Chamilia beads are one of the top brands of charm beads in today's fashion world. Jewelry makers and collectors everywhere are clamoring for Chamilia charm beads, Pandora charm beads, and, of course, Troll Beads charm beads.
Chamilia is a comparatively new company, but despite their young age, they've already carved a name for themselves out of the silver and gold mountains. Chamilia Disney beads are specially licensed from the Disney company, and are available in silver and gold as well as Murano glass. They use Swarovski crystals, real gems, and every other high quality item that is used in their other charm beads.
Like other charm beads, Chamilia beads are interchangeable, meaning that the whole purpose of these beads is so that you can remove one bead from your Chamilia necklace or Chamilia bracelet and put another one on, change them around, or completely redesign your jewelry every single day if you wish. Chamilia beads put you in control of your look.
Many people collect Chamilia beads as memory items. Perhaps for every birthday you buy yourself a bead, or receive one as a gift. Chamilia beads make great anniversary gifts. Looking for a bridal shower gift idea to go along with whatever the bride and groom have registered for? Get each of the bridal shower attendees to buy a special Chamilia bead for the bride to be. Perhaps the groom could purchase the Chamilia bracelet or Chamilia necklace for the beads to be strong on? This would be a memorable gift that she will always cherish and will wear often.
No matter the occasion or your taste in jewelry, you or the recipient is guaranteed to be pleased with Chamilia beads.
4/26/2010
3/28/2010
Pandora Beads
Pandora beads are the ultimate in elegant, changeable jewelry. Not only does Pandora create beautiful charm beads, but they also create inter-changable earrings and necklaces. Their french hook earrings are designed so that the charms can be hung without having to use tools of any kind- simply slip the charm onto one end of the earring and slide it along until it dangles at the proper place. The charms can be removed the same way, and replaced with a new piece of changeable jewelry.
Pandora beads, like Chamilia beads, Troll beads, Biagi beads, and many other brands of charm beads are based on the idea that jewelry doesn't have be static. Customers should be able to design their own look and change that look as often and as easily as they like. After all, you wouldn't wear the same red shoes every day, to every occasion- Different situations and different moods call for a different look, wouldn't you say? So why should your jewelry stay the same?
Besides, quality jewelry comes at a price. If you don't want to be stuck wearing the same piece or pieces over and over again, you have no choice but to spend money on multiple pieces of jewelry, right? Not so with Pandora beads and similar products. Not only can you simply buy the beads that you like and a single bracelet or necklace cord to string them on, but many of these companies' beads are interchangable! Since each company's beads are designed to fit their own necklace and bracelet cord, not all the beads will fit well on another company's cords, but for the most part, you can mix Troll beads with Pandora beads or Chamilia beads, and so on.
Some jewelry supply stores will even sell charm beads wholesale, even if you're not a jeweler or have a retail shop. This can help you save money when shopping for your beads, but you must be careful when buying from these places, because if you're not purchasing in bulk, you may be paying retail for your beads.
Often, you'll find that even these more expensive companies sell sterling silver charm beads and sometimes use Austrian crystal. This is much less expensive than, say, the 14k gold charm beads with Swarovski crystals, or the Murano glass charm beads. Pandora makes all of these kinds of beads and more.
Pandora has even created the Pandora club for their loyal members. Using the Pandora club you can create a list of all the Pandora jewelry that you already own and keep track of it, build a wishlist to send out to friends and family, and build your own bracelet and save it to your favorites. This is a great way to get your Pandora fix while you wait for your paycheck to build up. The Pandora club is free, though the jewelry, obviously, is not.
While there are certainly many other companies to choose from, I'm sure that you'll love Pandora beads.
Pandora beads, like Chamilia beads, Troll beads, Biagi beads, and many other brands of charm beads are based on the idea that jewelry doesn't have be static. Customers should be able to design their own look and change that look as often and as easily as they like. After all, you wouldn't wear the same red shoes every day, to every occasion- Different situations and different moods call for a different look, wouldn't you say? So why should your jewelry stay the same?
Besides, quality jewelry comes at a price. If you don't want to be stuck wearing the same piece or pieces over and over again, you have no choice but to spend money on multiple pieces of jewelry, right? Not so with Pandora beads and similar products. Not only can you simply buy the beads that you like and a single bracelet or necklace cord to string them on, but many of these companies' beads are interchangable! Since each company's beads are designed to fit their own necklace and bracelet cord, not all the beads will fit well on another company's cords, but for the most part, you can mix Troll beads with Pandora beads or Chamilia beads, and so on.
