Hello all! I know this post is a bit late since I always try to post on Mondays, but lately life has been getting in the way. I’m also very aware that I haven’t been posting a lot of reviews and that my focus has been primarily on Pandora lately. I plan to change that very soon.
I haven’t posted a lot of reviews from Pandora because frankly I have been underwhelmed by their latest designs. I usually review pieces that I personally like, but it seems like it’s been a lot of pink and a lot of flowers lately so there’s not much to say. What I have noticed is that I think Pandora is starting to head towards a new direction, and I can’t say yet if I like it or not. If you pay attention to their marketing, you’ll notice that they are slowly moving away from their Unforgettable Moments, to their new marketing campaign of DO. As in DO PanDOra. Now I don’t know if this is just temporary as their “Art of You,” or “Unique as You are,” campaigns, but if it’s permanent, I think their designs are reflecting that.
Gone are the charms that represented hobbies, or sports, or traveling. In are the pave covered charms that are just pretty to look at. Not that there’s anything wrong with that of course, I am a sucker for those charms as well. But I’ve noticed whenever I am in the store just ogling everything, another customer will come in and ask the sales associates if they have anymore soccer balls, or a certain travel charm. The sale associate will unfortunately have to tell that customer that those charms have been retired, and I started thinking why is that? I think Pandora is moving on from charms that represented unforgettable moments, and instead are starting to churn out charms that represent specific tastes or personality traits. For example, one can no longer obtain a London bus or the Big Ben dangle if you visited London, (that would be considered an unforgettable moment), instead Pandora is making charms like the little pave Dazzling Dress dangle, or the pave Stiletto dangle charm, (these charms are geared more towards the type of girl who likes to wear dresses or stiletto heels).
I guess you can choose to make any of their charms an unforgettable moment, and again these are simply my opinions, it doesn’t mean I am right. It’s a bit sad and nostalgic to me as I like the older style Pandora charms, but I understand in order to keep things fresh and new, sometimes things have to change. What do you think of all this? Where do you think Pandora as a company is heading?
I agree with your sentiments, there is certainly a change. Can’t say if it is good or bad. Ultimately, Pandora is a fashion item & fashions change. For me personally, my collecting is all about the silver, and when I have discovered other brands it has initially been for their silver designs. I remember the first Pandora concept store I went into when they opened in Australia (2008????). One of their biggest sell points was that charms started from AU $18! (silver spacers). & plain silver charms were $25-$30 & they were solid. Overall, items seem more expensive now & less substantial. Certainly price rises can’t be avoided (as other brands have had price rises as well), but adding CZ more liberally across their catalogue has ensured designs which were previously only silver are comparatively more expensive. I don’t like pave for pave sake, so I don’t buy it!! But I still have quite a long wish list and there is still something in every release I like. And Pandora are doing some beautiful glass. Pandora have to compete for my bead dollars, and there are certainly other brands out there making great charms if Pandora no longer make what I like. As any collector, I collect what appeals to me. I don’t get offended if I feel a brand doesn’t cater to me, I find one that does (then sit & admire my old beads).
Yes that is very true, fashions change and if you’re a fashion jewelry store, it has to change with the times. I can’t believe they were so inexpensive! I remember when the two tone bracelets were $180! And it’s true what you said, they charms were solid, I still have a couple of the older ones and they are heavier than what’s coming out now.
I think I’ll take a page out of your book! You are right, when it comes to Pandora,there is one or two pieces I like enough to buy or put on my wish list but it’s not an entire collection like it used to be back in the old days. But if Pandora won’t cater to my, I’ll just go to another brand that does. My Trollbeads collection can use a revamp, and I still have tons on my Pandora wish list that doesn’t conform to this new Pandora style.
I collect Pandora 3 years ago, I buy 2 to 3 transaction every promotion. Nothing I really like now, Heart, repeat design, CZ everywhere, just don’t like it. I am lucky to have a Pandora Outlet store 45 minutes drive, I go with a friend for retired silver and two toned item when Pandora Outlet has promotion. Price is good, 40% off, I don!t really need go to regular shop unless Pandora has something very special. I spend my budget to Trollbead now, just bought 2 transactions buy 3 get 1 free and special promotion copper bangle set, Trollbead win my ❤️.
You are very lucky!!! Yes Trollbeads is a very good brand, wish they had more promotions!
Trollbead has buy 3 get 1 two to three times a year. They have special price bracelet set and bangle set twice a year.
I got some stuff for the 3 and 1 promo!
Yep i, too, think you are right, Pandora just becomes “fashionable” – something sparkly, something cute, and quite generic, to be honest. And way too expensive for the amount of pave and fake stones. My husband says they “sold their soul for some extra dollar” (which, of itself, is ok in business, but there are plenty of companies that manage to stay true to their roots in some changing business conditions… so i get his point). The girls in their campaign pictures are not “me” any more, if you know what i mean 😉 I don’t remember new charm names, they don’t speak to me, it’s not my style any more, so i kinda closed the Pandora door for myself. In love with Trollbeads though!!
That’s too bad that you feel that way. I guess Pandora can’t please everyone, and I feel too that the demographic they are going towards is not me either. Too much flash, not enough substance in my opinion.