I was asked today what the difference was between a pandora chain and a normal everday silver chain…so i thought I’d put my answer here for everyone to read.
Apart from price in Designer vs budget, in many examples I’ve seen, there is a marked difference in the finished quality, weight, strength and density of the bracelet chains. Even when 100% sterling silver, the snake chain twirling links on cheaper bracelets are frequently spaced further apart, whereas Pandora’s & the other main designer chains have smoother, closer snake chain links making the bracelets more flexible and therefore stronger. The wider spaces on the cheap snake chains are more prone to kinking, stretching and breakage.
That said however, given that young teen girls fall in and out of what is hip and fashionable & that their wrists and hands will grow, the cheaper silver bracelets can be a great starting base, and the charms later switched to a larger bracelet. Extension chains can also be added to lobster/parrot claw clasp bracelets, lengthening them as required.