Some jewelry supply stores will even sell charm beads wholesale, even if you're not a jeweler or have a retail shop. This can help you save money when shopping for your beads, but you must be careful when buying from these places, because if you're not purchasing in bulk, you may be paying retail for your beads.
Often, you'll find that even these more expensive companies sell sterling silver charm beads and sometimes use Austrian crystal. This is much less expensive than, say, the 14k gold charm beads with Swarovski crystals, or the Murano glass charm beads. Pandora makes all of these kinds of beads and more.
Pandora has even created the Pandora club for their loyal members. Using the Pandora club you can create a list of all the Pandora jewelry that you already own and keep track of it, build a wishlist to send out to friends and family, and build your own bracelet and save it to your favorites. This is a great way to get your Pandora fix while you wait for your paycheck to build up. The Pandora club is free, though the jewelry, obviously, is not.
While there are certainly many other companies to choose from, I'm sure that you'll love Pandora beads.
3/11/2010
Denmark Beads
Denmark beads are technically any beads that are made or designed in Denmark. Makes sense, right? The most prominent of these are Pandora beads and Troll beads.
However, just because those are the only beads to technically fit that definition, this is not what most people mean when they say or search for "Denmark beads". Most often, the speaker or the seeker is actually looking for charm beads- the lovely beads that are designed to be easily put on and removed from bracelets, necklaces, and other pieces of jewelry that are specially designed for customization.
The original Denmark beads were developed by a silversmith in Denmark in the 1970's. Many of these original beads were designed to look like troll faces, and thus, Troll Beads was born. The popularity spread, and within decades several competitors to the high class, high quality beads have sprung up, as well as many more affordable makers of charm beads.
Each of the top charm bead design companies has developed their own special charm bead bracelets and necklaces on which their beads are meant to be strung. Many of these involve a clever use of locks, twists, and clamps, to allow easy maneuvering of the Denmark beads, and to hold the charm beads in place, rather than have them sliding up and down on the bracelet or necklace.
Denmark beads are approximately the size of pony beads, and have a larger than average bead hole which allows them to be strung on actual bracelet chains, leather thongs, and so on. They can be made of any material including gold, silver, freshwater pearl, Murano glass, plastic, plated metals, wood, shells, and more. The materials and quality of workmanship as well as being name brands all effect the price of the beads.
Even though Chamilia is a new comer to the world of charm beads, and is not located in Denmark, they are the first of the charm bead manufacturers to have exclusive rights to a line of Disney charm beads. Combined with the high quality of their workmanship, this puts Chamilia charm beads right at the top of the game.
Luckily, you are literally spoiled for choice among Denmark beads.
However, just because those are the only beads to technically fit that definition, this is not what most people mean when they say or search for "Denmark beads". Most often, the speaker or the seeker is actually looking for charm beads- the lovely beads that are designed to be easily put on and removed from bracelets, necklaces, and other pieces of jewelry that are specially designed for customization.
The original Denmark beads were developed by a silversmith in Denmark in the 1970's. Many of these original beads were designed to look like troll faces, and thus, Troll Beads was born. The popularity spread, and within decades several competitors to the high class, high quality beads have sprung up, as well as many more affordable makers of charm beads.
Each of the top charm bead design companies has developed their own special charm bead bracelets and necklaces on which their beads are meant to be strung. Many of these involve a clever use of locks, twists, and clamps, to allow easy maneuvering of the Denmark beads, and to hold the charm beads in place, rather than have them sliding up and down on the bracelet or necklace.
Denmark beads are approximately the size of pony beads, and have a larger than average bead hole which allows them to be strung on actual bracelet chains, leather thongs, and so on. They can be made of any material including gold, silver, freshwater pearl, Murano glass, plastic, plated metals, wood, shells, and more. The materials and quality of workmanship as well as being name brands all effect the price of the beads.
Even though Chamilia is a new comer to the world of charm beads, and is not located in Denmark, they are the first of the charm bead manufacturers to have exclusive rights to a line of Disney charm beads. Combined with the high quality of their workmanship, this puts Chamilia charm beads right at the top of the game.
Luckily, you are literally spoiled for choice among Denmark beads.
2/17/2010
Charm Beads
Charm Beads
When looking for a charm bead, there is a lot to consider. First of all, are you most interested in high quality charm beads using 14k or 18k gold? Sterling silver? Plastic, wood, Murano glass charm beads? Are you seeking a designer piece or simply something that represents you or someone you love? It all matters. There's no end to choice when searching out Denmark beads or charm beads, and you need to have a plan lest you become overwhelmed with choices.
