Revisiting Pandora/Chamilia beads

[dcj]

I saw terri's mention of these and links to pictures of them in another thread, but the subject changed. However, I thought they were beautiful, and I plan to make some as Christmas presents.

BUT!

The chains (or similar ones) are relatively inexpensive, the beads are outrageous!

I've been researching and buying judiciously. I have found that most beads with a large hole will fit them, but eBay sellers and web sites don't mention hole size all the time, instead they speak of the mandrel size, and I don't know enough to interpret that. The chains require about 4 mm holes, how does that translate to mandrelspeak?

Most of the Bali Silver beads will fit, and cost way less than the Pandora/Chamilia/Biagi/Troll counterparts, even though they slide instead of screw.

I have found some beautiful lampwork donut beads that will fit, and had a couple of disastrous purchases of gorgeous sets with small holes.

I'm hoping boardbimbo or others with experience will post here! I haven't much artistic talent and it seems harder than I thought to create a workable pattern.

D. (who realizes that talk of hole size, sliding and screwing may incite various male lurkers, heh, but will ignore all such double entendres.)

[paleryder]

:1chirol_c

[Flutterbees]

A mandrel is the rod beads are formed on. they come in different sizes 1/16th, 3/32nds etc.

Guestimating on my measuring tape (without digging out mandrels, which would probably take till AFTER Christmas!) 4MM is probably about 1/8"--rough estimate.

BB may be able to give you a better idea if she pops in.

Hope you have fun with your project.

[agogoboots]

I'll post some links again.

(You are reminding me that I need to start shopping for these for Christmas.)

http://www.chamilia.com/catalog_beads_index.htm
http://www.biagi-jewelry.com/
http://www.pandora-jewelry.com/


DCJ, I search ebay for "glass bead pandora" and many come up that aren't genuine name brand beads but they say "fit pandora". I haven't bought any on ebay yet but I figured if they advertise that they fit then they probably do. I may be limiting my artist choices by doing that though.

[agogoboots]

the beads are outrageous!

I bought the starter bracelet locally, Pandora brand, and it was $25. I didn't think that was exactly inexpensive for small sterling chain.

Ideally, I would like to mix gold and silver if I ever get one. :1chirol_r
Probably not though.

Thankfully my daughter only likes silver and hates gold. But still...

[dcj]

...drives by rapidly to thank Flutterbees, that's exactly right, 1/8. Now if only sellers listed hole size!

Thanks, too, terri, for the inspirational links, those are so beautiful...I'm afraid mine will be far more eclectic, because I dislike very evenly spaced things and I'm in love with some of the oddly shaped lampwork and dichroic beads I keep finding.

I'll get through a current little personal crisis I'm dealing with soon, and will fix my digital camera and take pictures of my work as I get them done. I hope you post yours, too, terri!

[Hepburn]

Dang. Guess I better get to beading again. Ive been selling 15 inch strands of adventurine, carnelian, amethyst in different shapes and sizes at my store for the price of 2 strands for 10 bucks or 1 for 5.95. I strung two together and did it 3 times, sold them for 10 bucks for the necklace. Bead store down the street sells the same strands for anywhere from 15.95 per strand to 24.95. Guess her supplier is more expensive, OR shes jacked the price up 5 times.

[dcj]

Hey, you!

Will you mail me pics if you have any with larger holes? I'd just as soon buy from you - so far three eBay sellers are wayyy late delivering and I'm getting peeved.

[agogoboots]

I finally did some ordering today. I'm going to start with some pretty basic silver beads first. Just trying a few to see if I like them. I can buy them locally if I decide the ones I got on ebay are not what I want. I'm not sure how accurate the colors are, and it's hard to tell sizes from the pictures.

In my searching, I saw this seller with some unique glass beads:
http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZbecillumQQhtZ-1

[agogoboots]

Hep, why don't you get one authentic Pandora bead that you can use for size comparison for the hole.