes including animals, fairy tale characters and abstract shapes. They go well with glass beads and the different characters help to create a theme or storyline running through each bracelet or necklace.

Letter Trollbeads

These beads have a letter from the alphabet built into their design. You can buy your initials to incorporate into your troll bead necklace or bracelet or why not buy all the letters which make up your name? This really allows you to personalise your jewellery and make your own storyline through troll beads.

OOAK Trollbeads

These one of a kind beads are hand made and are completely individual. Some are prototypes which have been rejected while others are slightly imperfect and have been removed from production. Often this is simply because the colour is incorrect or the design has not come out as intended, but this just adds to the character and rarity of the bead.

Retired Trollbeads

Some beads are retired after a while to make room for new designs. These retired beads are still available in our store but they can become rare.

Silver Trollbeads

This is how troll beads first started in 1976, they are made of silver from wax models which are cleaned and drilled to make them into bracelet and necklace charms. Over the years more designs have been produced and now all shapes and sizes are available to compliment individual personalities and interests. And like gold beads, different mythical characters add to the story line of the bracelet of necklace.

Trollbead Bracelets

Bracelets can either be purchased as an individual chain or as a completed charm bracelet. The charms only fit onto trollbead bracelets and necklaces. Chains come in silver and gold and black and brown leather bracelets and necklaces are available.

Trollbead Clasps

Clasps are available in gold and silver and a designed so they can be removed to allow the beads on the bracelet of necklace to be changed or reorganised. Clasps are decorated with patterns or are shaped like animals and flowers to fit in with the design of the jewellery. Some are also decorated with gems and stones although there are plain clasps available as well.

Trollbeads are simply the best gifts you can buy a friend or even buy for yourself, they are fun, precious and most of all they are unique.

By: Steven Beckerman

About the Author:

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