For example, my main hobbies (I have a lot of them, but only a few that interest me most or all of the time) are medieval and Renaissance era history, Walt Disney World, jewelry making, and novel writing. So, my choices would be perhaps a charm bead recreated from a design seen in a medieval painting, or maybe a bead designed to look like a kilt or sporran. Most of my charm bead bracelet would be taken up with Disney beads, probably Chamilia Disney beads since they're the only company to have exclusive rights to Disney charm beads. Granted, I'm not too keen on their designs. I've always preferred unique jewelry, and even though they have Murano glass Disney beads, anything high end tends to not represent my individualistic taste. Plus, I'd probably pick a book bead, or better, an inkwell and feather quill bead if I could find one. I might settle for a typewriter, but I've only ever liked one typewriter in my life and that was my dad's old electric one. Sadly, he sold that years ago. Probably wouldn't work now anyway.
What Are Charm Beads
(also, what are Denmark beads, what are Pandora beads, what are Chamilia beads, or what are Troll beads)Charm beads, aka Denmark beads, are simply creative beads that have large enough holes to be easily slid on and off of chains that are made specifically for this purpose. Troll beads were developed in Denmark as a sideline to the creator's silversmithing/jewelry business. The ability for customers to custom design their own jewelry (bracelets and necklaces, initially) and change the jewelry on a whim became very popular. Soon, Pandora beads followed suit and the charm bead popularity spread across Europe and into North America. Chamilia is a relatively new entrant in the world of charm beads, having launched in 2002, but as the exclusive producer of Disney charm beads, they certainly have made their mark.
There are a number of other charm bead designers and manufacturers in various price ranges and styles. The beads themselves are about the size of a pony bead, and can be found in every material and design imaginable.
Sterling silver charms beads are among the most popular. These are a highly desirable metal, denotes quality, and isn't nearly as expensive as the gold bead charms. Camilla charm beads are offered in a range of materials, but the most common in their collection are made of silver.
Bead Phone Charms
Even though it can be difficult to find bead phone charms from these designers, it's fairly easy to make them. All you need is a basic understanding of how to make jewelry, some string or necklace wire and crimp beads, or even some chain and jumprings. Pliers are necessary, of course, if using jumprings to attach the charms. The larger holes on charm beads make them ideal for making your own beaded phone charms- simply take a string that is thin enough to go through the opening on your phone, knot the ends of the string, pinch the string in the middle, so that the strands are doubled- push that through your bead or beads, push the doubled string through the hole in your phone, pull the beaded ends through the loop, and tighten. Voila! Easy peasy.
European Charm Bead Bracelets
If you're looking for authentic European charm bead bracelets, it's best to look to Troll beads and Pandora beads, since they both originated in Denmark and were also the first on the scene. Bead charm braclets are such a fun way to express yourself, and their current popularity mean that it's easier than ever to find all the designs that your heart could desire. In fact, beaded charm bracelets are often sold already put together! While this isn't any fun for someone who wants their jewelry personalized, it's a great way to start off your collection. Much like the power bead bracelets of old (er, 5-10 years ago), many people consider beaded charm braclets to simply be a fashion accessory.
Italian Charm Beads
Italian charm beads, however, are not actually beads. Rather, Italian charms are more of a rectangular box sort of thing, which snaps together end to end forming a straight line, or can be curved around into a bracelet. Italian charms tend to not lay correctly for use as a necklace. There is a large range of Disney Italian charms sold both in the theme parks and in regular retail outlets. At one time, they were mostly available only in gold and silver, but are now available in silvertone and silverplate as well.
Once you know what to look for, you can make the most out of your charm bead jewelry.
Technorati Claim Code
In compliance with Technorati's instructions, here is my claim code:
8PK8GXJD4CF2
Blah bla blah. Bla, blah blah.
2/09/2010
Pandora and Chamilia Beads
Pandora beads and Chamilia beads as well as authentic Troll beads are among the hottest beads and jewelry supplies in the western world right now. Often referred to as Denmark beads due to charm beads originating in Denmark, Troll beads are often touted as having invented charm bracelets and charm jewelry. This is absolutely not true. Charms as fashion jewelry came into vogue in the Victorian era, a movement that was spearheaded by Queen Victoria herself. However, the concept of interchangeable bead charm jewelry does, indeed, seem to have been invented by silversmith Søren Nielsen in 1976 in Denmark. If he was not the inventor, he certainly was the first to popularize the concept.
Troll beads, Pandora beads, and Chamilia beads as well as Lovelinks by Pastiche, Biagi beads, Zable beads, Nagara beads, Pugster Eurobeads, and SimStars are all popular charm bead manufacturing and design companies. Most of their beads are interchangeable with each other, but if you're very picky about your jewelry you may want to stick to Troll, Pandora, and Chamilia together, with Biagi, Zable, SimStars, Nagara, Pugster, and Lovelinks together. While they're all of a good quality, the difference is immediately evident when compared. The first three are all of a superb quality, and the prices reflect that. The rest are varying levels of "good" and seem to be marketed more toward the young and trendy crowd. While most people will not notice the difference, if you pair them up with the "superb" quality beads, the difference will stand out at a glance.
Each of these companies has a different focus for their charm bead jewellery as well. Authentic Troll beads, for example, are highly innovative. They take inspiration from nature, mythology, and more. They are the first company to silver core the inside of their glass beads. This serves two purposes- the first is that the inside of a lampwork glass bead tends to be rather ugly. The slip (a kind of watery clay) that is used to keep the molten glass from attaching itself to the mandrel remains attached to the bead when the bead has cooled enough to be removed from the mandrel (rod). This is ugly and gray, and while it can be filed off, the filing leaves ugly marks on the inside of the glass bead. By lining the core of the glass Troll bead with silver or gold, the ugly center is hidden from view, even when unattached to the chain or other beads. The second purpose of the lining is that the smooth silver lining prevents the rough interior of the bead from scratching the chain or fraying the leather thong.
Troll beads are also the first bead maker of its kind to offer freshwater pearl beads with large holes drilled through the center. Pearls are very fragile, and so it is difficult to drill more than a very small hole without breaking the pearl- even trying to ream a pearl's hole to smooth, even, or enlarge the hole can break it easily, and I have. Per Kanto-Nielsen designed a drill machine that could drill much larger holes into freshwater pearls without breaking or damaging them. This is necessary in order to use pearl beads on a Troll bead necklace and to fit in with other Troll bead charms. It's also an incredible feat of engineering. Hopefully he'll license this machine out to other jewelry parts suppliers so that pearls will be easier to use for other kinds of jewelry.
Pandora beads, on the other hand, focus more on tradition and quality for their beads. They tend to use more gold and diamonds than silver and Swarovski crystals. Their sterling silver and semi-precious beads are much more affordable than their gold and precious stone beads, but all can be intermixed with both Troll and Chamilia beads without concern of their being out of place. Religious symbols and abstract designs also seem to appeal to the Pandora bead designers. There are numerous Pandora cross beads and Star of David dangle beads to choose from. There are classic pearl dangle beads, and beads that look as though they were designed in the 60's and 70's. The detail on these beads is exquisite, and they would be a flattering addition to anyone's jewelry collection, no matter their usual style and budget.
Chamilia beads are the new kids on the block. Launched in 2002, they are the only charm bead to offer authentic Disney charm beads. The Chamilia Disney beads are beautiful, made of sterling silver or gold, and some feature CZ in the shape of a classic Mickey head. They cost anywhere from $33 for basic silver beads to $429 for a 14kt gold Mickey Mouse head bead. They also offer a few Mickey Mouse Murano glass beads. Ebay Chamilia bead auctions are quite popular, but it's very difficult to wade through all of the beads that merely "fit Chamilia" and "Pandora Chamilia Troll" tagged auctions. The best way to find authentic Chamilia beads and jewelry is to find the name or number of the design you want, and search using that information. It will drastically narrow your search, and you may not find what you want, but neither will you spend hours trawling through listings of fakes.
The concept of charm bead jewelry is an interesting one. These beads are approximately the size of pony beads or crow beads, but are made of Murano glass, handblown glass, lampwork glass beads, gold, silver, precious gems, semi-precious gems, Swarovski crystal, Austrian crystal, pearls, pewter, and even imitation materials. Each brand caters to a different customer. They can be mixed between companies as long as the center hole is of an appropriate size, and can even be combined with wood, seed, and bone beads offered by jewelry supply companies. Traditional charms can be hung between the charm beads, and the beads can even be hung on simple ribbon, leather thongs, and even shoe and bootlaces if you so choose! Their large holes make them quite as interchangeable as the innovative chains, bracelets, and necklaces that have been designed to accommodate them.
The key to designing your own charm bead jewelry is not in making sure that you find the authentic Chamilia beads, or authentic Pandora beads, or authentic Troll beads, or what have you, but in making sure that the beads you buy are worth what you pay, and that you like them. Most important of all, this kind of jewelry is all about you. What you like, what represents you. You may find that fun, cheap beads represent your outgoing and fun loving personality. Maybe your love of all that's traditional combines with your child-like wonder of the world, and the $429 Chamilia Mickey Mouse bead is all you need to create your one of a kind necklace or bracelet. Or maybe you're a nature lover who can create a work of art out of inexpensive wood pony beads and carved bone beads. It's all up to you. This is your jewelry, your life, and what makes you you.
Troll beads, Pandora beads, and Chamilia beads as well as Lovelinks by Pastiche, Biagi beads, Zable beads, Nagara beads, Pugster Eurobeads, and SimStars are all popular charm bead manufacturing and design companies. Most of their beads are interchangeable with each other, but if you're very picky about your jewelry you may want to stick to Troll, Pandora, and Chamilia together, with Biagi, Zable, SimStars, Nagara, Pugster, and Lovelinks together. While they're all of a good quality, the difference is immediately evident when compared. The first three are all of a superb quality, and the prices reflect that. The rest are varying levels of "good" and seem to be marketed more toward the young and trendy crowd. While most people will not notice the difference, if you pair them up with the "superb" quality beads, the difference will stand out at a glance.
Troll Beads
Troll Bead Bracelet
Troll beads are also the first bead maker of its kind to offer freshwater pearl beads with large holes drilled through the center. Pearls are very fragile, and so it is difficult to drill more than a very small hole without breaking the pearl- even trying to ream a pearl's hole to smooth, even, or enlarge the hole can break it easily, and I have. Per Kanto-Nielsen designed a drill machine that could drill much larger holes into freshwater pearls without breaking or damaging them. This is necessary in order to use pearl beads on a Troll bead necklace and to fit in with other Troll bead charms. It's also an incredible feat of engineering. Hopefully he'll license this machine out to other jewelry parts suppliers so that pearls will be easier to use for other kinds of jewelry.
Pandora Beads
Pandora Charm Necklace
Pandora beads, on the other hand, focus more on tradition and quality for their beads. They tend to use more gold and diamonds than silver and Swarovski crystals. Their sterling silver and semi-precious beads are much more affordable than their gold and precious stone beads, but all can be intermixed with both Troll and Chamilia beads without concern of their being out of place. Religious symbols and abstract designs also seem to appeal to the Pandora bead designers. There are numerous Pandora cross beads and Star of David dangle beads to choose from. There are classic pearl dangle beads, and beads that look as though they were designed in the 60's and 70's. The detail on these beads is exquisite, and they would be a flattering addition to anyone's jewelry collection, no matter their usual style and budget.
Chamilia Beads
Chamilia Disney Beads
Chamilia beads are the new kids on the block. Launched in 2002, they are the only charm bead to offer authentic Disney charm beads. The Chamilia Disney beads are beautiful, made of sterling silver or gold, and some feature CZ in the shape of a classic Mickey head. They cost anywhere from $33 for basic silver beads to $429 for a 14kt gold Mickey Mouse head bead. They also offer a few Mickey Mouse Murano glass beads. Ebay Chamilia bead auctions are quite popular, but it's very difficult to wade through all of the beads that merely "fit Chamilia" and "Pandora Chamilia Troll" tagged auctions. The best way to find authentic Chamilia beads and jewelry is to find the name or number of the design you want, and search using that information. It will drastically narrow your search, and you may not find what you want, but neither will you spend hours trawling through listings of fakes.
The concept of charm bead jewelry is an interesting one. These beads are approximately the size of pony beads or crow beads, but are made of Murano glass, handblown glass, lampwork glass beads, gold, silver, precious gems, semi-precious gems, Swarovski crystal, Austrian crystal, pearls, pewter, and even imitation materials. Each brand caters to a different customer. They can be mixed between companies as long as the center hole is of an appropriate size, and can even be combined with wood, seed, and bone beads offered by jewelry supply companies. Traditional charms can be hung between the charm beads, and the beads can even be hung on simple ribbon, leather thongs, and even shoe and bootlaces if you so choose! Their large holes make them quite as interchangeable as the innovative chains, bracelets, and necklaces that have been designed to accommodate them.
The key to designing your own charm bead jewelry is not in making sure that you find the authentic Chamilia beads, or authentic Pandora beads, or authentic Troll beads, or what have you, but in making sure that the beads you buy are worth what you pay, and that you like them. Most important of all, this kind of jewelry is all about you. What you like, what represents you. You may find that fun, cheap beads represent your outgoing and fun loving personality. Maybe your love of all that's traditional combines with your child-like wonder of the world, and the $429 Chamilia Mickey Mouse bead is all you need to create your one of a kind necklace or bracelet. Or maybe you're a nature lover who can create a work of art out of inexpensive wood pony beads and carved bone beads. It's all up to you. This is your jewelry, your life, and what makes you you.
Pandora Beads| Chamilia Beads| Troll Beads
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
